A blueprint for hockey

S. D. Bapat

Whimsical selection policy or even selection for a consideration is not the only bane of Indian hockey. From infrastructure to dietary issues of the players, there are a number of issues that are inimical of growth of modern hockey. However, not all is lost and if honest effort is made there is no reason to believe that the glory days can be recreated.

The paradox of Indian hockey is that while all the international and national tournaments are conducted on astro-turf we continue to play the game up to the state level on grass and in most cases not even on properly leveled. Then the players are, all of a sudden expected to play the matches directly on the Astro-turf and not having any sort of experience cannot perform true to their ability/potential. Consequently, often players not as good get picked up and the best get left out. An opportunity is thus lost due to not being provided.     

Providing astro turf grounds and decent grass hockey fields at the district level has to be a priority and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) needs to take initiative in this regard.

Physical fitness too needs to be emphasized. We are even today resorting to the same old traditional ground exercises, etc. and are made to compete with the players using ultra modern equipments that help them cope with the demands of modern hockey.

Funding: As per the prevalent norms, the state governments provide 50 per cent of the cost and the balance is to be raised by the concerned association/body which is a huge task. However, till hockey can be marketed successfully the IHF should take initiative in using its good offices and:

a) Make the government’s bear 100 per cent cost of creating the infrastructure and in addition either sanction a lump sum amount the interest of which should be enough to meet the maintenance expenses or sanction an annual grant to meet the maintenance expenses. The responsibility for the creation and maintenance of the infrastructure can be that of the association or sports council or both combined; OR

b) IHF bears the 50 per cent cost plus fund required for maintenance and the responsibility should be that of the: state/district association. This can be through its own funds or through sponsorships: OR             

c) Reputed companies in the area wooed to do it for a fixed period of time or permanently.

II Training/Coaching: Pre-tournament coaching should be made compulsory and the respective district bodies (with the help of the district coaching centers/sports council) should be made, statutorily, responsible for it from the school.

III   Tournaments: Today, no doubt, tournaments are conducted by both the associations and the sports council. It is a mute point as to which one is better/worse. But it is a fact that there is no uniformity or co-ordination between the two and many a time a particular age group tournament is conducted simultaneously by both and the result is a confused player - which team to represent; and substandard tournaments.

IV Selection: There should be a selection panel at each level i.e. district/state/national and it should be made compulsory that each member of the panel is present during each and every match at each level. The selectors selected should be competent enough, at each level; to select the teams and one of the prerequisites may be he/she should have, at least, represented a team of that level. To the extent possible, IHF should use its offices, to see that the various officials are given special leaves, if they are in the employed category, to discharge their responsibilities.

Uniform selection norms of players should be made known to cacti and every body. This may include:

i) Probables: There should be three players selected for each position making the total strength to 33. They should be made to attend the Camp for a minimum period of 15/20 days before the pruning is done.

ii) No player whose date of birth is changed (including affidavit) for any reason is selected (the entry time date of birth in the school register should only be considered). The offenders should he debarred from any further participation and the institution from which he/she came should be imposed a monetary penalty so that the individuals and the base institutions will think twice before flouting this.

iii) A team of 18/20 should have at least 50 per cent of the players who will be eligible to represent that age group in the next year (except seniors).

iv) The parents of the selected players should meet the officials prior to the players reporting at the camp so that appropriate motivation is provided to the player to perform at his/her best.

Making it compulsory subject in education:

Today, ironically, talking about sports/health has become just a fad in academic curriculum. However, the first step can be by making sports/games a compulsory discipline in the educational curriculum.

All the schools must be made to function on uniform norms - working hours, syllabus, etc. throughout the country. Then only we can provide equal opportunities to all alike and that is when a real/fair spotting and nurturing of the talents become meaningful.

VI)  Incentives: We talk about the stimulator - the incentives provided in the form of rewards/awards. It is time we have a hard look at this. We are very generous in rewarding the proven few that is only after their reaching the pinnacle of their achievements when in fact they need no monetary support.

It is in the agenda of the government and it does tell the departments/undertakings to have a certain percentage of their roll to be filled by recruiting sportsmen. But the fact remains that hardly anybody follows this and even if, somebody is recruiting, it is ultimately only a deserving few who get employed - sheer accident (they get included in the list of the relatives/recommended categories/etc. because of cover-up measures and not designed).

It is in this context I suggest that the sportsmen who has played for the district/state/nation should be given conditional employment appropriately so that they are not only assured of a secured life but are made to continue with their sports/games. This can easily be done if all the organizations (both private and public seniors) are statutorily made to fill up a certain percentage of their employees by sportsmen - say 5%.

Scholarships/Awards: At this stage, no comments are warranted since when the system is overhauled for betterment, this will automatically change to work as the desired object - the stimulator.

Academies: Every-state should have at least one “Hockey Academy”. When we talk of an academy, the immediate pointer will be the huge fund requirement. There are many ways of overcoming this. -A classic example is the Townships of many a public sector undertakings where enormous facilities in the name of employee welfare are created which is, yes, and a must.

(The author is the Former President, Gujarat State Hockey Association)