I always try to be on the top of my game

- Thomas Briels -

FORWARD AND CAPTAIN OF THE RED LIONS

Thomas Briels has been valuable asset on the Red Lions, the Belgian national hockey team, for several years. The forward and captain of the Red Lions already has some nice trophies to put on display: silver at the Olympics in 2016, gold at the World Cup in 2018 and gold at the European Championship in 2019. In a club context, Briels defends the colours of the Dutch Orange-Red.

Thomas: How did you get into hockey ?

My grandmother started playing hockey at Royal Antwerp Hockey and she won the Belgian championship with them. Afterwards, she founded the first women’s team at KHC Dragons. My mother and my uncles also played hockey. So you could say that it is in my blood. At the age of four, I started playing hockey with my brother and sister - we are triplets - at KHC Dragons. I played for all the youth teams there and played in the first team for the first time at the age of 17. I was also selected for the national U18 and U21 teams and at the age of 19 I was in the Red Lions’ selection for the first time. Since then, I have always played for my country with great pride.

Injuries and lesions are of course part of every sport, especially at top level. How do you cope with that ?

After the training sessions, there is always a physio present who we can turn for minor and major ailments, such as stiffness. I always try to be on the top of my game. If I feel anything at all, I seek professional help as soon as possible. Touch wood, but I have never been very badly injured myself. What I also find very important is injury prevention. There are weeks when we have eight or even more training sessions to digest, and that is of course taxing, but there is also a real risk of injury. So the strength and stretching exercises we do are not just there to make us stronger and more flexible. They are also very important for injury prevention. As we travel across the continent, we also regularly encounter extreme temperatures. Drinking plenty of fluids is the first order of business, but good cooling is also essential. We do this mainly by using cooling vests, primarily when we are sitting on the bench during a match. In this way, we keep our body temperature more or less under control.

What do you consider an ideal recovery after training or competition ?

When we play a tournament, the matches follow each other in rapid succession. In that case, adequate and correct recovery is of great importance. After we have talked to the press, if necessary, we drink a recovery shake. Some players also wear compression socks or take an ice bath. Many studies have been conducted on ice baths, which either confirm or reject its usefulness. An ice bath is often a mental issue, which is why not all players are fans of it. Electrostimulation is another thing, not everyone wants it. For me, the ‘old method’ also still works: walking out and stretching. Recovery is actually something that players cope with in a very individual way. Above all, I swear by a good diet and a good night’s sleep. I try to be as fit as possible and stay mentally fresh. Very important! We often train twice a day. Sleep is of great importance for recovering after strenuous exercise and also for being able to perform again the next day.

What do you think the perfect medical environment looks like and can it be improved ?

We certainly cannot complain about that at the moment. We are very well looked after! Of course, hockey does not have the same financial resources as, say, football. Often there is only one physiotherapist for 18 players, which I think is not enough. But this is purely about money, not the know-how of the medical staff at our disposal. I play in clubs in the Netherlands and people sometimes ask me if there are differences between the two countries in this respect. Not very much, I have to say. You can compare it somewhat. Playing for a club or for the national team are, of course, two different things. We are together at different times, more or less, for different periods of time, we peak in a different way and there is a different staff. I just think it is important that there is good communication between the medical staff and the players. Players must quickly indicate how they are feeling or what they are feeling, and the staff must communicate openly about this. In addition to peaking more towards a particular match moment, everything in the national team also happens more as a team. That makes sense, because we are together for a longer period of time, especially during tournaments. For example, we go together to the weight room or the gym. At the club, the approach is more individual. Players spend more time individually with a trainer or physio. For example, strength training may be facilitated.

Sports in times of corona. How did you train at times when contact with team mates was not possible ?

During the lockdown, the federation very quickly decided to strictly follow the government guidelines. This is only natural, as our health comes first. There were no more group training sessions, only individual running sessions where we did not come into contact with other people. Fitness materials were also sent to the players so that we could do strength training at home. We tried to deal with the situation in a creative way. Still, we hope that a real lockdown will never happen again! Do you know that we have even done our bit in the fight against the virus? Several hockey players worked as telephone volunteers for the citizens’ platform Covid-Solidarity.org. In this way, we helped people who live in social isolation. I got a man on the phone who was lonely and wanted to tell his story. I did not say who I was, but let him tell his story. I liked that very much.

As a top athlete, you often have to live like a priest. Have you ever thought to yourself: “ This is far too big a sacrifice, I want to be a normal guy! ” ?

I’ ve had that feeling from time to time, especially when I’m in a heavy training period and need to be ultra-disciplined for a long period of time. But eventually it becomes a kind of routine for me. I know I cannot go out with friends very often because I need to rest and recover properly. This is theonly way I can continue to play hockey at the same level. That makes the choice easy! A long holiday is not always an option for me, as we regularlyhave training camps and tournaments with the national team. On the other hand, of course, I get a lot in return. I do what I love to do and I also travelaround the world. A top-class sporting career is just a small part of your whole life, so I try to enjoy it as much as I can. And if, in the end, I reach a biggoal together with my team mates, then all those sacrifices were well worth it.

Finally, do you have any advice for young talented hockey players ?

First of all, you must have the right mindset: always want to be better! However, you should never set your expectations unrealistically high. Keep realistic goals in mind and take things one step at a time. I also told you that I had few or no injuries myself. I think this is because I always take the best care of my body, including a healthy diet. From the age of eighteen I was often in the gym and that certainly helped too. Moreover, you have to realise that as a professional hockey player, you can earn a nice salary, but above all, there is a life after hockey. Retirement is not yet on the cards for most of us. Combine your favourite sport with studies, even if it takes you longer than usual. Think well in advance about your life after hockey!