The Half Court Press Podcast

Hockey Dream Team is the twelfth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series we hear from a variety of members of the global hockey community, including players, coaches, umpires and journalists. In each episode Tao MacLeod speaks with hockey personalities, about topics relevant to them and the sport. Then the guests give their picks for a six-a-side hockey team. One guest chooses a men's team, whilst the other puts forward a women's side. The debate is then who we have for a combined mixed gender six-a-side Dream Team. 

Duncan Ruzzak is an umpire associated with national governing body, Scottish Hockey. Recently, he has been promoted to the top tier of officials for the European Hockey Federation's indoor club competitions. As somebody who has also umpired and participated in the full outdoor standard of the sport, he has an interesting perspective on the game. Duncan picks the men's six-a-side dream team. 

Keely Dunn is a well known pundit and educator of umpires, based in the North American country of Canada. She runs the online brand of FHumpires, which brings together hockey officials from all over the world into a community of support and development. Additionally, Keely is a regular contributor to the magazine, Hockey World News. With all of her work in the media over the last few years, it is easy to forget that she was once an international standard umpire herself. Keely picks the women's six-a-side team, as well as a specific umpires dream team. 

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Hockey Dream Team is the twelfth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series we hear from a variety of members of the global hockey community, including players, coaches, umpires and journalists. In each episode Tao MacLeod speaks with hockey personalities, about topics relevant to them and the sport. Then the guests give their picks for a six-a-side hockey team. One guest chooses a men's team, whilst the other puts forward a women's side. The debate is then who we have for a combined mixed gender six-a-side Dream Team. 

Simon Mason is a former goalkeeper for England and Great Britain, who has been to three Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. He was formerly President of England Hockey for a three year term, sat on the FIH Athletes committee and has been a board member of the European Hockey Federation for the past ten years. Now, Simon commentates on hockey for television (the FIH channel, the BBC and BT Sport) and is the owner and Managing Director of Mercian Hockey. He picks the men's six-a-side dream team. 

Jade Bloomfield played at an English National League standard and has also coached at a domestic club level. As a journalist, he has a unique perspective on the sport and is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Hockey World News, which is the premier hockey magazine, as well as being the Chairman of the Hockey Writers Club. Jade picks the women's six-a-side team.

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Korfball is a mixed gender sport that originates from the Netherlands, that is similar to both netball and basketball. It's an invasion game that is eight-a-side, with four women and four men on each team. Korfball has been around for over a 100 years, having started in 1902, and is now played all over the world. In this series Tao MacLeod finds out a bit more about the sport, from those involved. 

Neala Brennan is a player for Trojans Korfball Club, which is based in London. She also become a full England international when she was just 14 years old. Neala has played at several major international tournaments, including the multi-sports festival, the World Games. Having taken up the sport whilst at primary school, she is now a sports teacher actively bringing korfball to a new generation. 

Tilbert La Haye is from the Netherlands, which is the home of the sport of Korfball. He started playing the game when he was five years old, he has held various roles throughout his career, including that of coach for the Catalan Team. Now, Tilbert is the Chief Executive Officer of world governing body, the International Korfball Federation (IKF). His responsibilities include developing korfball and organising events.  

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Korfball is a mixed gender sport that originates from the Netherlands, that is similar to both netball and basketball. It's an invasion game that is eight-a-side, with four women and four men on each team. Korfball has been around for over a 100 years, having started in 1902, and is now played all over the world. In this series Tao MacLeod finds out a bit more about the sport, from those involved. 

Dan Pratt is a player and a coach who's involved in the set-up at Edinburgh City Korfball Club. He is also on the committee for the Scottish Korfball Association (SKA). Having started his career in London, he captained Croydon Korfball Club. before moving to play in the Netherlands, after which he moved back to the U.K. As an international player, Dan has recently acted as a vice-captain for the Scottish National Team, before the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to sport. 

Ella Fisher started playing korfball at the University of St. Andrew's. After being recruited to play for the student team, she fell in love with the communal aspect of the sport and the approachable nature of the players. Since then she has served on committees as a social secretary and a team captain. Like her club mate, Ella has spent some time playing in the Netherlands, but now plays for Edinburgh City Korfball Club.

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Captain's Log is the tenth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series Tao MacLeod talks to captains, leaders and senior players from a variety of sports about leadership techniques, communication skills and team development.

Patricia Wright-Alexis (née Borneo) is a former captain of the Trinidad and Tobago national hockey team, turning out for the twin island country between 2007 and 2017. She's been a leader of her country on several tours, acting as the vice-captain during the Caribbean Cup, as well as skippering the side at the Pam Americans, the CAC Games and the World League. She has competed at two Commonwealth Games, captaining the West Indians in the 2014 Glasgow tournament. Since retirement she has moved into coaching, running IN Sports Academy. During this interview we discuss taking on different points of view, providing input into tactics and strategy, as well as prompting players to take on personal responsibility for the group. 

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Captain's Log is the tenth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series Tao MacLeod talks to captains, leaders and senior players from a variety of sports about leadership techniques, communication skills and team development.

Yasmin Parsons is a netballer and captain of the Surrey Storm for whom she plays wing attack and centre. She is also a full international for the England Roses national team. Formerly of Team Bath, she was a part of the squad that won the British Netball Superleague in 2013, a feat that she repeated with her current side in 2016. Internationally, she has won the 2012 Fast 5 World Series and the Euro Netball Championships with the England Roses, going on to skipper her country on occasion. In this interview we talk about leadership groups, nuances with a team and communicating with different personalities.

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Captain's Log is the tenth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series Tao MacLeod talks to captains, leaders and senior players from a variety of sports about leadership techniques, communication skills and team development.

Tunc Ilgin is from South London and plays for Blackheath Hockey Club, having previously turned out for Bromley and Beckenham HC. His dad is a Cypriot and because of this he qualifies to play for the national team of his paternal heritage. Whilst studying at university, Tunc was approached to play for the country of his father's birth and 2017 he became the captain of the Cyprus Men's Hockey Team. In this interview we discuss integration of new players, shared responsibilities amongst a senior group and what leaders bring to a sports team.

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Captain's Log is the tenth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series Tao MacLeod talks to captains, leaders and senior players from a variety of sports about leadership techniques, communication skills and team development.

Dan Pratt is a player for Edinburgh City Korfball Club, which is one of the foremost teams within the country. As an international player, he has also acted as vice-captain and captain of the Scotland National Team. Originally starting his career in his home town of London, where he captained Croydon Korfball Club, Dan has also played the sport in the Netherlands, which is the top league in the world. Now he plays and coaches in Scotland's capital city for both the Edinburgh University and Edinburgh City Korfball Clubs. In this interview we talk about the roles and responsibilities of a captain, how a skipper works alongside the team's coach and problem solving as a leader. 

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Captain's Log is the tenth season of the Half Court Press Podcast. In this series Tao MacLeod talks to captains, leaders and senior players from a variety of sports about leadership techniques, communication skills and team development.

Tarun Sharma is originally from India, but has moved around the world gaining a variety of cricketing experiences. After moving to Mexico for work he has become a naturalised citizen. Whilst here Tarun has helped to develop the sport of cricket in the Central American country, rising to the role of captain of the Mexican Men's National Cricket Team. In this interview we talk about the roles and responsibilities of the captain on and off the pitch, taking advice from team mates and working alongside others. Tarun also discusses his ethos of the Three A's; Awareness, Attitude and Appreciation, when in a leadership role.

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