It was born out of necessity. But now they don’t want to be without it. For the past two years Zandvoort has only had seventh graders in the seniors. Of course they miss the crowds on Sunday afternoons. ‘But Friday evenings have secretly become sacred, too.’
‘Do you know we even have a hilarious challenge trophy? A plant. That gets the team that has the most bad luck or has gone down the most often.’ That started with a tiny cacatus. But at the end of the season, a cargo bike pulled into the clubhouse with a five-foot climbing plant.’
Michael Landman (51) chuckles through the phone. He is already looking forward to the next time the pass-through awards are handed out. Landman is one of the captains of Zandvoort’s Men’s Sevens team. “There are no captains with the Sevens,” clarifies the enthusiastic clubman, who joined Zandvoort back in 1977. He witnessed the North Hollanders proudly competing in the Second Division with their Heren 1.
That was once upon a time.
Photo: Zandvoort
How the Sevens story began
Three seasons ago Zandvoort last had a first women’s and men’s team, then in the Fourth Division. Around that time, there was also a veteran team. Last season, Ladies 1 still competed in the indoors. But on the field, only seven-team teams are still played in the coastal town. ‘Our story begins about five years ago. At that time, we had a trim group with no field hockey experience and a former varsity team, which I was on myself. That team was not big enough to still play league on Sundays. We still trained with a small group, though.’
‘For us it was ideal that the Sevens form was devised. This allowed us to play games with our old team, plus a number of fanatic and now ball-skilled trimmers. On Fridays, once every two weeks and within a limited distance. In short: it was much more accessible than a Sunday, where you often spend your whole day’.
For those not familiar with Sevens: the format is different from the regular league. ‘All teams gather at the same location. Six teams all play two short matches. We now also have a second Sevens team at Zandvoort, which is in the mixed pool. We always make sure everyone plays home at the same time. So on Fridays it is always very busy. There are over a hundred people. There’s a deejay and a lot of bitterballs. Because you meet every two weeks, you know your opponents better than usual.
Photo: Zandvoort
Scouting potential teammates
Approachable, the word dropped off. According to Landman, that is the single biggest difference from senior Sunday field hockey. ‘Apart from the time you put in, it’s also just a little easier to get hooked up. I once considered playing on Sundays again, at another club. But then you end up with teams of friends who have been together for years. You need more field hockey base to keep up. We now have guys on the team who couldn’t even hold a stick a few years ago, but who are fine now. They fit in better with us than in a blood-fanatic veteran team.’
Smiling: ‘Often my teammates enter the club through their children. We still have a lot of young youth. Then I see a parent coaching, whistling or playing a bit of ping-pong. And then we ask him for the Sevens. That’s how our scouting works.
And from the Sevens can also be built on. For example, Zandvoort’s mixed team might contribute to a new Young Ladies team, which the club hopes to set up next season. ‘Because of course we would also like to see Sunday play again. Although I do think the Sevens will always be around from now on. It has become a great success. And that while I really did have my doubts beforehand.’
Still a referee?
That was mainly in the arbitration. ‘With us you now play without referees. As a real field hockey player I had my doubts about that. It goes well, often you make mutual agreements about for example playing high and hitting. I do notice that the Sevens competition is getting bigger and more serious. You can also promote and downgrade these days.’
‘The other day at Bloemendaal we were suddenly facing a couple of former internationals. So maybe at a certain level it’s a good plan to have someone blow the whistle. Should be easy to arrange with so many teams. Have another reason to give someone a nice plant.’
by Hockey.nl
