Sean Dancer steps down as Irish women's hockey head coach
Picture: Olympic Qualifiers ©inpho/frank Ireland's Before Uijlenbroek Dancer Korea South Against Sean
After five years as manager of the Irish women's hockey team, Sean Dancer has stepped down from the role.
The New Zealander took over in 2019 and led Ireland to their first ever Olympic Games in Tokyo. Dancer's decision comes six weeks after Ireland failed to qualify for this summer's Paris Olympics. Ireland lost to Great Britain in a playoff at the Olympic qualifier in Valencia in January.
The head coach role will be filled on an interim basis from within the current backroom team until a permanent successor is found.
"As a team there have certainly been some ups and downs, but I am extremely proud of the team's consistency competing and performing at three Europeans, a World Cup and an Olympic Games," said Dancer.
"It has been an amazing experience for me and my family getting to understand the unique Irish sporting culture and skills. But more importantly it was an honour getting to know each individual of our special group. I wish the players and staff all the best for the future, and look forward to the opportunity of cheering from the stands with the great Green Army Family."
Dancer added that leading Ireland to the Olympics in Tokyo was the "biggest achievement" during his time in charge.
"To be part of not only the first every Ireland’s women’s hockey team, but also the first ever Ireland women’s sporting teams to compete at the Olympics was something special and made me extremely proud," he said.
"Also part of that was the back-up post-Olympics. Within eight weeks the team had to compete in a cutthroat, winner takes all World Cup qualifier. To be able to regather and prepare and produce a winning performance I think was one of the toughest challenges the group had to get through in my time here.
"In 2019 I was working for the Black Sticks and watched Ireland at the World Cup, so I had awareness of the group and potential.
But the two factors for me coming to Ireland were, firstly the opportunity to create a semi-pro programme – three days a week in a new country. The team had earnt the right from their 2018 World Cup and deserved a more complete program.
"It took me three years to get the program to a position that I felt had a good balance for everyone. Athletes now have key training days Mondays and Tuesdays, with regional work end of the week. Club is supported Thursdays and Saturdays. And players can work and/or study part-time Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. With everyone being free for family on Sundays. There is a healthy balance for athletes, that also allows for their high achievements in other areas of their lives.
"Secondly it was the personal challenge to qualify a team for the Olympics. 2018 put the team in a good position, but there was certainly no guarantee of Olympic qualification. And when arriving in Ireland it was immediately clear how much mental pressure there was around qualification, and how my role had to move the group past that stress point.”
Though Ireland did not earn qualification for this year's Olympics, Dancer is proud of how the team played in Valenica.
"We didn’t get the end result and fell short," he said.
"But the performance was easily the best showing of the group over the last two years. Not only did our key focus areas reviewed from the Europeans dramatically improve. We drew against Belgium, who I feel will be certainly competing for a medal at Paris.
"We comfortably beat Korea, who are ranked above us and we dominated Spain in the semi, with our goal keeper not touching the ball in 60 minutes of hockey. Unfortunately, as a team we didn’t make the most of our opportunities including goal shots, penalty corners and a shootout.
"Our final game versus Great Britain was the best performance against them at a major in my time with the team. I am extremely proud of our January performance, and I do hope that at some stage people can look back and see the quality of it”.