U17 teams prepare to do NEVZA battle in Denmark

Both the boys' and girls' teams will depart for Denmark on Sunday ahead of the opening day of the competition.

The tournament will take place at Sportscenter Ikast, finishing on 16th October before the teams return home a day later.

The girls' team, competing in Pool B, will open England’s campaign on Monday morning, with a match against the Faroe Islands at 10am. Shortly after, the boys' team, in Pool D, will face the same nation, starting at 12pm.

Both teams will play a second match later that day against either Denmark Red or Sweden, with opponents determined by the outcomes of the first games.

If successful in their pool, England would make it into the playoff stages of the competition with the chance to automatically qualify for the semi-finals if they win both their matches in their pool. 

Despite the unknowns, particularly as to the strength of their opposition, both teams have been preparing rigorously at pre-competition training camps.

“We’ve got ready with the help of a focused residential training camp hosted at RAF Cranwell and, over the course of three days, we have sharpened our skills with intense training and match practice,” said the U17 boys’ Assistant Coach David Roberts.

"We’re still in the early stages as a squad, coming together at August selection camp. Our primary goals are to stand up in serve reception, run a fast-paced offence, and stay aggressive taking control of the game whenever possible.

“We've only had one camp in September, so building chemistry and executing these fundamentals will be key."

One player that the coaching staff believe will be pivotal in this process for the boys is James Cox.

David added: “James has been on the programme for three years and brings leadership and a deep understanding of the coaching staff’s expectations.

“He also has the ability to deliver the quick offensive play that the team needs to stay competitive against our European neighbours.

Ahead of the tournament, the boys’ team’s focus is on their own performance and making the most of the opportunity.

 

“Managing nerves and fully embracing this experience is going to be huge for us,” added David. “For some players, it’s their first international event, so controlling the controllables and staying composed is critical.”

“We don’t know what the other teams will bring to the table, but we’re focused on controlling what we can do. Every competition presents an opportunity… let's see if we can take ours and aim for a medal.”

U17 girls' Head Coach Steve McKeown says the team are looking forward to their matches in Denmark.

He said: “We have a young and inexperienced team, but we are determined to be as competitive as possible.

“The team have had very limited opportunities to train and play together, but they are very much up for the challenge. All the players are looking forward to matching their skills against some of the top players at U17 level from Scandinavia.

"The tournament will be used as a launchpad for more international competition in the future.“

 You can follow the two teams progress on the live stream by clicking here (Please note, a subscription and payment are required for access).