Hockey Captains. In our series on sport captains, Schools That Rock talks to Jason Snyman. Jason is the captain of Curro Serengeti’s boys 1st hockey team. He scores today our ninth goal in this hockey series for high schools in South Africa.
“I started playing hockey at the age of 6. My reason for being passionate about playing hockey, is because I grew up being exposed to the sport and I always drives myself to do better.
My favourite professional hockey player is Mustspha Cassiem. He is one of the youngest players in the National setup, but yet the greatest. His work and dedication towards the sport makes me look up to him.
The position I am currently playing is centre midfielder and I have also played right midfielder and striker.
I was appointed as hockey captain for the first time at the beginning of this season which was early February. Our team has three training sessions per week. I also do training on my own.
Most stressful game
My most stressful game was our third game against Paarl Gymnasium. It simply didn’t seem that anything we do on the ball was working and the opposition was mentally and physically stronger than us.
My most exciting game was our 1st game on our Paarl tour against Wynberg. We were trailing the whole game and in the last few minutes we managed to get even with them.
My worst hockey performance was a game when I was extremely tired. I couldn’t seem to even make a decent pass of tackle. Tackle learned me to work more on my fitness and strength.
Yes, I do watch hockey on TV. I tried to imitate the professionals in our games and to be more composed as they are, speak the way they do on the field and do the same skills.
Varsity cup
A goal I would like to accomplish in the next six months to three years, is to see myself playing at varsity cup while studying engineering. My current top priorities in life is Academics, Hockey, Family and Gym.
How do you manage your hockey responsibilities and other recreational and non-recreational (academic) activities? Directly after hockey practice, I make sure to do homework and I try and shift my extra classes in before practice.
Interests I have outside of hockey is golf and motor sport.
Strengths I believe I have that make me a great hockey player? I have the strength to always be willing to learn and the strength of having a good mind set.
As hockey captain I motivate my team by encouraging them after making a mistake. I let them believe they are the greatest. What I have learned about teamwork from my past experiences on teams, as well as my captaincy, is that teamwork is all about communication and motivation.
Going hard
Suggestions I made that helped my team succeed, is going hard from the word go. The best advice I have received from my coaches is not be under pressure and to remember that you are in control of the game. If a teammate is struggling with learning a new move, position or play, I would show him a possible other way of doing it and helping him till he succeeds.
My coach and fellow teammates describe me as talkative, passive, and hard working.
My advice for new hockey players is Always work towards your goal because all goals can be achieved.
I think the greatest challenge faced by today’s sport participants is money.
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