From Hatherop to the Hockey World Cup: An Interview with Mr Hammond

This summer, Hatherop’s Head of Maths, Mr Alistair Hammond achieved a lifelong ambition when he represented Wales at the Masters Hockey World Cup in Holland.

Following an exciting tournament, which included a dramatic quarter-final victory against the USA, we spoke to Mr Hammond about representing his country, preparing for international competition and the lessons he hopes to share with Hatherop pupils.

How did it feel to represent Wales at the Hockey World Cup?

I was extremely proud. Representing Wales is something I had wanted to do since I was a young boy, and I have worked really hard to reach this point. I was delighted to be selected for the World Cup in Holland this summer. It was something I had worked towards for a long time, so being able to achieve it was incredibly special. I was also very proud to play at a World Cup in front of my parents. That was another moment I had always hoped to experience.

What was your favourite moment of the tournament?

My favourite moment was beating the USA in the quarter-finals. The match was level at full time, so it went to a shootout. It was still level after the first five attempts, which meant it went to sudden death. Winning that match was an incredible feeling. It was not only my favourite moment of the World Cup but probably one of my favourite moments I have ever experienced on a sporting pitch. Reaching the semi-finals was also a fantastic achievement for the team and made the tournament even more memorable.

What did it take to prepare physically and mentally for the tournament?

Everyone at school knows that I do a lot of exercise. I cycle into school, sometimes with the added weight of my daughter on the back of the bike, and I also run regularly. In preparation for the tournament, I focused particularly on interval running. Hockey uses rolling substitutions, so players are often on the pitch for short, intense bursts of time. During the tournament, I would usually play for around five minutes before being substituted. My training therefore included lots of short, sharp intervals, sprinting and agility work. Mentally, I enjoy listening to podcasts, particularly those focusing on sport and high performance. I gain a lot of inspiration from professional athletes and people working in other high-performance environments.

Many Hatherop pupils play hockey. What is the most important thing they can do to improve?

Practise.

You cannot improve at something unless you do it regularly. If you want to run faster, you need to practise running quickly. If you want to become a better hockey player, you need to play hockey and practise your skills. It took me a long time to reach the point where I could represent Wales. It requires practice, commitment and effort.

Effort is the absolute key to achieving anything.

Looking back, what do you wish someone had told you when you were a young hockey player?

I wish someone had told me that you can achieve what you want if you are willing to put in the effort.

As a younger player, there were things I did not manage to achieve. I was never selected to represent Wales at full senior level, although I have now represented Wales at Masters level. Not making certain teams or squads affected my confidence when I was younger. I think I would have benefited from somebody reminding me to keep going, continue working hard and come back to try again.

Setbacks do not have to be the end of the journey.

How important are teamwork and communication in hockey?

They are incredibly important.

On the pitch, it is vital that players keep talking to one another. One of the biggest differences at international level is that everybody acts as a leader and communicates throughout the match. It is also important to develop the skills needed to be part of a squad. We were away together for ten days during the World Cup, which is quite an intensive period of time. You need to get along with your teammates both on and off the pitch.

There are lots of opportunities at Hatherop to develop these skills, not only through sport but also through speech and drama, school productions and speaking in front of other people. Pupils should make the most of these opportunities and use them to build their confidence.

Was there anything you learnt at the World Cup that you will bring back into your teaching at Hatherop?

The teamwork was one of the things I valued most.

My family and I have had quite a challenging year, and my teammates really rallied around us. They supported me incredibly well during the World Cup and were very understanding. That support was really important and special to me. I also enjoyed playing alongside and against people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds. Everyone brought different experiences to the tournament, and it reminded me how important it is to use the strengths and experiences of every person for the benefit of the whole team.

That is something which applies equally to the classroom and the school community.

What advice would you give to a Hatherop pupil who dreams of playing at a World Cup?

Keep putting in the effort and always work as hard as you can.

Do not worry too much about rejection or about not being selected for something. Instead, learn from the experience and ask yourself, “What could I do better next time?” That does not only apply to sport. It applies to lessons and everything else you might do. For example, if something does not go well in maths, ask yourself why it did not go well and what you could do differently to improve next time.

Keep learning, keep trying and do not give up.

Is there anything you would like to say to the Hatherop community?

I received some really lovely messages from parents and pupils, and I know lots of people tuned in to watch the matches. I would like to thank everyone very much for their support. It was a brilliant experience, and it was very special to receive my official Wales cap. I am now really looking forward to sharing some of the knowledge and experience I gained with everyone at school.

Congratulations to Mr Hammond on this remarkable achievement. His determination, resilience and commitment provide a wonderful example to the entire Hatherop community.