From a team of friends to the play-offs: Ring Pass continues to make history

As the apparel partner of Ring Pass, The Indian Maharadja has been closely following the performance of the Delft-based hockey club for years. This season, something remarkable stands out. Not only did several The Indian Maharadja-sponsored clubs finish at the top of the Promotion Class, but Victoria, Nijmegen, and Ring Pass have also emerged as decisive teams in the battle for promotion. Victoria secured the championship, Nijmegen qualified for the play-offs, and Ring Pass can also continue to dream of a historic step up to the highest level in the Netherlands.

For Ring Pass, this feels like the culmination of a years-long process. While many top teams frequently change their roster, the core of this squad has consisted for years of players who grew up together within the club. They often refer to themselves as a 'team of friends.' That close bond formed the foundation for a special journey that began in the Transition Class and, through multiple promotions, ultimately led to the top of the Promotion Class. Now, their biggest challenge yet awaits: a play-off duel against Hoofdklasse club and local rival HDM from The Hague.

A family club through and through

Anyone standing on the sidelines at a Ring Pass match day immediately notices that this is about more than just hockey. Parents, friends, youth players, and club members are deeply invested in the first women's team. The level of involvement within the association is high, and that is exactly what makes Ring Pass so special, according to the players.

"It really feels like a family club," says Lise Bom. "Everyone is involved, and new players are immediately welcomed into the group. No one is left out."

Guusje Vixseboxse recognizes that feeling as well. When she joined the team, she felt that the players were not just friends, but also a bit like sisters. Now, she finds that she can fulfill that same role for younger players joining the squad.

This culture of involvement and trust ensures that camaraderie and performance go hand in hand. Off the field, the players seek each other out often, while on the field, they know exactly what to expect from one another. According to the players, it is one of the most important reasons why Ring Pass has continued to grow as a collective for years.

Grown up together

The current successes did not happen overnight. A few years ago, Ring Pass went through a difficult period when a large portion of the experienced players left. A new generation was then built from the club's own youth academy.

Many players from the current squad went through the entire Ring Pass youth academy together. As a result, they possess a natural chemistry that is clearly visible on the field.

According to head coach Eelko van Roon, that club culture is one of the most important foundations of their success.

"A large part of the group consists of true Ring Pass players who were trained here. That gives you a strong foundation. From there, you can add targeted reinforcements who are not only technically but also tactically high-level."

What Van Roon perhaps finds most special is that Ring Pass has always remained true to itself. The club does not work with paid players and actually expects players to remain involved with the association. Many coach youth teams or help out during club activities.

"That creates a strong team spirit," says the coach. "We have remained a normal club, and we can be proud of that."

From Transition Class to play-off contender

The journey began in the Transition Class, where Ring Pass worked its way up step by step. After the winter championship, promotion to the Promotion Class followed. There, the team immediately surprised friend and foe alike.

In the first two seasons, Ring Pass finished fourth both times. Strong performances, but each time just short of qualifying for the play-offs. Nevertheless, those years built confidence. It proved that the team wasn't just hanging around the top by chance, but truly belonged among the best teams in the league.

This season, the next step followed.

Under the leadership of Van Roon, the team continued to grow. Tactically, the team became stronger, more flexible, and better able to execute different game plans.

"The players can execute different game plans and are getting better at switching during matches. That is something we have worked hard on over the past few years."

This development ultimately resulted in a spot among the top teams in the league and, more importantly, in reaching the play-offs. By holding off Were Di in the decisive match, Ring Pass finally received the reward they had come so close to in recent years.

The power of the collective

What is the team's secret? According to the players, the answer lies not just in quality, but above all in their mutual bond.

The core has been playing together for years. As a result, the players know how to find each other instinctively. Furthermore, there is a great deal of trust within the group, and they work for one another.

"We go that extra mile for each other," says Bom.

Vixseboxse even calls the social side of the team a kind of glue.

"As long as that glue is there, we will keep performing well."

Van Roon compares his team to the red panda, the squad's adopted team emblem.

"We fight for every inch. That is something our opponents know us for."

That combination of quality, trust, and enjoyment has ensured that Ring Pass has been performing above expectations for several years. At the same time, there is still room for growth. According to Bom, the team can still make technical strides, while the physical and tactical foundation is now solid. It is precisely this constant drive to improve that has brought the group to where it is today.

From dream to reality

During the interviews, reaching the play-offs was still spoken of as a goal within reach. That mission has now been accomplished. Ring Pass won the all-decisive match against Were Di, securing a spot in the promotion play-offs.

As a result, this team's story gets an extra chapter. A team that was fighting in the Overgangsklasse just a few years ago is now playing matches where promotion to the Hoofdklasse is at stake.

"Three years ago, we would never have dared to dream of this," Bom said during the interview.

Vixseboxse also felt how special the situation was back then.

"We finished fourth two years in a row. Because of that, this felt very far away. Now you realize it really is possible."

Those words take on even more meaning now that the play-offs are a reality.

Nothing to lose, everything to gain

By reaching the play-offs, Ring Pass has already achieved its initial goal. What follows feels like a bonus to many within the club. In the battle for promotion, they now face HDM, an established name from the Hoofdklasse and, moreover, a local rival from The Hague.

On paper, Ring Pass is the underdog. The players and staff realize this all too well. At the same time, it is precisely this role that the team has felt at home in over the past few years. Even in the Promotieklasse, the Delft women's hockey team was regularly underestimated. Year after year, they proved that they belonged among the best teams in the league.

Regardless of the outcome of the two-legged tie against HDM, Ring Pass has already written a remarkable chapter in the club's history. A chapter built on friendship, trust, enjoyment, and years of growing together.

Update

The interviews for this article were conducted just before the conclusion of the regular season. At that time, Ring Pass was still fully in the running for a spot in the promotion play-offs for the Hoofdklasse. That mission has since been accomplished. By defeating rivals Were Di in the decisive match, the Delft team secured their place in the promotion play-offs.

The play-offs then presented a unique challenge against local rivals and Hoofdklasse club HDM from The Hague. In two nail-biting matches, Ring Pass demonstrated why they are considered among the best in the Promotieklasse. Ultimately, however, the team fell just short of making their ultimate dream of promotion to the Hoofdklasse a reality.

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