Kookaburra star’s isolation survival guide for budding sports stars

The Kookaburra’s most capped player hasn’t slowed down despite training for the Olympics being cancelled. Read Eddie’s guide on keeping active during isolation.

Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden trains in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic at his parents house in Moonah. Picture: Zak Simmonds

EXERCISE and activity in isolation is only limited by your imagination, says Kookaburra co-captain Eddie Ockenden.

Australia’s most capped Kookaburra, with 366 Tests to his name, Ockenden is back home with his family during the COVID-19 shutdown, staying with his parents in Moonah.

The 33-year-old harked back on memories from his own childhood for ways today’s budding juniors could improve their game in any sport during the coronavirus shutdown.

“I made stuff up all the time,” Ockenden said.

Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden with sons Oscar, 2 and Fedde 1. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“There would be trees I would kick the footy through. I had a ball swinging from a tree for cricket — all that kind of stuff — and I would just find little games outside all the time.

“For hockey, I would dribble to the bathroom up and down the hallway.

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“I just liked having a ball in my hands to play hockey with or kick or to throw.

“I would throw heaps of balls at a tree to see how many times I could hit it. I still find myself doing that now.”

The Kookaburras pulled the pin on training about five weeks ago when it was announced the Olympics would be postponed.

They have no set regimen presently, but Ockenden is clicking the legs over, running three times a week.

DO NOT USE BEFORE SATURDAY THE 2ND OF MAY: Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden trains in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic at his parents house in Moonah. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Set running is not part of their normal routine, as hockey training takes care of that, so Ockenden is taking a fluid approach to hitting the pavements around Hobart.

“I just go off in a direction around Moonah and New Town and around the bike track and stuff,” he said.

“I take a different direction and if I come across a big hill I might do five of these and then go somewhere else.

“I find when I do that I drift off and do a lot of exercise and find my own path.”

The only time he is touching a hockey stick is a hit in the back yard with his partner Louise and their children Oscar, 2, and Fedde, 1.

Unlike most other sports, the Kookaburras have a date to plan around with the Olympics now set for 2021.

DO NOT USE BEFORE SATURDAY THE 2ND OF MAY: Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden trains in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic at his parents house in Moonah. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The team was building beautifully for Tokyo and were just about to head overseas for pre-Olympic tournaments when the announcement was made.

“When we found out it was postponed, that was hard,” he said.

“At the moment it is like a usual break that we have, but it has been about five weeks since we’ve stopped, so it is coming up to the longest time I’ve ever had without hockey or training.

“It is definitely different.”