About us
The last session before the first game.
In hockey, the captain's run is the session before the first game of a tournament. The All Blacks run one before every test. The work is done by then. It's the polish. That's what we bring.
Why we exist
- caps for New Zealand
- 200+
- years of international hockey
- 12
- years in Europe: Belgium and Germany
- 10
Captain's Run was started by Nic Woods, who grew up at a small rural school a long way from top-level coaching and had to change schools to find it. From 11 to 18 he was coached by former New Zealand players, and it shaped everything.
Since then he's played 12 years of international hockey for New Zealand, with 200+ caps, and spent a decade playing in Europe: four years in Belgium and six in Germany. Different cultures, different playing styles, different coaches.
We bring that kind of coaching to players wherever they live. As we grow, every coach who joins will have played at the top level and still be close to today's game.
What we stand for
Coachable first
Talent gets you noticed. Being open to coaching gets you picked. No idiots: being coachable, and a good person, gets you picked. The best team cultures in the world work this way, and so do we. Turn up open, and we'll give you everything we've got.
The details decide it
Sleep, recovery, preparation, intent, reflection. The small things, every day.
Current and international
Coaching from inside today's game: 12 years of international hockey and a decade in Belgian and German leagues, not memories of how it used to be played.
Wherever you live
Where you grew up shouldn't decide how good your coaching is.
In your corner
Hockey is emotional. A bad game can follow you all week. Sometimes what helps most is talking it through with someone who wasn't there and isn't judging. On the good days and the hard ones.
Our coaches
Nic Woods
Founder and coach
12+ years of international hockey for New Zealand, with 200+ caps. A decade playing in Europe: four years in Belgium and six in Germany. Coached from 11 to 18 by former New Zealand players.
As we grow, every coach who joins will have played at the top level and still be close to today's game. Meet our coaches
Ready when you are.
Serious players who want more from their game and are ready to be coached. Tell us about your hockey.