Inside the Circle with Jack Waller: GB Hockey, Playing Abroad and Mastering the Basics
From growing up on the sidelines at Wimbledon to competing at two Olympic Games, Jack Waller’s hockey career has taken him through some of the strongest environments in the sport.
England and Great Britain.
Durham University.
Belgian club hockey.
The Dutch Hoofdklasse.
The Hockey India League.
And alongside his playing career, Jack has also created Unlock Hockey, a coaching business built around helping the next generation develop skills that actually work at the highest level.
In this edition of Inside the Circle, Jack joins Total-Hockey to talk about growing up around hockey, the challenges of progressing through the England pathway, competing at Tokyo and Paris, playing abroad, his Balling equipment, penalty-corner injection work, coaching young players and why the fastest, simplest and most repeatable skills often matter more than the spectacular ones.
Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Jack Waller below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through England, Great Britain and elite hockey across Europe and India.
Growing Up Around Wimbledon Hockey
Jack’s introduction to hockey came through his dad.
Some of his earliest memories involve watching him get ready to play on Sundays.
The first number Jack remembers learning?
Nine.
His dad’s shirt number.
As he got older, Jack became the classic child on the sideline.
Hockey stick in hand.
Ball being smashed around.
Generally creating chaos while the adults played.
But it wasn’t only the hockey that attracted him.
Falling in Love With the Hockey Club Environment
Jack remembers the wider atmosphere too.
Competition on the pitch.
Then teammates spending time together afterwards.
The clubhouse.
Families.
Friends.
That sense of community became a huge part of why he loved the sport.
His dad had been involved with Wimbledon for decades.
Jack followed the same route.
And from there, hockey gradually became more serious.
When Hockey Stops Being Just Fun
As a young child, the reason to keep returning is simple.
You enjoy it.
You play with friends.
You burn energy.
You have fun.
Then representative hockey begins.
Selection.
Expectation.
Pressure.
For Jack, that transition wasn’t always comfortable.
He openly admits that he didn’t particularly enjoy his England U16 experience.
Feeling Restricted in the U16 Environment
Jack felt the pressure of expectation.
More importantly, he didn’t always feel able to play with the freedom that had made hockey enjoyable in the first place.
That created an important lesson early in his career.
A talented player can still struggle inside a particular environment.
Selection doesn’t automatically mean everything feels right.
Sometimes you have to rediscover what made you enjoy playing in the first place.
Finding the Love Again
That reset came during the later years of school.
Playing first-team hockey at Wimbledon helped Jack reconnect with the enjoyment of the sport.
Then U18 hockey improved too.
By the time he reached the U21 programme, the opportunities were becoming increasingly exciting.
Malaysia.
India.
Major junior tournaments.
Travelling with friends.
Competing internationally.
The pressure remained.
But so did the reasons he loved hockey.
The Huge Jump From U18 to U21
Like several players in the Inside the Circle series, Jack identifies one particular transition as especially difficult:
U18 to U21 hockey.
The biggest difference was physical.
At U18 level, many players are still developing.
At U21 level, suddenly you’re competing against men.
Players are stronger.
Faster.
More robust.
For Jack, it took around a year to 18 months before he felt physically comfortable at the level.
Why Development Isn’t a Straight Line
Jack describes his own pathway as a “wiggly line”.
That’s an important phrase.
He was selected through the age groups.
But he wasn’t always playing a year young.
He didn’t simply dominate every stage.
There were periods where he struggled.
Periods where things clicked.
Periods where he had to physically catch up.
That’s much closer to the reality of elite development than the idea of a perfect uninterrupted rise.
The Durham to Bisham Commute
University made the U21 challenge even harder.
Jack studied at Durham University.
England and GB training happened much further south at Bisham Abbey.
That meant some fairly brutal Wednesdays.
Wake up early.
Leave Durham around 5am.
Several hours on the train.
Complete a demanding double hockey session.
Then travel all the way back.
Why the Senior Step Felt Easier
Interestingly, Jack found the transition from U21 into senior international hockey more comfortable.
Part of that came from timing.
He was more physically prepared.
But team culture also mattered.
Jack remembers entering a senior environment where he didn’t feel like an outsider.
Established players didn’t treat younger players as threats.
They welcomed them.
That allowed Jack to approach the opportunity differently.
Treating Senior Hockey Like a Free Shot
Jack’s mindset was simple.
Take the opportunity.
If it goes well, see where it leads.
If it doesn’t, there are other directions life can take.
That removed some of the pressure.
Rather than arriving terrified of making a mistake, he could focus on what he might contribute.
That mindset helped make the senior jump feel less intimidating than some of the earlier pathway stages.
Training With the Players You Watched Growing Up
One particularly exciting moment involved Ashley Jackson.
Jack had watched him playing in the English league.
Then suddenly he was sharing the national-team environment with him.
Years later, Ashley is now part of the coaching staff.
That progression from watching a player on the sideline to working alongside them is one of elite sport’s stranger full-circle moments.
The Sultan of Johor Cup
One of Jack’s first major international tournament experiences came in Malaysia.
For many of the squad, it was their first trip to Asia.
That meant everything felt new.
Heat.
Humidity.
Different hockey styles.
Different atmosphere.
Different crowds.
Jack remembers local schoolchildren being assigned to support the GB team, complete with chants and drums.
It was one of the first times international hockey felt truly big.
Playing a Junior World Cup in India
Then came another level.
The Junior World Cup in India.
Few countries create hockey atmospheres quite like India.
Jack remembers playing against the hosts in front of a large and vocal crowd.
Supporters were shouting his surname from behind the bench.
He wasn’t entirely sure what else they were saying.
Probably best not to ask.
But it reinforced the feeling that international hockey could create genuinely special experiences.
Why Jack Enjoys Different Hockey Styles
At senior level, Jack enjoys facing a variety of countries.
The Netherlands offer one type of challenge.
Man-to-man hockey.
Individual battles.
A chance to see exactly where you stand against some of the best players in the world.
Germany and Belgium offer something different.
More zonal structures.
More tactical problems to solve.
Asian teams bring another style again.
Different Styles Make Hockey Better
That variety is one of the things Jack enjoys most about the sport.
You can’t prepare for every country in exactly the same way.
Different teams value different things.
And those styles can evolve too.
The Dutch side Jack first faced wasn’t necessarily the same as the team he faces now.
Countries adapt.
Coaches change.
Tactics move forward.
That constant evolution keeps international hockey interesting.
What Hockey Stick Does Jack Waller Use?
Jack is sponsored by Balling Hockey.
He currently uses a Balling Power Series Low Bow and was also preparing to receive a personalised stick from the brand’s newer range.
For Jack, the relationship began with something straightforward:
The equipment had to be good.
Why Jack Chose Balling
When Balling first approached him, Jack focused on whether the product genuinely suited his game.
The Low Bow gave him the balance he wanted between touch and power.
But the relationship developed beyond equipment.
He describes a genuine family feeling around the brand.
People who care about the athletes.
A willingness to visit clubs.
A willingness to listen.
And an interest in doing things differently.
Why Different Hockey Brands Matter
Jack likes that Balling doesn’t simply try to repeat the same thing every season.
The brand is willing to experiment.
New graphics.
Different ideas.
Different approaches.
That matters in a sport where equipment can sometimes feel visually and technically conservative.
Players benefit when brands compete to innovate.
Jack’s Grip Setup
His grip setup is relatively simple.
Jack uses physio-style tape.
A couple of layers.
Then another layer on top for the feel he wants.
Compared with a traditional shammy, he finds it lasts longer.
And unlike some elite players, he isn’t obsessive about creating exactly the same number of layers every time.
Sometimes Simple Is Better
Some days he might add another wrap.
Other days he might remove one.
Jack isn’t interested in turning grip preparation into an engineering project.
No scissors.
No complicated measurements.
If it feels good, he’s happy.
That fits with a broader theme in the interview.
Don’t overcomplicate things unnecessarily.
Pick Your Stick for General Play
Jack also has a specialist role as a penalty-corner injector.
But interestingly, he doesn’t choose his stick around that.
His priority is general play.
Why?
Because you’ll take far more normal touches during a match than you’ll make injections.
The stick needs to work for passing, receiving and ball carrying first.
Then technique can be adjusted around the injection.
How Jack Works on Penalty-Corner Injections
That doesn’t mean injection technique is ignored.
There are opportunities during both club and international training to experiment.
Change the movement.
Increase speed.
Improve consistency.
See what works.
Then pressure gets added.
One corner.
One chance.
Score to win.
Suddenly experimentation becomes execution.
What Makes a Good Injection?
The objective is straightforward.
Speed.
Accuracy.
Consistency.
A bouncing or wide injection immediately makes the drag flicker’s job harder.
At elite level, tiny differences matter.
If the injector can give the flicker an extra fraction of a second, the entire routine improves.
Why Penalty Corners Are Harder to Score Now
Jack has noticed the same trend discussed by several elite players.
Penalty corners are becoming more difficult to convert.
Defensive preparation has improved.
Analytics have improved.
Goalkeepers have more information.
Number-one runners are better.
And flickers are being studied in extraordinary detail.
Data Has Changed Penalty-Corner Defence
Previously, a goalkeeper might simply watch video and develop an instinct for where a drag flicker preferred to shoot.
Now teams have more detailed statistical information.
Preferred locations.
Historical patterns.
Conversion areas.
Combine that with quality video and defensive teams can prepare much more accurately.
The Importance of the Number-One Runner
Jack places particular emphasis on the first runner.
A strong runner reduces the area available to the flicker.
That gives the goalkeeper more confidence in where they need to cover.
If the goalkeeper fully trusts the runner, the two roles become connected.
If that trust isn’t there, the goalkeeper may overcompensate.
That creates openings elsewhere.
Club Hockey vs International Penalty Corners
At the top end of the Dutch league, Jack sees very little difference from international hockey.
International flickers.
International runners.
International goalkeepers.
High-level analysis.
The quality is extremely close.
Against teams further down the league, the conversion percentages may increase slightly because the defensive resources aren't always at exactly the same level.
Playing in England, Belgium and the Netherlands
Jack has experienced three major European club environments.
England.
Belgium.
The Netherlands.
And while he believes the strongest English clubs could compete very well with leading European sides, there is one major difference.
Depth.
Why the Hoofdklasse Is So Competitive
In the Netherlands, there are very few easy games.
Drop your level slightly and you can lose.
Even teams lower in the table can produce upsets.
That creates relentless competitive pressure.
Win and you might jump several places.
Lose twice and suddenly you're much further down the standings.
Every point matters.
The Professionalism Gap
Jack also notices a difference in how much time teams can spend together.
In England, many domestic players work full-time.
Training might therefore mean two late-night sessions each week around jobs.
In the Netherlands, many players can train during the day.
That creates additional opportunities.
Video.
Technical sessions.
Team meetings.
Recovery.
Those extra hours might look small over one week.
Over several seasons, they add up.
Jack’s Life at Pinoké
Jack currently plays for Pinoké in the Netherlands.
The league gives him the chance to play alongside and against elite internationals every week.
A typical club week can include multiple training sessions, video work and weekend matches.
Then GB commitments are layered around that.
Which means plenty of travel.
Balancing GB and Dutch Club Hockey
During international training blocks, Jack returns to Bisham Abbey for GB sessions.
Then it’s back to the Netherlands to rejoin Pinoké.
That creates a demanding schedule.
But it also creates something valuable.
Different coaches.
Different ideas.
Different tactical approaches.
Then those players return to GB and bring those experiences together.
Why Playing Abroad Can Help the National Team
Jack believes that variety can strengthen the international environment.
One player develops in the Netherlands.
Another stays in the English league.
Someone else may have Belgian experience.
Each arrives with slightly different ideas.
If the squad is open enough to share them, the whole group gains more solutions.
Should Young Players Play Abroad?
Jack is positive about it.
But he also recognises that it isn't for everyone.
Moving country is a major life decision.
Family circumstances differ.
Relationships differ.
Careers differ.
Support systems matter.
For Jack, strong support from the people around him made it possible.
The Hockey India League
Jack also experienced one of the biggest contrasts imaginable through the relaunched Hockey India League.
Six weeks in India.
International players from multiple countries.
Indian teammates.
A highly professional environment.
And the opportunity to learn from people who normally stand on the other side of the pitch.
Why Franchise Hockey Is So Useful
Players from different hockey cultures are suddenly placed in one dressing room.
Everyone is sharing.
Different pressing systems.
Different skills.
Different ways of thinking.
Different approaches to training.
For Jack, it was another chance to take bits of knowledge from other countries and add them to his own game.
India After Paris
The Hockey India League also arrived after the Paris Olympics.
Jack doesn’t exactly describe the tournament as a “break”.
There was still plenty of hockey.
Plenty of pressure.
And everyone wanted to win.
But it was refreshing.
A new environment can provide mental distance without requiring you to step away from competition completely.
Playing for an Indian Team vs Playing Against India
The crowd atmosphere was naturally different.
Playing against India in India creates something extraordinary.
A packed stadium.
Constant noise.
Every Indian attack feels like the crowd believes a goal is coming.
Even crossing halfway can send the volume through the roof.
Playing in the domestic league was slightly different.
The Ranchi Atmosphere
One of Jack’s favourite domestic experiences came in Ranchi.
The venue was smaller than some of India’s huge stadiums.
But that actually improved the atmosphere.
Supporters were close to the pitch.
The crowd was strongly behind the home side.
Jack describes it almost like a cauldron.
And “small” is relative.
A 6,000-person hockey crowd still feels enormous compared with most domestic environments elsewhere.
Starting Unlock Hockey
Away from the pitch, Jack runs Unlock Hockey.
The idea began during COVID.
With more free time available, Jack created simple hockey videos for junior players at Wimbledon.
The response was immediate.
Parents wanted more.
Players enjoyed them.
And the idea gradually developed into actual coaching camps.
Turning Knowledge Into Coaching
Unlock Hockey gives Jack a way to share what he’s learned through international and professional hockey.
But importantly, the camps don't rely only on his experience.
Other coaches bring their own ideas too.
Different strengths.
Different perspectives.
The objective is to create an environment where young players can learn while still enjoying the sport.
Growing Unlock Hockey
Jack wants the programme to keep expanding.
More centres.
More players.
Potentially camps in parts of the country where Unlock Hockey hasn’t previously operated.
The growth has happened organically.
Demand appears.
Another opportunity follows.
For Jack, the appetite for specialist hockey coaching is clearly there.
Stop Chasing Skills You Never Use
One of Jack’s strongest coaching opinions concerns social media.
You can scroll through hockey content and find endless spins, tricks and complicated skills.
They look great on video.
But how often do elite players actually use them during matches?
Not nearly as often as you might think.
Why Jack Loves the Basics
Jack prefers teaching repeatable elimination skills.
Moves that work again and again.
Go left.
Go right.
Keep the defender guessing.
If you can master a small number of highly effective movements, you become incredibly difficult to defend.
That excites Jack more than teaching something spectacular that might only work once.
Simple Doesn't Mean Easy
This is an important distinction.
The basics may look simple.
That doesn’t mean they’re easy to master.
Receiving cleanly.
Moving the defender.
Changing direction.
Passing accurately.
Repeating those actions under pressure.
Elite players separate themselves by doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
Why Social Media Can Distort Skill Development
Young players naturally see flashy content online.
A complicated skill gets more views.
A perfect first touch probably doesn’t.
But viral content and effective match play aren’t always the same thing.
Jack wants players to understand the difference.
Train the skills that consistently help you beat defenders.
Not simply the ones that look impressive in a 10-second clip.
Unlock Hockey Gives Jack Something Beyond Playing
Interestingly, Jack also sees the business as a form of mental separation from elite hockey.
Yes, it’s still connected to the sport.
But much of running Unlock Hockey has nothing to do with playing.
Websites.
Pitch bookings.
Parents.
Coaches.
Planning.
Business development.
Building Something of His Own
That entrepreneurial side gives Jack another sense of purpose.
Elite hockey fills a lot of the day.
But not every hour.
Having something else to develop gives him another challenge.
And potentially something that can continue long after his international career ends.
Life Beyond Hockey
Away from Unlock Hockey and professional sport, Jack keeps things relatively straightforward.
Friends.
Family.
Coffee.
Apparently quite a lot of coffee.
And football.
Jack is a major Arsenal supporter.
At least at the time of the interview, that was going rather well.
A History Degree at Durham
Jack also completed a history degree at Durham.
His dissertation focused on Prohibition-era America.
Gangsters.
Politics.
Primary sources.
Secondary sources.
A period of history with plenty to investigate.
At university, combining serious hockey with academic commitments sometimes meant simply getting the work done.
Looking back, Jack would like to revisit some of those subjects without a deadline attached.
Tokyo and Paris
Jack has represented Great Britain at both Tokyo and Paris.
Two Olympic Games.
Two completely different experiences.
Tokyo came with all the complications of the COVID era.
Paris returned to the full Olympic atmosphere.
Crowds.
Supporters.
The energy athletes imagined when they first dreamed of going to a Games.
Olympic Experience Changes Perspective
By the time Paris arrived, Jack was no longer the same player who had stepped into senior hockey viewing everything as a free opportunity.
Experience brings expectation.
The Games aren't simply somewhere you're grateful to be.
You want to perform.
You want to win.
And when the tournament ends sooner than hoped, the disappointment naturally runs deeper.
Why the Hockey India League Felt Refreshing Afterwards
That helps explain why moving into a different environment after Paris was useful.
Jack didn’t need to stop playing.
He needed different hockey.
Different teammates.
Different conversations.
India gave him that.
Sometimes a reset doesn't have to mean a holiday.
It can simply mean changing the environment.
The Best Rule Change in Hockey?
Jack has a clear favourite:
the self-pass.
He remembers the concerns when it first arrived.
Would the game become entirely about athleticism?
Would everyone just run?
Instead, Jack believes the rule helped create the modern combination hockey now has.
Elite athleticism.
Elite technical skill.
And extraordinary speed.
Hockey Should Lean Into Its Speed
That speed is one of the sport’s biggest advantages.
A free hit doesn’t need a long setup.
The ball can move immediately.
Transitions happen in seconds.
Jack thinks hockey should embrace that identity because it separates the sport from so many others.
But there is a challenge.
Fast Hockey Can Be Hard to Follow
What makes hockey exciting for experienced supporters can make it difficult for new ones.
The ball moves quickly.
Rules happen quickly.
Possession changes quickly.
Television coverage doesn’t always make that easier.
So the sport needs to find the balance.
Protect the speed.
But make it easier for new supporters to understand what's happening.
The Aerial Rule Problem
Jack believes the newer aerial interpretation has good intentions.
The difficulty is asking umpires to process too much at once.
Where is the ball at its peak?
Where are the players?
Who has the right to receive?
Where is the ball landing?
All while the game is moving at full speed.
It’s an incredibly difficult judgement.
One Rule Jack Would Change
Jack would like to find a way to discourage teams from sitting extremely deep for an entire match.
Why?
Because hockey is at its best when it's fast and end-to-end.
Creative combinations.
Give-and-go hockey.
Counterattacks.
Aggressive pressing.
Deep defensive blocks can remove many of those moments.
Could Hockey Restrict Deep Defending?
Jack suggests something experimental.
Perhaps teams could face a time restriction around how long they can keep a certain number of players behind halfway.
It would be a radical change.
But the aim is interesting.
Force teams to engage.
Create space.
Keep the game moving.
The defensive tactical battle has value.
But Jack doesn’t particularly want to watch it for the full 60 minutes.
What Can Hockey Players Learn From Jack Waller?
Jack’s journey offers plenty of lessons.
First, development is rarely a straight line.
He struggled with parts of the U16 environment and needed time to physically adjust at U21 level.
Neither stopped him becoming a two-time Olympian.
Second, keep the enjoyment alive.
The periods where Jack rediscovered the freedom and fun of hockey were often the periods where his development began moving forward again.
Third, playing abroad can expand your understanding of the game.
Belgium, the Netherlands and India have all shown Jack different styles, systems and ways of thinking.
Fourth, choose your equipment for your overall game.
Jack doesn't select a stick purely because he injects penalty corners. General play comes first.
And fifth, master the skills you can repeat under pressure.
A spectacular trick may look brilliant online.
A simple elimination skill that works 20 times in a match is usually far more valuable.
That idea runs through much of Jack’s hockey.
Keep learning.
Keep adapting.
But don’t overcomplicate what works.
From the sidelines at Wimbledon to Tokyo, Paris, Pinoké and the Hockey India League, it’s an approach that has taken him a very long way.
Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Jack Waller to hear more about England and GB hockey, playing abroad, Balling equipment, penalty corners, Unlock Hockey and the lessons behind an elite international career.
