Singapore National Players & Coaches experience the HC Melbourne Inner Sanctum

With the support of HC Melbourne sponsor PRL, two of the Singapore national Women’s players and coaches joined the HC Melbourne Women’s squad for a three week training block. 

The partnership saw Singaporean national players Jolene Ng and Sardonna Ng, both boasting over 6 years of experience and nearly 50 caps each with the Singapore Women's National Team, travel to Melbourne in August. The two athletes trained with the HC Melbourne Women's squad, gaining valuable exposure to HC Melbourne's high-performance program, on-field sessions, and physical preparation for Season 4 of Hockey One. 

The were also accompanied by Faris Ali and Ong Jun Hong, who are coaches of the ActiveSG Hockey Academy in Singapore. Presenting them with a fantastic opportunity to learn from HC Melbourne's coaching staff, gaining valuable insights into the tactical and technical aspects of Hockey, that can be shared at the ActiveSG Academy.  

The quartet provided the following insights about their time in Melbourne.  

What was the most enjoyable thing about your time with the Hockey Club Melbourne? 

Coach Ong Jun Hong said “the opportunity to collaborate with their experienced coaching staff and witness their approach to player development and high-performance level was incredibly inspiring. The emphasis on creating a structured yet flexible coaching environment allowed players to thrive and develop both their technical skills and game understanding.” 

“The most enjoyable aspect of my time with the Hockey Club Melbourne was the welcoming and positive atmosphere during training. I also appreciated the opportunity to experience different playing structures firsthand, which broadened my understanding and was truly amazing to witness in real life” explained Jolene Ng.  

What was the biggest difference between the training with Hockey Club Melbourne and back in Singapore? 

Sardonna Ng emphasised “the intense pace of every training session. Each player had a clear understanding of their role, even when switching positions, which kept the pace and quality of play exceptionally high. I was also struck by how much the team encouraged each other—every drill ended with high-fives and positive energy, creating a supportive atmosphere.” 

While coach Faris Ali said:  “From a coaching point of view, the staff from HCM were very intentional in every aspect:  

1) implementing and enforcing the right team culture/mindset.  

2) planning every session in thorough detail

3) constantly demanding intensity from the players on the pitch and actively giving feedback.” 

What was the biggest learning that you will take back to Singapore after the experience? 

Sardonna Ng detailed, “how crucial it is to master the fundamentals/basics. For instance, making dynamic traps to create space and eliminate defenders on the move, especially under tight marking.”  

While Jolene Ng said, “is the importance of attitude—being proactive, aggressive, and showing grit on the field.” 

Form a coaching perspective, Ong Jun Hong said “the value of incorporating a holistic approach to coaching that includes not only physical and technical training but also mental and tactical development.” Faris Ali added “We need to be more intentional with our planning and execution of training, and actively give feedback where it’s due. As coaches we should try not to be stagnant and fixed in our ways, and instead be receptive to new ideas.” 

Thank you again to PRL for making this possible, it was incredibly worthwhile, and we look forward to continuing the partnership in the future.