Northland's Stacey Michelsen chases North Harbour's Annie Judge as she controls the ball in Whangarei on Saturday. Photo / Tania Newman
Northland's Stacey Michelsen chases North Harbour's Annie Judge as she controls the ball in Whangarei on Saturday. Photo / Tania Newman
Northland pick up two wins under new IHF match rules
Northlander and Black Stick Stacey Michelsen has given the new rules in representative hockey the seal of approval, especially after her team claimed back-to-back wins.
Changes brought in from September 1 by the International Hockey Federation include trimming the game from two 35-minute halves to four 15-minute quarters.
Michelsen helped her Northland team to two victories in the K Cup competition, over North Harbour and Auckland, at the weekend and noticed the change. "The biggest difference is how you come out and start the first quarter," she said. "We decided we really wanted to come out quite aggressively.
"You are getting that break 15 minutes in which we hadn't got [previously]. I think the game will increase in speed and the 15 minutes [periods] allows that."
One concern was whether the change would lead to more stop-start play, and reduce the flow. Michelsen agreed there was a degree of risk on that score.
"Particularly if you're doing high rotations within the quarters, which a lot of teams would do to ensure they can keep everyone running as much as possible during the 15 minutes.
"I don't think it will necessarily disrupt the flow but it will change tactics a lot, giving coaches the opportunity to change players more easily if they need to, as opposed to having to wait until halftime to talk to the whole team."
Northland women's coach Angeline Waetford believes the new rules in representative hockey help her team, meaning players like Laura Douglas can be constantly rotated and kept fresh. PHOTO/TANIA NEWMAN
In terms of post-game fatigue, Michelsen felt it was similar to a 70-minute match. In Northland's case, any fatigue was soothed by delight after Sunday's 3-1 win over Auckland - which backed up a 2-1 win over North Harbour in Whangarei - in which Michelsen scored two of the goals. Michelsen's Northland coach Angeline Waetford was on the same page as her star player in agreeing they had been good. "We are quite liking it," an upbeat Waetford said after Sunday's upset. "We like it in that it's really good to rotate players through and keep fresh legs.
"In our midfield we have Ella Gunson, Laura Douglas, Jasmin McQuinn, and Brooke Neal, those girls who are rotating through our midfield are working so well and putting the opposition under pressure - it's one of our strengths [and the new rules help us with that]."
One aspect of the new rules that Waetford didn't expect to be as helpful was the breaks between quarters, saying it gave her time to reinforce or alter messages to the team.
"From a coaching point of view [the break is] awesome, you get to talk to them more throughout the match.
"The game does go quicker because you can play at a high tempo. It is shorter [time wise] but we're enjoying it."
Northland's men's and women's teams continue their National Hockey League seasons this weekend, and into next week, when games resume in North Harbour.
