River Rats: Athletics instead of muscle

Created: 06/24/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Thomas Wenzel

The Geretsrieder River Rats complete a special training for athletics and stability once a week during the preparation with the Kochler fitness coach Sebastian Jocham (middle).

Head coach Stefan Roth will bring his team together for three sessions a week until the end of August.

© Hans Lippert

With 18 men, the Geretsried ice hockey team started summer training on Monday.

The new coach Stefan Roth completes three sessions a week with his team, one of them with a special athletic trainer.

Geretsried – The times when ice hockey players trained extensive muscles during the summer are long gone.

The Bavarian league club ESC Geretsried is therefore breaking new ground and has hired its own athletic trainer in Sebastian Jocham.

The junior high school teacher from Kochel last worked for the footballers of TuS Geretsried and is now supposed to make the River Rats fit.

"Sebastian can do that much better than I can with his training," admits Stefan Roth.

The new ESC coach knows Jocham well and brought him up for summer training.

"Of course it's a great thing when a club wants and can afford this extra," says the 42-year-old happily.

The Peißenberger, who last stood on the gang at the state league club ESV Burgau, asks the River Rats to train three times a week.

Jocham always takes over the first unit.

"It's about improving the athleticism and stability of the players with the help of utensils such as bands," explains Roth, who meets with his protégés on the sports field of the Isardamm School.

The second training session always focuses on speed and endurance.

"We can practice that on the track in the Isarau Stadium," reports the coach.

Because the sweaty preparation for the ice hockey season that starts in October should also be fun, Roth has put together a colorful program for the third evening of training.

"We will play padel tennis, beach volleyball and football or do some spinning,"

ESC: Does a defender come from North America?

At the start of summer training last Monday, Roth welcomed 18 men including some juniors.

"The majority of the team is standing," said the coach.

The squad from last season with three goalkeepers, five defenders and eleven strikers will then be supplemented with players from their own U20 team.

"We could still use a defender," adds the ESC coach.

According to reports, Roth's wish could soon come true: because striker Ondrej Horvath no longer needs a contingent position thanks to his German citizenship, the second position next to the Czech Marek Haloda will become vacant.

And apparently those responsible in Geretsried are considering awarding this to a defender from North America.

In any case, the coach hopes that his squad will be complete by August 22nd.

The first training session at the Heinz-Schneider-Eisstadion is scheduled for this date.

"Maybe we can go into the hall a few days earlier because Rick Boehm's ice hockey camp is taking place there," says Roth.

Six friendlies are planned for September.

The River Rats mainly have to deal with Bayernliga competitors such as Buchloe, Waldkraiburg, Schongau and Königsbrunn.

There may also be a seventh preparatory game: The ESC has asked the neighboring club Tölzer Löwen.

Stefan Roth, new coach of the Bavarian league ice hockey club ESC Geretsried © Archive