September Check-In with Róisín Upton

It’s been a busy few weeks since Róisín Upton returned home from the World Cup. From getting back on the pitch, to delivering sessions in clubs, presenting at Hockey Ireland’s Coaching Conference and already planning what comes next for UP, September has been full-on.

We caught up with Róisín to talk about life after the World Cup, saying yes to things that feel a little scary, what UP is really trying to build and some exciting plans for 2027.

Wow, it has been a busy return to UP activities since coming back from the World Cup. How are you feeling?

Busy, but really energised by it all.

It was important to me that we prioritised getting back out into clubs this September. We had so much amazing support throughout the World Cup and there has been a real buzz around hockey, for me, it was about taking that excitement and hopefully using it to lift as many people UP as we could.

The last few weekends have been brilliant. Getting out to clubs, meeting young players and coaches and just seeing how much people genuinely love the game has reminded me why we started doing this in the first place.

And what else has been happening with you away from UP?

Quite a lot!

I recently took on a promotion at work which, if I’m being completely honest, felt a little overwhelming alongside rehabbing my injury, trying to get back playing club hockey as soon as possible and wanting to keep building UP.

But I also realised that I need to practise some of the things I want UP to stand for.

Sometimes that means saying yes to opportunities that feel a little scary. It means working out what actually needs to be prioritised rather than trying to do everything at once, and being quite deliberate about how I use my time.

I map out my days, but I’m getting better at making sure there is downtime and fun in there too. I know I’m at my best when there’s some balance.

I got to go to Katie Taylor’s fight with three of my best friends recently and there were honestly a few moments where I had tears in my eyes. Not just because of Katie’s talent or what she has achieved, but because of the impact one person can have on so many others.

I came away feeling really inspired and thinking, we can do more through UP through our amazing team, so there have been a few ideas swirling among everyone and excited to see how they develop in the coming months!

For anyone who still isn’t quite sure… is UP just bucket hats and water bottles?

The bucket hats definitely became a bit of a fan favourite at the World Cup!

And of course we love seeing people wearing the merchandise because every time you spot that UP logo somewhere it feels like our little community is growing, which is exactly what we want.

But UP is about so much more than that.

At its heart, it is about people and connection. We want to create experiences that bring people together, help them learn and hopefully leave them feeling a little more confident or inspired than when they arrived.

Over the last few weekends I’ve been running sessions in clubs and some of my favourite moments have been really simple ones,  seeing the pure love people have for hockey, watching someone improve from the start of a session to the end, or seeing a player leave wanting to go away and practise something they’ve just learned.

That’s what we want to create.

A genuine love of learning. Being willing to try something, get it wrong, reset and go again.

Because sport will give you plenty of highs and plenty of lows. Having people around you who support you through both is incredibly important.

That sense of education, empowerment, team and community is what we want UP to represent.

You also presented at Hockey Ireland’s Coaching Conference. What was that experience like?

I loved it. Phil Oakley at Hockey Ireland put so much work into the conference and it was brilliant to see so many coaches coming together to learn and share ideas.

Dave Passmore was the main speaker,  Dave is an internationally renowned coach and someone who has been a mentor and friend to me for many years, so getting the opportunity to present alongside people of that calibre was pretty special.

One thing I really enjoyed from the day was that it wasn’t just people sharing success stories.

There were conversations about things coaches find difficult, areas where they want more support and things we can collectively do better.

That’s hugely important.

We are really keen for UP to work alongside organisations like Hockey Ireland, Local Sports Partnerships, clubs, schools and coaches to create more opportunities for people across the wider sporting community.

There is so much knowledge within sport. The more we can share it, the stronger the whole community becomes.

Accessibility seems to be something you’re thinking about a lot with UP too?

Definitely.

One of the things we’ve been working on behind the scenes is identifying funding opportunities that clubs and schools may be able to access when they want to work with UP.

We never want the answer simply to be, “Here’s what we offer and here’s the price. Take it or leave it”

Every club and every community is different, so we want to understand what they actually need and then tailor what we do around that.

A big part of that is also looking at ways of creating sustainable funding.

We don’t want these experiences to become one-hit wonders where a club manages to fund one session and that’s the end of it.

If we can help clubs find ways to build programmes that continue, develop their coaches and create opportunities for more young people over time, that’s far more powerful.

And you’re already looking ahead to 2027?

We are!

Our first UP Overnight Camp this summer was something we learned a huge amount from and the response was incredible.

We also know there were families who really wanted to come but couldn’t because holidays were already booked by the time we launched.

So we’ve listened.

Next summer we’ll be running additional overnight camp opportunities and, this time, people will have much more notice.

We’ll be releasing Save the Dates in the coming weeks, with the aim of opening bookings this side of Christmas.

That feels like a big step for us.

There are lots of ideas being worked on behind the scenes and plenty we still have to figure out, but that’s probably part of what makes building UP so exciting.

We’re learning, listening and evolving as we go.

The goal underneath all of it hasn’t changed:

Create great experiences. Build genuine connections. And find more ways to Lift People UP.

If your club or school are keen to hear more, please email heyteamup@gmail.com

Inside the World Cup with Róisín Upton

A World Cup brings big matches, packed stands, quick turnarounds and very little time to

catch your breath. Before Ireland’s final game of the tournament, we caught up with Team UP Founder Róisín Upton to hear about life inside the Irish camp, holding her nerve from the penalty spot and the things supporters don’t always see from home.

Róisín, if you had to sum up this World Cup in three words, what would they be? Proud, intense and emotional.

A World Cup always brings huge highs and lows. We’ve had moments we’re incredibly proud of and results that have been difficult to take, but the effort, fight and togetherness within the group have never changed.

You have played at an Olympic Games and were part of Ireland’s incredible 2018 World Cup run. Does representing Ireland at a World Cup ever start to feel normal? Never. You might become more familiar with the preparation and everything surrounding amajor tournament, but pulling on an Ireland jersey at a World Cup will always be special.

You are representing your family, your teammates and everyone at home who has helped you along the way from your old school coaches, the various clubs I have played for all theway to to my current employers. That is something you never take for granted.

Let’s go back to the New Zealand game. It’s 1-1 and you’re standing over a penalty stroke. What is going through your head?

Honestly, you try not to let too much go through your head! The decision was referred to video umpire to review so I like to keep close to the team & stay present until a final decision is made. You need to trust the work you’ve done, stick to your routine and commit to your decision, but have awareness of the GK too. There is pressure, of course, but those are also the moments you want to be involved in. Thankfully, this one found the back of the net.

You then delivered the ball that Katie Mullan touched home for Ireland’s third goal. Did you know it was a good one as soon as you struck it?

I knew the delivery had gone into a dangerous area, and when Katie is anywhere near thegoal, there is always a chance something will happen.

It was a brilliant team goal and a massive moment in the match. It gave us a little breathing space, although New Zealand made sure the final few moments were anything but relaxing!

How do you reset when matches are decided by such small margins?You have to allow yourself to feel the disappointment because it shows how much it matters. But tournament hockey moves quickly, so you cannot stay there for too long.

We review the game honestly, take what we need from it and then shift our attention to the next challenge. The ability to reset and go again is a huge part of competing at this level.

What is one part of World Cup life that supporters watching at home might not realise?How much happens between the matches. There are team meetings, video analysis, recovery sessions, treatment, gym work, meals and preparation for the next opposition. Everyone sees the 60 minutes on the pitch, but there is a huge amount of work behind those 60 minutes.

There is also a lot of time spent together, which means plenty of laughs on our team walks and plenty of cups of coffee!

Who is the unofficial Chief Morale Officer in the Irish camp?

There are definitely a few candidates. We have a brilliant entertainment crew who keep us busy and make sure there are plenty of laughs around camp. But during this World Cup, I would probably have to give it to Flora. She is our youngest and definitely our cutest - member of the touring party and has brought great energy to the group, with a special shoutout has to go to her legend of a mum, Lena, too. She is genuinely paving the way by showing that becoming a mum doesn’t have to mean stepping away from an international career. To return to this level, with Flora alongside her, is incredibly inspiring.

And who takes the longest to get ready for a match?

There are many avid tanners that get the party started the night before gameday!!

Are you a calm and quiet dressing-room person before a game, or do you need themusic turned all the way up?

I’m probably somewhere in the middle. I like the energy of the music and everyone getting ready together, but I also need a few quiet moments to focus on my own role and what I need to do when the match begins so you could find me in charge of the music and singing along, but you could also find me in a corner reading my book!

Be honest: Are you a good World Cup roommate?

I would say yes, although I’m not sure Katie would give you the same answer! We’re very close friends and have played together for years, so hopefully she’d agree. We’ve become hooked on a few different series over here, but I’m just as happy getting into bed with a good book so I’m not exactly keeping her awake all night!

What has been your favourite off-pitch moment of the tournament?

We've done some fun team building on this trip. From daily keepy-uppies to our team sports day or our darts competition!

We have loved seeing the Irish support in Wavre. How much of a difference does it make?

A massive difference. Running onto the pitch for our opening game v Spain on a Sunday night was incredible. The stadium was green. I had goosebumps. You can hear the Irish supporters throughout the game, and seeing the flags, green shirts and our UP bucket hats around the stadium gives everyone a real lift. We know people are travelling, changing plans and getting up at all hours to follow us and that support never goes unnoticed.

When a young player watches a World Cup match, what should they look for beyond the goals and big skills?

Watch what players do before they receive the ball and what they do immediately after losing it. At this level, scanning, communication, movement and decision-making are hugely important. Some of the best work in a match happens away from the ball and might not make the highlights.

Pick one player in your position and follow them for a few minutes. You’ll notice so much more about how they create space, support teammates and react when possession changes.

What should young players notice about how international players respond to mistakes?

Everyone makes mistakes, even at a World Cup, even by the top teams. The important part is the response. The best players don’t spend the next few minutes thinking about what went wrong. They recover, reconnect with their teammates and focus on the next action. You don’t need to play a perfect match. You need to keep showing up for the next moment.

What has made you most proud of this Irish team during the tournament?

The way the group has continued to fight for one another. There have been setbacks, but nobody has stopped working or believing. We have competed with some of the best teams in the world and shown that we can create chances and cause teams real problems.

The results haven’t always reflected the quality of the performances, but the attitude and togetherness of the player group have been incredibly strong.

What would you say to all the young hockey players following the team through the UP World Cup Hub?

Firstly, thank you. We really do feel the support from home. I have loved seeing so many entries to our competitions, seeing so many of you in our bucket hats and I really hope watching the World Cup shows you what is possible, but also reminds you that every international player started in the same place, learning the basics, making mistakes and trying to get a little better each week.

Enjoy your hockey, be a good teammate and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. And remember, becoming an international player isn’t the only way the game can take you somewhere special. People I played alongside have gone on to become coaches and officials, and hockey has opened incredible doors for them too. Keep an open mind you never know where the game, or your place within it, might take you.

There is still one more match to play. What do you want Ireland to bring into it?

Pride, energy and determination. We want to finish the tournament with a performance that reflects who we are as a team. Every opportunity to play for Ireland matters, and we will be giving everything to finish our World Cup campaign strongly.Róisín’s World Cup

Quick-Fire Round

Pre-match meal?

Overnight Oats here - made by team snack queen Caoimhe

Tea or coffee?

Depends on the day - Coffee galore on tour from our local spot Dish in Waterloo!

The song currently played most in the team room?

Step It Out by Fahri Mac and The High Kings has been getting plenty of airtime,

although our team DJ, Saz Mc, always keeps the playlist moving!

Best person to sit beside on a long bus journey?

Hannah Mc and her crosswords!

One thing that must always be in your kitbag?

Cow cream deep heat, if you know you know!

Favourite moment of the World Cup so far?

That final whistle against New Zealand and celebrating a World Cup win together.

First person you call after a match?

My parents for the debrief if they aren’t there!

The best piece of advice you have ever received?

Enjoy the experience and never take any game for granted. You never really know when it might be your last, so make the most of every opportunity, enjoy the people you share it with and remember why you started playing in the first place.

One Final Question: Are You Ready to Finish the World Cup on a High?

Always ready. There is still one more opportunity to represent Ireland on the world stage, and we intend to make it count.