My name is Maria Soledad Contardi Medina, a long name for such a short human, I know, but my friends call me Sole. I turned 34 in May and was born in Argentina and due to my mom roots, I am also Spanish. I have played hockey since I was four years old so it is safe to say I can celebrate good old memories from the past 30 years in this amazing sport. My ultimate goal was to know how far I could go with hockey. And in the end, I can say I came a long way. I played internationally for Spain, sub21 and Absoluta, the beloved crazy Red Sticks (Spanish National Team) which I miss very much.
I went to a German School in Mar Del Plata (Argentina) Juan Gutenberg Schule. My father, a great engineer, wanted his children to learn more than just English. So at this school, they offered us the possibility to go 4 months to any city in Germany and stay there with a family as an exchange program. I could do it with any family so I asked to stay with a family whose kids played hockey. And luckily I found the most beautiful family from Hamburg. The daughter played at UHC Hamburg and I knew this was my chance. I was still not 17 but I took my first plane to Europe. It was January 2003.
I played in Argentina for Universitario de Mar del Plata. In Germany (Hamburg and Berlin) I still remember when we were German Champions with the glorious BHC Damen. Natasha Kellers last season if I remember correctly. I played in Spain in the Canary Islands, Santander and Barcelona. I played in Russia where I recommend adventurous players to try and include that experience in their CV as it is simply too great to avoid it. I played in Belgium, Antwerp.
I enjoyed every bit I must say, now when you look back all that was challenging it made me who I am today. I made sure that everywhere I went, my studies and self-education came with me so I made sure that if any injury would happen then it did not catch me with empty hands.
Languages were challenging and culture communication and life rhythms I made sure to always be the first ones to be tackled. Then it all went smoothly as you always land in a big hockey family. The clubs always arranged the plane tickets, accommodation, salary as a player and they either gave you a side job as a trainer or they help you with your University legal things.
I arranged my local phone number, train tickets, a bike, a bank and an insurance card. Sometimes I said to the Club that I preferred to arrange my own apartment because the club only rented the Accommodation for the time the Season lasted. So I started renting my own thing to not have to move every end of a season.
I always manage to study either a course at University or a Master degree and another postgraduate degree that went into the directions that I liked. In Europe, you have many possibilities. Aside from training hours I went to visit the city with the new local friends to have some nice coffee, went surfing or climbing. Find a side job and learn to play the guitar.
To close the gap I would offer some really easy and clear initial information for players that are unknown for the club. Unless they support enough evidence you can always have upgrades in your club-combo but I would definitely have a nice package Visa included or invent some sports permits that any player could come for 3-4 months or even a bit longer. Tickets can be taken in advance without a name much cheaper and get all those travel agencies to become our sponsors. Housing I would start building some nice structures inside the club when it gets too expensive to keep renting apartments and start using club families to have for a couple of months some international conversations during dinner.
When you play in Argentina it is learning how to celebrate goals! It is learning to get hugged so hard that it even hurts. It gets all spoken through passion. Some clubs need to start helping players play in Argentina especially in Buenos Aires. I guess we are a bit behind there and for many people, it seems still too far away. But it should only be a matter of starting. Having some guest players for half a season and see how it goes.
Spain is starting to become a very professional league since international players have started to stay and play in the Spanish league. There we pay attention to the tactics as there are not that many transfers from the rest of Europe so we know each other very well. Teams have a very strong style of playing and they don’t change as much from season to season as here in Belgium.
I recommend players wanting to play abroad to get a Sport CV done. Make one and state who you are, what you achieved so far and where you play on the field and what added value you are. Any information supported by video and image is a plus, more and more trainers contact players they only know from video footage. So push yourself.
Playing abroad opens your mind. It makes you grow without even noticing and gives you the possibility to play with great players and coaches. You can train more specifically and due to the facilities, you will become an even better player.
To all payers wanting to play abroad, make a profile on Scorrd and apply for your dream vacancy posted and let the dream come true. Hockey is such a nice community around the world and thanks to you guys it is closer than ever. So even if you are from Chile, Argentina, Canada, Australia, Ukraine, Russia, Spanish or China you can always be reached via scorrd and like that be as close as a click away.
Good luck for the up and coming season.
