Netherlands: How the ladies of Alkmaar rolled into the Overgangsklasse after all

In early August, the cellphone immediately rang at Alkmaar. The KNHB reported that the women of Warande had withdrawn from the Overgangsklasse and requested if Alkmaar needed to fill the vacant spot. A query nobody had seen coming, however one which turned the Alkmaar girls’ season the other way up even earlier than the beginning.

The night time earlier than the coaching the place the information could be shared with the remainder of the choice, Lynn Oosterveer slept badly. The Alkmaar Girls 1 captain had been knowledgeable a couple of days earlier by coach Mistral Barsingerhorn.

Oosterveer was curious concerning the reactions of her teammates. ‘I instantly thought: that is what now we have to do? However on the similar time every kind of issues have been going by means of my head. It means entire Sundays on the street, longer journeys, harder opponents. Would all the ladies be up for that?’

After coaching, the choice gathered within the clubhouse, the place the information was shared. One participant sat open-mouthed in amazement, one other was very completely happy. The selection was rapidly made. Alkmaar stated a powerful ‘sure’ to promotion. The season that had ended with the loss within the playoffs in opposition to Union for promotion nonetheless had a contented ending.

Bubbles to have fun

Nothing else was talked about that day. Toasts have been made with a bit of bubbly. ”Within the evenings we stored calling and emailing one another,” Oosterveer says. A day later the information of promotion to the Overgangsklasse was additionally shared with the arduous core app group with greater than 100 members of the family and pals.

The emotion was all of the better as a result of the staff had simply missed out on promotion. As quantity two Alkmaar certified for the play-offs in opposition to Union. In Malden they drew 1-1. The subsequent day adopted the house sport, by which a 4-1 deficit was erased within the final minute: 4-4. Within the shoot-outs the choice was in Union’s favor. The dream of promotion shattered. Till Warande withdrew.

The KNHB has clear rules for such conditions. When a staff withdraws and a spot turns into accessible in a selected class, it’s crammed once more firstly of the brand new season. Initially, the invitation goes to the best ending groups that simply failed to advertise on the underlying degree. The federation can deviate from this if it considerations a quantity three, 4 or decrease. As a result of Alkmaar simply missed out on promotion within the playoffs, the staff got here into the image first. And so all the things fell precisely into place.

‘This additionally got here on the proper time for us,’ Oosterveer says. ‘No person stop. And that’s distinctive I believe. So if there ought to be a second, it was now. We’re at our strongest and we’re additionally getting additions from the youth.’

The Alkmaar girls are a close-knit staff that promoted to the First Division in 2024. Younger and outdated area hockey collectively, virtually everybody was as soon as coached by the identical coach in youth. ‘We all know one another by means of and thru. We additionally do loads collectively off the sphere,’ Oosterveer defined. Final season the staff performed uninhibited, with out the strain to complete on the prime. It earned the staff victories and ultimately a ticket for the playoffs.

Nobody is beneath any illusions that issues might be completely different within the ‘Overgangsklasse’. The sport is quicker, the opponents are extra bodily and the referees could permit extra. It will likely be robust. However this will even convey us nearer collectively.’

The bar is greater

Alkmaar continues on the identical footing regardless of the promotion. Many changes haven’t been made. For instance, the variety of coaching periods is just not rising. The bar has been raised, nevertheless.

‘We agreed: give 200 % each coaching, get higher each week. You discover that we’re fiercer at follow, however within the good sense. We do additional shuttle runs to get fitter. We should quickly have the ability to defend a 1-0 lead for sixty minutes or drag out the equalizer.’

Alkmaar Girls 1 after the ultimate league match. Photograph: Personal archive Lynn Oosterveer

Apart from the sporting step, a sensible problem additionally awaits. Alkmaar will quickly should journey throughout the nation, from Limburg to Groningen. Meaning lengthy journey instances and full Sundays devoted to area hockey. Oosterveer sees it as a problem, but in addition a possibility. ‘We’re conscious of the lengthy drives. It’s good to be collectively all Sunday. We’ll make one thing lovely out of it.’

The staff doesn’t have a concrete purpose, however Alkmaar desires to be a tricky staff within the Overgangsklasse that by no means provides up. ‘I hope that may result in us with the ability to compete properly.’

Alkmaar begins on September 7 with a house sport in opposition to Helmond. Oosterveer is already impatient. When the information acquired out, it already began itching, however now that I’m speaking and fascinated with it, I’m wanting ahead to it much more.

The place precisely the journey ends, nobody is aware of. However one factor is for certain: for the Alkmaar gamers, each Sunday within the Overgangsklasse already looks like a bonus after the sudden promotion.