The Netherlands: How the Ladies of Alkmaar entered the transition class

At the beginning of August the phone suddenly rang at Alkmaar. The KNHB reported that the Warande ladies had withdrawn from the transition class and asked if Alkmaar wanted to fill the empty place. A question that nobody had seen, but one that changed the Alkmaar season upside down, even before the start.

The night before the training where the news would be shared with the rest of the selection, Lynn Oosterveer slept badly. The captain of Alkmaar Ladies 1 was informed a few days earlier by trainer Mistral Barsingerhorn.

Oosterveer was curious about the reactions of her teammates. ‘I immediately thought: this is what we should do? But at the same time all kinds of things went through my mind. It means all Sundays on the road, longer journeys, stricter opponents. Would all girls be used up for that? ‘

After the training, the selection gathered in the clubhouse, where the news was shared. One player was surprised open mouth, the other was very happy. The choice was made quickly. Alkmaar said a resounding ‘yes’ to promotion. The season that had ended with the loss in the play -offs against Union for promotion still had a happy ending.

Bubbles to celebrate

Nothing else was spoken about that day. Toasts were made with a little bubbles. “In the evening we continued to call each other and e -mail,” says Oosterveer. A day later, the news from promotion to the transition class was also shared with the Hard Core app Group with more than a hundred family members and friends.

The emotion was all the greater because the team had just missed promotion. As number two, Alkmaar qualified for the play-offs against Union. In Malden they pulled 1-1. The next day the home game followed, in which a 4-1 deficit in the last minute was deleted: 4-4. In the shoot-outs the decision was in favor of Union. The dream of promotion shattered. Until Warande withdrew.

The KNHB has clear regulations for such situations. When a team withdraws and a place becomes available in a certain class, it will be filled again at the start of the new season. Initially, the invitation goes to the highest finishing teams that simply did not promote at the underlying level. The federation may deviate from this if it relates to a number three, four or lower. Because Alkmaar just missed promotion in the Play -Offs, the team first came into the picture. And so everything fell exactly in place.

“This also came for us at the right time,” says Oosterveer. “Nobody stopped. And that is unique, I think. So if there were a moment, it was now. We are on our strongest and we also get additions from the youth. ‘

The Alkmaar ladies are a close team that promoted to the first division in 2024. Young and old field hockey together, almost everyone was once coached by the same trainer in the youth. ‘We know each other through and through. We also do a lot outside the field together, “Ooster explained. Last season the team played unrestrained, without the pressure to finish at the top. It earned the team victories and ultimately a ticket for the play -offs.

Nobody is under illusions that things will be different in the ‘transition class’. The game is faster, the opponents are more physical and the referees can allow more. It will be difficult. But this will also bring us closer together. ‘

The bar is higher

Alkmaar continues on the same footing despite the promotion. Not many adjustments have been made. For example, the number of training sessions does not increase. However, the bar has been lifted.

‘We agree: give two hundred percent every training, get better every week. You notice that we are fierce in practice, but in the good sense. We do extra shuttle runs to become fitter. We must soon be able to defend a 1-0 lead for sixty minutes or run away the equalizer. ‘

Alkmaar Ladies 1 after the last league match. Photo: Private Archive Lynn Oosterveer

In addition to the sporty step, a practical challenge is also waiting. Alkmaar will soon have to travel through the country, from Limburg to Groningen. That means long travel times and complete Sundays dedicated to field hockey. Oosterveer sees it as a challenge, but also as an opportunity. “We are aware of the long journeys. It’s nice to be together all Sunday. We will make something beautiful out of it. ‘

The team has no concrete goal, but Alkmaar wants to be a tough team in the transition class that never gives up. “I hope this will lead to us to compete nicely.”

Alkmaar starts on September 7 with a home game against Helmond. Oosterveer is already impatient. When the news came out, it already started to itch, but now that I am talking about it and think about it, I look forward to it even more.

Nobody knows exactly where the adventure ends. But one thing is certain: for the Alkmaar players every Sunday in the transition class already feels a bonus after the unexpected promotion.