Robin Rösch started a year and a half ago to ensure that the name Bundesliga club can again be used synonymously with SC Frankfurt 1880.
As a sporting director, conceptually from your desk, but also with a high presence on the artificial turf.
In the indoor hockey round that ended at the weekend, Rösch returned completely to his old profession, coaching. With success. The "eighties" had a good indoor season and finished the southern season in third place. Against the two top teams from Mannheim, TSV and HC, as expected, there was no match - the other three teams were confidently distanced with 16 points from ten games. So that now not only the expected Bundesliga stay in the hall has been achieved, but added value has been created. “We are very happy with the overall appearance of the team. There was an all-round great team development on and off the field, ”says Rösch. How does the 50-year-old with many years of first-class national and international coaching experience fix this? "The way the players treat each other,in the way we work and communicate together. "
The Frankfurters saw the indoor circuit as a stage goal on the way to a much bigger one: staying in the Bundesliga on the field. Started as a climber and a big outsider at the beginning of the season last September, the aim is now to achieve in spring that it continues to be called: SC 1880 equal to the Bundesliga club. The new mode of the field round enables the Hessians to focus their work on two crucial weekends in May: the play-downs. In the "Best of Five" mode, the positive development for months could be crowned with the extended membership of the twelve best German hockey addresses. After a 14-day break from training, coach Jon Elliott will intervene again. The Welshman, in whose homeland the indoor variant is hardly widespread, used the winter time toto plan the field preparation and season, and has left Rösch the indoor training work. "In three years we want to be set up so that we have a team that will stay in the Bundesliga for the long term," says Rösch.
A relegation in the spring would only hit the Frankfurters in their ambition, but not to the core. Further duels with national team players like Rot-Weiß Köln or Club an der Alster would undoubtedly be a booster for the development of the young team of the eighties. But also in the second division - as the Hessians have often had the painful experience in recent years - there are strong opponents who can destroy a desire for promotion. Quite a few players in the squad could make significant gains, as they are currently only between 17 and 20 years old. Like 19-year-old Magnus Hautzel, who was second best Frankfurt shooter in the indoor lap with twelve goals this season behind corner specialist Laurens Meyer (15). Rösch regards the successful indoor playing time as a "hint thatwhat the team can do ".
Rüsselsheim ladies are also satisfied
The ladies of the Rüsselsheim RK were also capable of a solid Bundesliga round.
Norman Hahl's team was in no danger of missing the minimum goal of staying in class.
What applies to the men of the SC 80, who have been able to play a Hessenderby for a long time in the coming indoor round due to the likely rise of the Wiesbaden THC, also applies to the RRK women: Against Mannheimer HC and TSV Mannheim were in the race for the two quarter-finals nothing to achieve.
But Hahl was satisfied with 13 points from ten games and fourth in the southern season.
Especially since with Victoria Zimmermann (cruciate ligament tear), Stella Tegtmeier (stay abroad) and goalkeeper Emma Seng (health and professional reasons) three regular employees were absent.
The positive surprise of the Rüsselsheim season was the 17-year-old young goalkeeper Chiara-Julie Demirarslan. "She did an excellent job in her first Bundesliga season and was a real support," says Hahl. Due to the corona-related cancellation of the U-21 World Cup in South Africa, Olympian Pauline Heinz was then available to her home club in the indoor circuit. The national team player made nine goals, only Carla Anagnostou (ten) scored more often.
Whether the Rüsselsheim super talent is loyal to their home club is a concern for many in the club.
But even the new women's national coach Valentin Altenburg did not put Pauline Heinz under any pressure to join a more powerful address with a view to her development, said RRK coach Hahl.
Because in the upcoming second division field round, the Rüsselsheimers will be fully challenged to repair the unfortunate Bundesliga relegation immediately.
A close three-way battle with two other clubs has already broken out in the series - the outcome is uncertain.