Jip Dicke is a trainee with the Dutch national team. Before she got this chance with the Dutch national team, the 22-year-old striker of SCHC was almost in every selection. Now she has four weeks to prove herself to national coach Raoul Ehren. ‘I’m going to do everything I can to stay there.’
It was Wednesday afternoon last week when Jip Dicke puffed out in the gym. With her phone in her hand, before she knew it, she was pushing out a call. Since she has been receiving a lot of calls lately from unknown numbers with strange robotic voices, she decided to check this call first. Once she added the number to her WhatsApp, she was shocked by the profile picture. She had unceremoniously clicked away the national coach of Orange.
Now she can laugh about it. ‘Shit, I thought. I called right back,’ Jip Dicke says, having just finished her second training with the Orange. On the sunny but windy terrace of Houten she tells her story. ‘I was invited to come and do an internship. Basically, I will participate for four weeks on Mondays and Tuesdays. And after that we will watch and take stock together. That’s right before the EHL. It’s very casual. I get a chance to participate and show myself. I am now among the best in the Netherlands. I find that very special.
Not only Jip Dicke, but also Maud van den Heuvel is a trainee player of the Dutch national team. Photo: Willem Vernes
Striker full of passion and temperament
Every field hockey fan knows Jip Dicke’s name by now. Not only because she is the sister of international and SCHC colleague Pien Dicke, but mainly because of her goals. She is a regular scorer. Moreover, in recent years she made a name for herself as striker of the Dutch Junior Team. In her own way. Full of passion and temperament. Playing with her heart, purely on intuition.
I now realize that the step from HDM to the Dutch national team was too big. Jip Dicke
When in April last year Daantje de Kruijff, Mikki Roberts and Eline Jansen were added by Paul van Ass as trainee players, Dicke had a hard time. “That’s when I felt a little bit passed over,” she is sincere. She played together with the trio in the Young Orange. ‘Daan, Mik and I were together the team’s leadership group during the World Cup a few months earlier. Besides, I played a great tournament then and things went well at HDM. That I wasn’t called up felt like shit.’ But by now she knows better. ‘I realize now that the step from HDM to the Dutch national team was too big.’
Jip and Pien Dicke. Photo: Willem Vernes
I didn’t want people to think I was always going for myself, so I just played every ball right backwards. Jip Dicke on her first period at SCHC
Last October, Dicke was not on the selection (again). But this time it felt different. She had given a place to the unpleasant feeling from earlier that year. Moreover, she had traded HDM for top club SCHC. People sent me emails about why I wasn’t included. That they didn’t expect it. That is sweet, but I understood it. I really had to get used to SCHC. I had made almost no goals. I feel I am ready for it now, that was different then.
She played every ball backwards
The training sessions were heavier and faster than she expected. The switch from HDM to SCHC was a tough one. Instead of playing with her heart – precisely her quality – she thought a lot. ‘I didn’t want people to think I was always going for myself, so I played every ball backwards immediately. I didn’t dare make actions and was super cautious. When I found my niche, I decided one thing. Make sure Raoul couldn’t get around me anymore, because of course I regretted that I wasn’t allowed to connect.’
By now she has absolutely found her niche at SCHC. With thirteen goals, she is third in the top scorers classification. Only Yibbi Jansen and Frédérique Matla scored more goals than the talented striker this season. ‘I really feel at home here. I’m comfortable in my skin and you notice that on the field.’
The wise words of Yibbi Jansen
‘A few weeks ago Yibbi spoke to me. I played the ball back during training. She said she wants me in the 23 to always make an action towards the goal. That came in and is so my head now. It gives me confidence. I have to attack the circle. That’s my job.’
Jip Dicke during her first week of training with the Orange. Photo: Willem Vernes
And because of those qualities, she is now part of the Orange. Because her qualities in the circle have also caught the eye of Ehren. ‘I find it super exciting and fun. But am also full of nerves.’ She has to laugh. ‘The first practice was tough, too. That’s kind of a play-in training. Lots of passing drills, lots of basics. Then I tell myself: ‘Jip, you have to pass well.’ Well, then of course it doesn’t go very well at all. I think that’s part of the first time. I prefer to play games all the time. Then I can play freely, but I know that this is also part of it.’
Tuesday afternoon, the trainee walked off the field with a big smile. After Monday’s basic drills and nerves, Tuesday was a practice full of games. “That’s wonderful. Nice and hard training. Playing matches. I was able to show much more of myself,’ she says with satisfaction. In four weeks it will be clear whether her training period will be extended or not. Whether she has shown herself sufficiently in the spotlight. ‘Of course I hope I can stay, I would really love that. I am learning so much. I hope to make my debut.’
by Hockey.nl