WATERLOO, Ont. - The Warriors Women's Field Hockey program has established an enrichment program with the Bonner THV Club, in Bonn Germany.The club has offered to accommodate Waterloo players in the homes of club members and allow them to practice with the First and Second teams. They will play in league games (German 3rd Division) and participate in the coaching of young children in the club. In addition, they will be provided with opportunities to see the area of the Rhine Valley and enjoy the usual tourist attractions.
The club is 105 years old, having been established in 1903. It has more than 20 coaches contributing to dozens of groups in training, indoor and out, from age four to senior men and women. The main coach for the field hockey program is Rudiger Hanel, who led Germany to a silver medal at the Barcelona Olympics.
Current Warrior captain Vicky Lounder (5th Yr. Engineering, Halifax, NS) arrived in Germany on April 22 and stayed through most of the spring field hockey season, and returned to Canada on June 5th. Vicky has been training with the club three days a week and playing on the weekends. She is also taking advantage of her trip by taking language classes five afternoons a week. "I'm learning a lot from some incredibly talented and experienced players," Vicky mentioned from Germany. "I hope I can bring some experiences back for the Waterloo squad this fall, and that some of our new recruits can get the chance to benefit from an opportunity like this n the future."
Katherine Olsen, (3rd Yr. Engineering, Calgary, AB), also took part in the program for a shorter stay, from May 1st through May 13th.
The Waterloo coaching staff is now in discussions with the Bonner Club about the possibility of hosting the entire Warriors squad in Bonn, for a special development camp, in the spring of 2009.
Source:
Chris Gilbert
Communications
Department of Athletics
University of Waterloo
