The Quick Sticks Hockey Academy Story
Quick Sticks started in 2017 when I got back from playing club hockey in Belgium. I knew I was happy with the time I spent overseas, improving my personal game but when I came back home, I knew I wanted to play locally. I am still involved in the National setup and wanted to give it my all to make the 2020 Olympic Games team. I decided to settle in Pretoria for a number of reasons but mainly because Northerns Hockey is so strong. I completed my teaching degree in Potchefstroom but wasn’t yet ready to work in the school system so after many sleepless nights the idea to start an academy in Pretoria was founded.
I noticed that there were so many kids needing quality coaching in groups. There is only so much one can do during individual sessions but when you create small groups players are able to train the skills against players. I managed to rope coach Nicolene Terblanche to join me in the adventure. This is how Quick Sticks was started. We coached and traveled around the country, presenting clinics to schools, making sure the players were taught current skills as well as focusing on basics. It was really the best and I really couldn’t see myself working elsewhere. In 2018 and 2019 we did a total of 19 clinics, opened the Academy that runs on a weekly basis as well as coach at Volkies Potchefstroom, Oos-Moot and Affies. One of the biggest tasks that we completed was our 7 Sticks Festival. We had over 200 kids playing 7 v 7. What an adventure it was. The end of 2019 saw coach Nicolene leave Quick Sticks and start working at Affies. She is the first team coach at the school and is employed full time. Thankfully, since we started we have always been blessed with top coaches that are passionate and driven. Quick Sticks could never run the way it does without everyone involved.
2020 saw Quick Sticks Academy grow in numbers, the academy has over 30 kids weekly. Quick Sticks also coaches at Rietvlei Akademie, Hoërskool Oos-Moot and Volkies Potchefstroom. We have had clinics at Merensky and Curro Heuwelkriun before lockdown. It really such a blessing to be able to meet and coach so many kids around the country. There is so much that still needs to be done and I am so eager to get started again. Once lockdown is over, I will be back on the field sharing my knowledge.