UNIVERSITY SPORT SOUTH AFRICA (HOCKEY)
INTRODUCTION As a National University Sport Association member of SAHA, it is an honour and a privilege to report on all the tournaments and activities of the USSA Hockey season. The Varsity Hockey competition for women took place; UKZN hosted the 2015 USSA tournament in which 43 teams from 23 members participated. Added to this are all the international tournaments, including the World Hockey Series for both men and women, in which many of our players participated, as well as the international games played as preparation in which many USSA players also participated. It has once again been a wonderful year for student hockey.
I have to admit that the season presented its own challenges. Relationships between USSA Hockey, Varsity Sport Hockey and SAHA were tested regarding transformation and movement of players in student hockey. Despite all the challenges of which some were only partially resolved at the very last minute, Varsity Hockey still proved to be a huge success. Unprecedented spectator interest in the competition which culminated in a pack stadium for final in Bloemfontein, saved the future of hockey’s partnership with Varsity Sport!
COMMITTEE POSITIONNAME & INSTITUTION Chairperson Frans van der Watt University Free State Vice-Chairperson Reggie Smith University KwaZulu Natal General Secretary & Treasurer Elize le Roux University Johannesburg Tournament Convener John Wright Tshwane Univ Technology Additional Member: Development / Transformation Cheslun Gie Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Student RepresentativeT.B.A.
MEMBERSHIP 2015 Cape Peninsula University of Technology Central University of Technology, Free State Durban University Technology Independent Institute of Education Mangosuthu University of Technology Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North West University, Mafikeng North West University, Potchefstroom North West University, Vaal Campus (x2) Rhodes University Tshwane University of Technology University Cape Town University Fort Hare, East London University Free State University Johannesburg University KwaZulu Natal University Limpopo, Turfloop Campus University Pretoria University Stellenbosch University Western Cape University Witwatersrand University Zululand Vaal University of Technology, Vanderbijlpark
OPERATIONAL MEETINGS USSA EXECUSSA HoD VARSITY SPORT SAHA USSA USSA HOCKEY AGM USSA NEC & OFFICE
The USSA Executive Committee has thus far met three times during this term: September 2014 February 2015 April 2015 Robust discussions took place around the hockey calendar for 2015 & 2016 which included student hockey in general, the possibility of the future re- scheduling of the USSA and Varsity hockey tournaments to a more acceptable date to accommodate the national- and international calendar to the benefit of our student players and registered members, the possibility of a B-team tournament, international competition for USSA teams, player development for newly exposed universities participating in USSA tournaments, transformation in student hockey and then the obvious issue around finances and the cost of USSA Tournaments. In between scheduled meetings, technology allowed us to discuss urgent matters on a day –to – day basis. USSA EXECUTIVE
Being part of the Committee of Heads of Sport Departments of Universities, the opportunities were used to network with the heads of sport, informing them about the challenges USSA Hockey are faced with and resonating possible solutions to overcome these challenges. At the last meeting in Stellenbosch, USSA Hockey was one of the sporting codes which received recognition for the way the sport is managed. The USSA Executive was in constant contact with the USSA Office and approached the USSA NEC more than once for clarity and guidance regarding certain challenges which we experienced within the USSA framework. Sincere thanks must go to Louis Nel, Marc Mundell and the USSA Office staff for all their promptness and assistance in this regard. HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS USSA NEC / USSA OFFICE
Frans v d Watt and Elize le Roux attended the Council Meeting in October 2014, but none of the executive attended the USSA Annual General meeting in April 2015, due to the fact that we did not receive notice of the meeting. Instead, the executive met at OR Tambo to finalise the USSA Tournament and discus Varsity Hockey The USSA AGM took place on 28 June 2015, during the USSA tournament in Pietermaritzburg. USSA & USSA HOCKEY AGM At the few SAHA Executive meetings which were held, the interest of USSA hockey was always at heart. SAHA was always informed regarding USSA activities, especially regarding the availability of USSA players for international obligations and the pivotal role which USSA hockey plays within the broader hockey fraternity, considering the development of players and providing infrastructure, coaches, umpires and administrators. It is also important to recognise the role that SAHA, as national hockey federation, plays within student hockey. During the SAHA Executive meetings USSA addressed the co-ordination of the SAHA events calendar regarding international-, national-, USSA- and schools events at such an extend that Reggie Smith met with SASHOC at the end of May Another serious matter which was addressed, is the position of the USSA Executive within the Varsity Sport Hockey competition. All stakeholders agreed that the USSA Executive is the sole hockey representative and as such officially represents student hockey at all levels. SAHA
EVENTS VARSITY HOCKEY 2015 USSA 2015 INTERVARSITIES 2015
USSA 2015 From the very first executive meeting in September 2014, we realised that the 2015 USSA tournament had the potential to be one of the biggest tournaments ever. A sincere word of thanks to Reggie Smith (UKZN) and the LOC for organising a tournament of this stature. Forty three teams will participated in the 2015 USSA tournament.
USSA 'A' SECTION - MEN & WOMEN UKZN, South Africa 29 June - 3 July 2015 FINAL STANDINGS MENWOMEN 1 UP TUKS1 UJ 2 NMMU 2 US MATIES 3 US MATIES 3 NWU 4 UFS KOVSIES 5 UJ 5 UP TUKS 6 UKZN 6 NMMU7 UCT 8 WIITS 8 VARSITY COLLEGE USSA 2015 STANDINGS
USSA ‘B' SECTION - MEN & WOMEN UKZN, South Africa 28 June - 3 July 2015 FINAL STANDINGS MEN 1 VARSITY COLLEGE 2NWU 3RHODES 4CUT 5TUT 6 UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND WOMEN 1WITS 2UKZN 3NWU VAAL 4UWCAL 5RHODES 6DUT
USSA ‘C' SECTION - MEN & WOMEN UKZN, South Africa 29 June - 3 July 2015 FINAL STANDINGS MEN 1DUT 2VUT 3NWU VAAL 4 NWU MAFIKENG 5 UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO 6MANGOSUTHU UNIVERSITY WOMEN 1CPUT 2CUT 3TUT 4 UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND 5UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO 6 MANGOSUTHU UNIVERSITY 7 VUT 8 NWU MAFIKENG
USSA AND VARSITY HOCKEY TOURNAMENT DATES: USSA 2016 WITS: DATE:JUNE 27 – 01 JULY 2016 Or 03 – 08 JULY 2016 USSA 2017 NMMU USSA 2018 NWU USSA 2019 MATIES VARSITY HOCKEY 2016: Will only be finalised after the SAHA international and local tournaments have been determined. Scheduled for May 2016
RESULTS VARSITY HOCKEY WOMEN University of Free State (Kovsies) 5. University of North West 4. University of Stellenbosch (US) 3. University of Pretoria (UP) 1. University of Johannesburg (UJ) 8. University of Cape Town (UCT) 7. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) 6. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) FINAL PLACINGS VENUES University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) University of the Free State (UFS) University of Johannesburg (UJ) University of North West)
#TEAMPLWDLPDBPPTS 1 UFS Kovsies Hockey UP Tuks Hockey UJ Hockey Maties Hockey NWU Puk Hockey Wits Hockey NMMU Hockey UCT Hockey
INTERVARSITY HOCKEY 2015 University of Kwazulu Natal University of the Free State (UFS) University of Pretoria (UP) University of Johannesburg (UJ) vs University of the Free State vs North West University (NWU) vs University of Johannesburg (UJ) vs University of the Free State) University of the Free State (UFS) vs University of Pretoria (UP) Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) vs Rhodes University Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) vs University of Kwazulu Natal) vs University of the Free State)
USSA CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SAHA HP PROGRAMME: NATIONAL PLAYERS 2014 – 2015 TERTIARY INSTITUTION: MEN WOMEN TOTAL VARSITY COLLEGE: 2 2 UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH: NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY: 1 1 UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE: NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY: 3 3 UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA: WITS UNIVERSITY: 2 2 UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL: TOTAL:
WHAT ROLES ARE USSA / UNIVERSITIES ARE CURRENTLY FULFILLING TO LIFT THE BAR OF SA HOCKEY: Joint Ventures SAHA / Business / SRSA Bridging Programmes Junior and Senior Hockey Recruiting Programmes – Impact on socio – economic environment Transformation Research Talent Identification Programmes Recruiting Providing Technical Frontline Solutions to players Sport Science Programmes Nutrition Biokinetics Physiotherapy
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS REGARDING USSA HOCKEY 2016 – 2018 WERE PAST DURING THE USSA AGM 2015: USSA MUST APPLY THAT USSA NATIONAL TEAMS MUST PLAY AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TEAMS VISTING SA DURING USSA WILL ORGAN ISE A ROAD SHOW TO ASSIST PLAYER DEVELOPMENT FOR NEWLY EXPOSED UNIVERSITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE USSA TOURNAMENTS DURING
MOTIVATIONS For the past few years USSA Hockey executive implemented a value based strategy which created value for the young up and coming hockey players through professionally organised tournaments; created value propositions through a competitive tournament which serves as a qualifier for the Varsity Sport Hockey competition and - as part of the value assets-contribution towards hockey in South Africa - many of our students are current Protea hockey players representing South Africa at different national levels. Most of the top South African umpires, who umpired in the World Cup- and Olympic finals in the past, umpired at USSA tournaments, technical officials that act as international tournament directors were tournament directors at USSA tournaments and USSA Hockey is currently represented at the SAHA Executive, the highest level of decision making in SA Hockey. Over the last 8 years, USSA hockey has shown a growth of more than 30% and for the last 3 years more than 40 teams from 23 universities have participated in the USSA tournaments. The facts speak for themselves, not only is competitive hockey being played, but the majority of the hockey players of the 23 tertiary institutions love and enjoy playing USSA Hockey! Therefore USSA Hockey believes it is now the time to pay dividends to our members and SAHA.
A word of thanks to the current Executive members for all their time and energy to ensure that USSA Hockey is managed in a responsible way to the benefit of the student hockey fraternity. Without all the hockey managers, coaches and their committees, tertiary hockey would not be in such a healthy position as reflected in our National teams FRANS V D WATT USSA Chairperson