The 2020–21 Women's FIH Pro League was the second season of the Pro League, the premier women's field hockey national team league series. The tournament started in January 2020 and finished in June 2021.[1]
| Dates | 11 January 2020 – 27 June 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 9 (from 4 confederations) | ||
| Final positions | |||
| Champions |  Netherlands (2nd title) | ||
| Runner-up |  Argentina | ||
| Third place |  Great Britain | ||
| Tournament statistics | |||
| Matches played | 40 | ||
| Goals scored | 156 (3.9 per match) | ||
| Top scorer(s) |  Olivia Merry (11 goals) | ||
| |||
Format changes
editThe home and away principle was kept but this principle is split over two consecutive seasons from this season onwards and work according to the following example:[2]
- in season 2020-21, Team A will host Team B twice within a couple of days.
- in season 2021-22, Team B will host Team A twice within a couple of days.
If one of the two matches played between two teams is cancelled, the winner of the other match will receive double points.
The grand final will not be played this edition because of the time proximity with the 2020 Olympic Games.
Coronavirus pandemic interruption
editDue to the outbreak COVID-19 pandemic in China, the FIH decided in late January to put on hold the matches between China and Belgium, initially scheduled on 8 and 9 February in Changzhou. For the rest of the upcoming matches in China, the FIH monitored the evolution of the situation closely and following the recommendations of the World Health Organization applied in early February the same measures for the matches scheduled on 14 and 15 March against Australia, Meanwhile, it was evaluated the possibility for China to play these and their other matches on hold in alternative locations.[3][4]
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Europe, Hockey Australia decided to suspend all international travels for its national teams until further notice in early March. The matches against Germany and Netherlands, scheduled on 21 and 22 and 26 and 29 March respectively, were postponed.[5] Later Hockey New Zealand took the same decision, postponing their matches scheduled on 19 and 22 March against Netherlands and on 28 and 29 March against Germany.[6]
Once declared as a pandemic on 11 March, the FIH and all participating National Associations involved in the competition decided to put all the matches scheduled until 15 April on hold. Furthermore, it was agreed that the current edition is maintained, no matches will be played after the Olympic Games and depending on the evolution of the situation and the decisions of the public authorities, every match which can be organized between late April and before the Olympics, shall be played.[7] On 19 March, it was announced by the FIH that all the matches scheduled to play until 17 May were put on hold.[8]
On 24 April, it was announced that the competition is extended until June 2021.[9] The restart for September 2020, was announced on 9 July.[10] Because not all matches are due to be played before the end of the season, the final ranking will be determined by points percentage instead of total points.[11]
On 28 May, it was announced that despite the efforts of the involved federations, the matches set to play before the announcing date were going to be the last of the edition.[12]
Teams
editNine teams competed in a round-robin tournament, being played from January to June.
Argentina (3)
Australia (2)
Belgium (12)
China (10)
Germany (4)
Great Britain (5)
Netherlands (1)
New Zealand (6)
United States (13)
Squads
editResults
editStandings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GD | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Netherlands (C)
|
12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 7 | +28 | .889 |
|
Argentina
|
10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 15 | +9 | .633 |
|
Great Britain
|
12 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 24 | 14 | +10 | .556 |
| 4 |  Germany
|
8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | .542 |
| 5 |  Australia
|
8 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 12 | −1 | .542 |
| 6 | New Zealand
|
10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 19 | +3 | .533 |
| 7 |  Belgium
|
12 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 19 | 25 | −6 | .361 |
| 8 |  China
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | .000 |
| 9 |  United States
|
10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 46 | −39 | .000 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) matches won; 3) goal difference; 4) goals for; 5) head-to-head result; 6) field goals scored.[13]
(C) Champion
All times are local.[14]
Fixtures
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As a mark of respect for United States manager Larry Amar, who died that week whilst with the team, their first match of the FIH Pro League was cancelled.[15] In accordance with the League's regulations for a cancelled match, the points of the second match count double.
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Game was abandoned at half time due to heavy rain and thunderstorms when Great Britain was leading 1–0.[16] In accordance with the League's regulations for a cancelled match, the points of the first match count double.
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Goalscorers
editThere were 156 goals scored in 40 matches, for an average of 3.9 goals per match.
11 goals
7 goals
6 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
- Agustina Albertario
- Victoria Granatto
- Rosario Luchetti
- Rocío Sánchez Moccia
- Sofía Toccalino
- Edwina Bone
- Emily Chalker
- Kalindi Commerford
- Savannah Fitzpatrick
- Stephanie Kershaw
- Gabrielle Nance
- Penny Squibb
- Grace Stewart
- Mariah Williams
- Lucie Breyne
- Charlotte Englebert
- Shaunda Ikegwuonu
- Louise Versavel
- Anne-Sophie Weyns
- Peng Yang
- Chen Yi
- Lisa Altenburg
- Jette Fleschütz
- Hannah Gablać
- Rebecca Grote
- Pauline Heinz
- Naomi Heyn
- Pia Maertens
- Cécile Pieper
- Giselle Ansley
- Sarah Haycroft
- Tessa Howard
- Jo Hunter
- Shona McCallin
- Lily Owsley
- Elena Rayer
- Charlotte Watson
- Ireen van den Assem
- Kyra Fortuin
- Margot van Geffen
- Eva de Goede
- Yibbi Jansen
- Laurien Leurink
- Laura Nunnink
- Lauren Stam
- Maria Verschoor
- Alia Jaques
- Rose Keddell
- Gemma McCaw
- Kelsey Briddell
- Ali Campbell
- Linnea Gonzales
- Danielle Grega
- Ashley Hoffman
Source: FIH
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b The matches, originally scheduled for 14 and 15 November 2020, were postponed by the request of the German team.[17]
- ^ a b The matches, scheduled for 24 and 25 April were postponed.[18]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad The matches could not be rescheduled and were cancelled.[12]
References
edit- ^ "FIH unveils Hockey PRO League schedule". FIH. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- ^ "Executive Board approves 2020 and 2021 FIH Pro League match schedule principles". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- ^ "China-Belgium on hold". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. 28 January 2020.
- ^ "China-Australia on Hold". International Hockey Federation. 7 February 2020.
- ^ "Australia matches planned in Europe put on hold". International Hockey Federation. 7 March 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand matches in the Netherlands and Germany put on hold". International Hockey Federation. 9 March 2020.
- ^ "FIH Hockey Pro League put on hold until 15 April". International Hockey Federation. 13 March 2020.
- ^ "FIH Hockey Pro League: Postponement extended to 17 May". International Hockey Federation. 19 March 2020.
- ^ "FIH Hockey Pro League Season 2 extended until June 2021". International Hockey Federation. 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Germany to host Belgium as "Hockey at its Best" restarts!". International Hockey Federation. 9 July 2020.
- ^ "Fih Hockey Pro League 2021-2022: Match Schedule Confirmed". fihproleague.com. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ a b "FIH Hockey Pro League: This Sunday is "winners' day"". fihproleague.com. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ FIH Pro League Competition Regulations November 2019
- ^ "FIH confirms venues and match timings of FIH Hockey Pro League 2020". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
- ^ "FIH Hockey Pro League: USA-Netherlands to Be Played in One Match". fihproleague.com. International Hockey Federation. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
- ^ "Black Sticks Record Breaker Merry Steals the FIH Hockey Pro League Headlines on Match Day 10". fihproleague.com. International Hockey Federation. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ "Upcoming Home Games Against Germany in FIH Hockey Pro League Postponed". englandhockey.co.uk. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "FIH Hockey Pro League: AUS-NZL to be played in June". fihproleague.com. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.