Simply earlier than the beginning of the European Championships in August we’ll know the brand new president for the EHF, the European Hockey Federation. Both Peter Elders, a former umpire from The Netherlands or Marcos Hofmann, the president for Membership Junior in Spain. On August 18 we’ll know who follows within the footsteps of Marijke Fleuren (NED) as president for the EHF and due to this fact member of the chief board of the FIH. Merely put, it’s a alternative between a diplomat and an entrepreneur. However lowering these males to those phrases would do them no justice, nor wouldn’t it be honest. So let’s look past the sloganesk and speak in depth about each choices.
We spoke with each presidential candidates within the first week of July and have launched the complete interviews as (video) podcasts on Spotify, YouTube, in addition to the same old podcast channels like Apple, Google and extra… Or you would watch these in full right here ↓🙂
Marcos Hofmann (01:19:31)
No time to take heed to this ↑ in full? Or wish to know a few of my opinions on what we talked about? Learn on….
So why describe them as a diplomat and entrepreneur?
Each males are fairly totally different from one another. Though in addition they share a number of the everyday superficial traits of those who performed and managed our sport for many years: white, privileged, household males…
Whereas Peter Elders, who by the way in which I think about to be the diplomat on this comparability, is a typical product of the Dutch. When confronted with an issue the go to reflex is… let’s speak, discover mutual grounds and attain a compromise:
We now have been combating the FIH for the final six or eight years. And albeit, we did by no means win a type of fights. And it has troubled our relation and I feel that’s must be one of many key objects. As a result of I feel Europe must be robust and a robust Europe must be a part of the FIH. To make hockey stronger on the planet. So be a part of them, not struggle them.
Peter Elders
Elders is a real grassroots participant till the age of 18, earlier than choosing up the whistle. Which introduced him to all main worldwide occasions, umpiring on the European Championships, World Cups and the Olympics. Earlier than turning into the volunteer board member at his membership, the EHF and the FIH. Normally lively in guidelines committees.
Marcos Hofmann however has a special response. He described it himself because the bar angle:
My angle in life is like, as a substitute of complaining, you simply attempt to repair it. I name it the bar angle. You see a goal, say maintain my beer and there you go…
Marcos Hofmann
On the age of 24, a fanatic participant himself, he determined to prioritise his profession in banking when the nationwide staff proved to be out of attain. When, after a while overseas, he returned to Barcelona to handle the household enterprise, he thought of a training problem. However along with his enterprise background he gravitated in the direction of administration and administration. At this time he’s the president of Membership Junior, close to Barcelona.
The distinction in characters doesn’t imply Elders can’t be entrepreneurial, nor that Hofmann couldn’t be a diplomat when want be. Make your individual name from the interviews above. Or learn on, realizing on this column it’s in regards to the combo of their solutions and my opinions. In order that’s why…
Concerning the EHF
When requested abut the explanation for existence of one thing just like the EHF each first have a considerably comparable reply. The place Hofmann compares the federations to governments stating you want totally different ranges in authorities from (inter)nationwide to regional and native. As a result of with the intention to serve your folks, the nearer you’re to them, the higher you’ll be able to serve them. And Elders factors out as a result of as a bunch we’re stronger than people. And the EHF must be the voice, the coach and the guide to its nationwide associations (NA’s).
Each agree Europe, particularly below its present president Marijke Fleuren, has been the entrance runner globally in gender steadiness and inclusion. Which is one thing to cherish and proceed…
Hofmann added a truth few of us knew or realised I’m positive. The truth that we’re additionally the worldwide powerhouse in organising tournaments. Europe hosts extra aggressive occasions yearly than all different continental federations, together with the FIH itself put collectively. This isn’t counting the hundreds and hundreds of official video games being performed each week by women and men between the ages of 6 and 66 (or older) in organised leagues and tournaments by the NA’s that make up the EHF. This unbelievable portfolio of tournaments managed by the EHF and its NA’s makes all can play at their stage, leisure or aggressive. And if as a rustic you will have ambitions, inside 3 to 4 years a proficient technology may rise to the highest. Additionally one thing to cherish and proceed…
Elders is extra a federation man and Hofmann in all probability extra membership focussed. For Elders the EHF clearly is a matter of serving the nations whereas keeping track of the golf equipment as properly after all. Hofmann, right now nonetheless a membership president in Spain, agrees the EHF is “a membership of NA’s” however recognises the golf equipment are what differentiates Europe from the opposite continents and FIH. Half of the portfolio of the EHF occasions are membership based mostly. However he recognises maybe extra that golf equipment have to be thought of extra within the challenges they face from worldwide calendars and the concentrate on nationwide groups.
Improvement is one thing totally different in several nations
Sport and hockey have a really totally different “cause for being” around the globe. If we exaggerate a bit you would say within the US it’s all about getting scholarships to pay for an schooling or (for different sports activities) in regards to the leisure trade. In Commonwealth nations like England you would say it’s extra about simply one of many programs you must comply with in class, like math, or geography,… In Asia, nations like India or Pakistan, it’s all in regards to the cash you’ll be able to earn. If somebody is paying, folks will play hockey. If there isn’t any cash, they won’t play. Whereas in our components of western Europe it’s about recreation, it’s part of the schooling of our youngsters and a alternative for a wholesome life-style. It’s the place we come along with household and associates.
All sports activities directors, all around the world, will declare improvement of the sport is an important merchandise on the agenda for them. However what is supposed by improvement may be very totally different for them. My guess (let’s make it clear this not the view essentially of both Elders or Hofmann) is from 140 nations affiliated to the FIH, over 100 nations are in it simply to have a NA with some folks employed, a small group of athletes that now and again play one thing worldwide so authorities funding and IOC funding kicks in and offers a job to the folks employed of their NA. Or it’s used as a stepping stone into their nationwide Olympic affiliation. Some 40 NA’s sincerely wish to develop to variety of gamers and a few 20 have a workable lively hockey inhabitants. In Europe we’ve got some 40 NA’s affiliated to the EHF. And whereas we’d do higher than the numbers sketched above for the FIH, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in Europe both. A serious problem for any sports activities governing physique in hockey is find out how to develop the variety of gamers. Which for us represents true improvement.
Each candidates agree focussing on rising by means of first rising the fanbase, as promoted by the FIH, is not going to be the highway to success. Elders thinks the answer just isn’t so difficult. For him it might be sufficient to verify NA’s are run by folks from the hockey group to verify their love for the sports activities does the remainder. He thinks totally different codecs of hockey have a task to play. From our conventional 11v11 over indoor hockey to 5s.
Hofmann elaborated a bit extra in his reply right here. Additionally stating hockey may by no means be the spectator sport some would really like us to change into. As a result of it’s a small ball, a giant area and a real staff sport, the place the staff dynamics play a much bigger position than in different “comparable” stick & ball sports activities the place it’s only one participant at a time swinging a stick on the ball. This makes it a tricky sport to comply with for the non-initiated, the final sports activities fan if you’ll. So we’ve got to concentrate on rising the bottom of the pyramid (or Christmas tree in accordance with Elders). However when your numbers are so insignificant (some nations have much less gamers than the U14 ladies part of the membership from Hofmann) it’s not straightforward. Every nation will want a tailor made strategy. Simply offering a second-hand pitch and sending over some sticks and balls is not going to actually make a distinction. Additionally pushing our personal membership mannequin on nations with a special tradition is not going to resolve something both. So we should always cease preaching our beliefs and fashions onto others, inside and out of doors of Europe. We should always take heed to how they wish to resolve it themselves and help their plans the place attainable. Show an affordable pathway to the highest of our sport for the aggressive groups. The EHF already is doing excellent work with their portfolio of occasions is the opinion of Hofmann. So assist them create the infrastructure and discover the means to assist these nations consider sincerely they can also make it occur…
Is 5s a menace or the answer?
For me, once more not talking for any of the candidates right here, 5s is the largest menace to our sport. It’s one thing synthetic that was created within the hopes of not shedding the technology with a shorter consideration span and fewer keen on a dedication. I’ve known as it Frankenstein’s monster earlier than as a result of I do consider, like within the story, the monster will come again to kill it’s creator.
One of many few sensible concepts that had been communicated by FIH in recent times has been the choice to (as soon as once more) enable for hockey to be performed on any floor. If a water-based synthetic grass pitch just isn’t an possibility, play on pure grass, concrete, clay, no matter…
What ought to have been added for me is… Play on a full sized pitch or a smaller area. Play 11v11 or 8v8 or 6v6 or 3v3 or no matter… Play the sport in no matter form or kind. No matter it takes from a improvement standpoint to develop the variety of folks really taking part in the game… let’s make that occur. That’s what improvement is about. Nevertheless topsport is by nature elitist and benefit based mostly. And it wants constant infrastructure and algorithm to make it a stage taking part in area and guarantee a good competitors. So use 5s or 3v3 or no matter format you want for improvement and exhibition occasions to present folks a style of hockey. However once you make it a competing aggressive format you place our 11v11 sport in danger. And that’s the reverse of what our federation ought to do for our sport. Anyway… that’s my view on issues.
Peter Elders says he was within the room when 5s was invented and the principles needed to be made. In response to him it was meant to be a really versatile kind to assist improvement and showcase hockey in uncommon locations. When IOC nevertheless advised FIH it needed them to convey fewer athletes to the Youth Olympic Video games it grew to become one thing greater than only a improvement format. Nevertheless Elders disagrees with me and doesn’t think about 5s a danger. He believes, though hockey’s Olympic future was in danger some 10 years in the past, it’s not in danger anymore. He believes our 11v11 format is safe for at the very least the subsequent 3 Olympic Video games. He additionally thinks a robust EHF may have sufficient energy inside FIH to guard our sport.
I feel we’ve got misplaced an excessive amount of affect within the FIH to make that declare…
Marcos Hofmann sees 5s a bit extra as a menace to our sport. He states hockey 5s lacks the historical past and playerbase of different quick codecs in different sports activities. Making it a aggressive format as a substitute of an exhibition and improvement device, it grew to become a burden on an already crowded worldwide calendar and the NA budgets. Now the EHF has to create qualifying occasions for 5s. Whereas it may have served very properly as an exhibition occasion such because the thrilling occasion the FIH organised within the port of Lausanne in 2022. Now there’s speak of doing an exhibition occasion with 5s on the pyramids in Egypt. In that capability it may serve a function. Hofmann nevertheless thinks it shouldn’t be the governing our bodies that organise these sorts of occasions. He thinks they need to concentrate on their core duties and depart these sort of occasions to business companions to take care of.
In response to me, the mid tier and decrease tier nations now assume they’ve a neater path to a world cup (and who know the Video games perhaps). And this may make it simpler to get extra funds from their authorities to run their NA. Nevertheless what they fail to take note of is, when 5s turns into a recognised format, the established tier 1 hockey nations will most certainly take management and take their spot within the worldwide occasions once more. As a result of plain and easy, they’ve the numbers that make it lots simpler to area a stronger staff, ought to they select to concentrate on 5s as properly.
Hofmann recognises the EHF has misplaced a number of “energy” within the FIH. However he nonetheless thinks the voice of the EHF, when push involves shove, carries a number of weight within the FIH. And it must be sufficient to stop 5s taking the place of 11v11 on the Video games.
What modifications shall be acceptable within the transfer to dry turf
The FIH has advised all involved, with out a lot concertation many add, the deadline for a non-irrigated synthetic pitch (or dry turf) would be the World cup to be hosted in Belgium and the Netherlands in the summertime of 2026. Whereas I feel there’s not a soul on the planet who doesn’t recognise the necessity for a transfer to utilizing much less (and if attainable no) water as a useful resource. The quick deadline does elevate some eyebrows.
As we converse (July 2023) there isn’t any technical resolution that will enable for our sport to be performed the identical manner as on the present water-based synthetic grass pitches. Polytan, the turf producer partnered to FIH, has no full measurement non-irrigated pitch wherever on the planet for testing simply but. Tencate Grass, the turf producer partnered to the Dutch NA, has 1 full measurement dry turf accessible for testing. However up to now the participant’s reactions are that it might be inconceivable to play our sport on it with out making big sacrifices.
For the 2026 World Cup to be performed on dry turf, the FIH would have to be taking part in all of their Professional League video games on a dry turf beginning on the 2024-2025 season on the newest. Not very probably with out the sport altering considerably.
Nevertheless each candidates for the EHF presidency state they’re OK with modifications to our sport for this to occur earlier than the 2026 world cup. Neither of them nevertheless goes into element a lot about what can be acceptable and what not. Nor did the president and CEO of FIH once I requested them the identical query in a press meet over the past Professional League. All sports activities directors appear to agree if they’re versatile of their deadline for this the R&D departments, these will decelerate. In my eyes a shortsighted angle by them.
Will we adapt to new circumstances? Positive, people at all times do. However our sport would be the poorer for it!
What in regards to the EHL?
As a substitute of taking away from the game, the EHL has introduced us many enhancements. The self-pass rule to call however one… However will it have a future? Its threats are the complete worldwide calendar and lowering monetary help from sponsors.
Elders agrees with the monetary menace. However the resolution to the monetary stress up to now is identical as to the dry turf coming our manner… Simply stay with it and adapt.
It’s at all times a tense relation. The occasions of , give me your cash and I’ll resolve what to do with it are over. In order that’s the brand new life…
Peter Elders
Hoffman elaborates a bit extra… however has no actual reply right now both.
Currently the EHL fuel form of been stagnating. That’s the reason there was an try and revamp the competitors. To vary the format, to usher in new capital.
Marcos Hofmann
Hofmann continues he observed there have been two opinions. One to stretch the format and preserve a spherical in October and Easter. One other to have it extra concentrated and solely at Easter. Possibly for extra days than simply the extended Easter weekend. Have some further occasions round the primary one like extra youth or masters occasions on the identical time and placement. To pay attention sources and avoid wasting cash that approach to preserve it going. However to make that alternative there must be some extra time to have actual enterprise pushed talks about this as a substitute of talks alongside the hockey area.
Why select you for the subsequent EHF president?
The ultimate query for each was to explain why they need to be the subsequent president for the EHF. As a substitute of me sharing my opinions right here I assumed it might be extra honest to the each of them to allow them to do the speaking with out my opinionated sauce on high of it. And it would even be higher to not restrict it to their reply to this particular query. Hear (watch) the complete dialog above or as a podcast on Spotify or the common podcast channels.
So there you go… by the point the European Championship may have began we’ll know who was chosen by the European nationwide associations to be their subsequent president. Whoever it will likely be they may have some critical challenges forward of them defending the European methods within the FIH to call however one.
