Look at this idiot .... He thinks that if he gives a strong speech followed by a thumbs up everything will fall into place and be good. Politicians are stupid this way.

Leadership and respect is earned and not a pre given or even a bought fact. If Gordon Brown and a few other world leaders had taken the time to train and coach a youth hockey team, or indeed any youth sport team, then they would know this.

Episodes from this last week of Haackey competition and training will demonstrate what I am talking about.

Smallest Baby Clog and her team had, for whatever reason, decided that they could turn up on Saturday and play a game of hockey just as they saw fit. Consequentially at half time they had a 2 goal deficit and Cloggy (their coach/trainer) was as mad as hell. In the half time interlude he told them the following ... and I quote .... " I have not trained you or taught you to play like this. You are and know better. If it is your intention to turn up on a Saturday and play hockey in the style of a group of baboons with opposing thumbs who are only hell bent on making a bell ring then I am done with you. This is not a Woman's Institute or Girl Scout Meeting this is a GAME OF HOCKEY. Stop with the crapping around and concentrate. Now take yourselves off to the dugout and decide if you are serious!" 

He left them alone to figure out how they would play the 2nd half. End score was a 2 - 3 loss but Cloggy was well pleased with his team performance, they stepped up and made good mistakes and sloppy hockey that had been played in the 1st half.

Middle Baby Clogs team was playing against Arnhem, a team that is vying and able to win the sub-top division. The game was hard and strongly fought by both teams but the end result was a good reflection of the game played. 1 -1. The Haackey C1 boys played a great game and scored within 5 minutes of the opening. Arnhem scored not long after but Haackey played a possession game that enabled them to hold onto a well deserved draw.

However ... at training last night all the boys had a 'God Complex' because of their perceived presentation during the game last Saturday. They decided that warm up before training was not necessary. Their trainer did not play along and exercised his earned right of leadership. Consequently they were all sent home, with no training, emails sent to their parents regarding their mentality, and all the boys are now grounded. Please remember that it takes as much effort to get your kid to training and games as it takes the kid to participate. Respect for the trainer who has brought these kids into the sub-top division needs to be reinforced once in a while
As parents we were infuriated by our boys mentality. X-Boxes have been mothballed!

Senior Haackey games were a washout. I refuse to give any more info!

Another Saturday and Another Winter Competition Hockey Game.


Middle Baby Clog and his squad of pre-pubesent retro-bates (collectively known as Haackey Jongens C1) managed to haul their carcases out of bed in time for a 12.30 start, except Steijn who got a right chew out from General Cloggy because he arrived half and hour late for warm up - which began at 11.30.
This weeks victims, ermmm - opponents, were Bully JB2 who, very quickly into the game, scored the opening goal. The score stayed at 0 -1 for the 1st half with Haackey JC1 being unable to convert their attacking plays into goals.
 
As you may imagine General Cloggy was not best pleased and it looked as if a very heated half time talk was delivered to the boys during the break. One can only guess what was said in the dug out but whatever it was it  worked.

The Haackey boys stormed into the 2nd half taking no prisoners in their march toward victory. They played a calculated and controlled game building the attack from their defensive line, making full use of the field and won a penalty corner. This was converted by a fast sneaky slip left with the ball being played into the goal behind a disorientated keeper and the crowd went mad!. 1 - 1.

10 minutes later a ball, played into space from the half line, found the stick of a Haackey forward who converted the ball into the goal high and right. 2 - 1. Soon after a 2nd penalty corner was won but the ball was stopped on the line by a foot from the Bully defense. A penalty flick was awarded and converted. 3 - 1. In the dying moments of the game Haackey refused to give their opponents any respite and a fourth goal, from open play, was scored. End score 4 - 1 Haackey.

All the boys played an outstanding game which was enjoyed by the public but I have to say that Middle Baby Clog was awesome. Yes .. he made a few unforced errors but he more than made up for these with his work rate and technical skill - the kid commanded the right middle field giving his opponent no free space. Oldest Baby Clog umpired a solid game too.

A mad dash home and a quick shower - by Middle Baby Clog -  later, Family Clog were at the Cinema in Enschede for the 4.15 showing of Avatar 3D. It is an awesome movie which I strongly recommend even if you think you don't like that kind of stuff.
I can not remember the last time all of the Clogs were quiet at the same time for 3 hours in a row! We were going to go out and eat after the movie had finished but everyone was so stuffed with popcorn, nachos, candy and ice cream that we opted to skip dinner. Not very healthy but once in a while that's o.k.