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Welcome Our New Ladies Coaches!

Welcome Our New Ladies Coaches!

Anna Tarrant27 Sep - 09:34

We want to give a warm welcome to the new additions to our RPHC coaching staff.

With all seven men's and five ladies' senior teams taking to the field this weekend, we want to give a warm welcome to the new additions to our RPHC coaching staff.

Please join us in welcoming Craig Fruin as the new Ladies 1s coach, Matt Brigden back as the Ladies 2s coach, and David Froggatt as the new Ladies Club coach, overseeing the Ladies 3-5 sides.

The Coaching Journey: What Got You into Hockey?
Craig (Ladies 1s Coach)

I started coaching about 18 years ago by volunteering for the Surrey Youth Games. When I moved on to coaching the Surrey U14 county team, the girls were incredibly talented and responded well to my simple coaching ideas. This experience lit a fire in me, and I’ve been coaching ever since.

Matt (Ladies 2s Coach)

I started playing hockey at school and was instantly hooked. It was fascinating to me because it involved a difficult-to-use stick and a lot of running. I played throughout school, university, and beyond, always striving to get better. Beyond the sport itself, hockey has helped me make so many lifelong friends—I even met my wife through the game!

I got into coaching by chance. My club asked if I'd be interested in coaching the Ladies 4s and 5s, and I immediately fell in love with it. I loved helping players and teams reach their potential while having fun.

David (Ladies Club Coach)

My hockey journey began in 1998, watching the GB men beat Germany in the Olympics. I wanted to follow in Sean Kerley's footsteps and played ever since, reaching the dizzying heights of playing for my county, region, and Welsh Universities. Early on, I started coaching with the Mercian School of Hockey and got my Level 2 coaching award at 18.

Beyond the Pitch: Hobbies and Interests
Craig (Ladies 1s Coach)

When I'm not coaching, I'm usually at the gym, walking, or playing other sports. I love table tennis, even though I'm pretty average at it! I've also gotten back into playing the piano, focusing on modern songs instead of classical pieces.

Matt (Ladies 2s Coach)

I'm a big sports fan—football, rugby, tennis, cricket, snooker, the Olympics, you name it. I'm especially passionate about coaching, so I love reading biographies and autobiographies of famous coaches like Pep Guardiola and teams like the All Blacks to learn from their experiences.

David (Ladies Club Coach)

After university, I was fortunate to get a job with a lot of travel as a mountain and river guide. My journeys have taken me to 73 countries and led to me summiting Cho Oyu and Ama Dablam in Nepal. I returned to the UK to become a Geography teacher and have continued to travel, even managing to find some hockey in Malawi!

Coaching Philosophy: Simple Things Done Well
Craig (Ladies 1s Coach)

We've been focusing on scoring in the seven-yard area. My philosophy is simple: it’s easier to score from up close, and at higher levels, most goals are scored from this area. So, we'll aim to get the ball into this zone as much as possible to finish off great plays with easy chances. And when we’re defending, there will be no "fishing"—definitely not.

Matt (Ladies 2s Coach)

My focus in the early weeks is on formation. A team needs two or three different formations to ask questions of their opposition. This helps us find the most effective way to score when we have the ball and, when we don't, how to stop the opposition from scoring.

David (Ladies Club Coach)

To start the season, it’s all about doing the simple things well—hitting, pushing, receiving, and rolling out. As the famous Dutch player Johan Cruyff once said, “Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

One Piece of Advice: Enjoy the Game
Craig (Ladies 1s Coach)

My main advice is to "play to learn" and seek "satisfaction over winning." If we only play to win, our emotions will be on a constant rollercoaster. Play to learn more about the game, be present in the moment, and forget your mistakes quickly. Whether we win or lose, we’ll be back next week with our friends, training and laughing. Play for the satisfaction and the learning.

Matt (Ladies 2s Coach)

My one piece of advice would be to have fun! When you're having fun, you want to come to training, you want to play, and you want to learn. From a coach’s perspective, a player who is having fun is a player who is open to feedback and willing to try new things.

David (Ladies Club Coach)

My ultimate tip is to have fun—the best players are the ones having the most fun!

Further reading