Why we play hockey (or any sport) is a query that has many solutions. It’s not solely totally different due to the place we stay. Our “why” for taking part in hockey is totally different for a lot of causes. And for apparent causes the totally different why’s additionally makes the “how we play hockey” may be very totally different all over the world.
TL;DR
We’re getting close to the tip of hockey as we all know it. The 11 v 11 recreation performed on a area of 100 yards x 50 yards. The place you possibly can solely rating from inside the circle (or D). With distinctive components just like the penalty nook. Positive the sport has recognized many modifications all through its historical past. Some with a significant influence as properly. The introduction of synthetic grass. The abolition of the off-side rule. The introduction of the self-pass rule.
Subsequent we’ll need to witness the transition to hockey5s. Sadly, sport shouldn’t be the rationale for this newest change. Politics, enterprise and directors defending their job, are on the root of this alteration. That’s why this evolution doesn’t really feel proper. IOC and our sports activities federation are promoting out on the expense of our sport.
I’m not speaking about wether you play hockey, ice hockey, indoor hockey, hockey5s, floorball, bandy, curler hockey, shinty, desk hockey or… I child you not… underwater hockey or unicycle hockey. However moderately concerning the variations in case you begin taking part in hockey as a result of it’s a manner out of poverty. As a result of it’s a one thing they make you do in school or possibly a manner so that you can get a scholarship to get an training. Or as a result of it’s a leisure exercise you share with family and friends and part of your training. Or as a result of it’s a job that pays the payments. We are able to all think about these totally different causes for taking part in hockey make it tough to handle the game all over the world in the identical manner.
Totally different “Why – How – What” for hockey
The golden circle is a advertising idea by Simon Sinek and it applies to lots in life, not simply advertising. If you happen to’re not conversant in it watch this video. So take into consideration your why for being concerned in hockey… There isn’t a denying the why we play sports activities or hockey may be very totally different all over the world.
In some components of the world sports activities (and hockey) is one thing you do in school or as an extra-curricular college exercise. And a organised sports activities construction for adults or seniors is tough to seek out. For some faculties it’s part of the tutorial curriculum. For others (the place training is also a enterprise) it’s part of the PR machine wanted to generate profits and appeal to new college students and sponsors. So the rationale for taking on hockey primarily is both as a result of I’ve to, it’s a compulsory factor at my college. Or as a result of it’s a method to get a scholarship so I can afford a (higher) training. Neither purpose is more likely to to make hockey the game of your alternative for the remainder of your life.
In different components of the world sports activities (and hockey) is barely thought-about to be a attainable profession. A method to safe a job at an organization that makes use of sports activities as a PR software. Or in case you are fortunate and decided sufficient to grow to be a professional athlete at worldwide degree making sufficient cash to help your loved ones and have a greater alternative to land a job after your taking part in days. A system that may result in deception within the sport for many and a profession for few…
I can’t try to clarify the above causes for taking part in hockey. As a result of they’re too distant from the world I stay in and perceive. I can solely try to clarify the best way we stay sport as a part of our life in my a part of the world, which is western Europe. It’s not the one a part of the world with this “why” for sport. There are different areas across the globe which have the same method and take a look at it from the identical “why”.
Why play hockey – the unique why…
I consider the why we’ve got for taking part in hockey in my a part of the world is the one that’s closest to the unique aim of sports activities as described again within the days by the Olympic motion. I do know this sounds smug. However I’ve tried sincerely searching for the nice (or higher) in different setups for our sport, however was by no means satisfied by them. Possibly that’s me and the best way I used to be introduced up to have a look at the world. I’m open for the talk and all different arguments, aside from the simple manner out in saying the best way we do it, simply wouldn’t work in different cultures or areas of the world. I consider that to be a faux argument from these not keen to think about change (and the exhausting work that comes with change).
Our “why” relies upon two components we have to work on our whole life: well being & training. From this why our “how” has advanced to family-centric golf equipment and our “what‘ has grow to be the native/regional/nationwide leagues by which we compete.
Mother and father with younger kids selected hockey. To allow them to be part of a hockey membership as a spot for his or her youngsters to satisfy and have interaction with household & associates and study working collectively as a group. But in addition to enhance their very own well being & abilities by way of perseverance and primarily numerous enjoyable. It supplies a bodily exercise in a wholesome outside setting. Which stimulates working not solely the physique but in addition the thoughts. To realize the “mens sana in corpore sano” excellent. Our golf equipment present a wholesome and secure setting for our youngsters to be taught and observe in actual life that what’s taught at residence and at school. When executed proper its makes them higher individuals. These golf equipment are sometimes an vital a part of the “village we have to elevate our kids“.
For college college students and younger adults becoming a member of a membership – or persevering with to play at their childhood membership – supplies a steady wholesome setting to wind down from the efforts required by our research or beginning up work life. It supplies a method to stay shifting . And never get caught behind a desk on a regular basis and a few totally different psychological challenges to assist clear the thoughts. Moreover it ‘s the place we be taught the artwork of networking. A ability that may serve us properly in our skilled lives afterward. Typically the bonds cast at our golf equipment at a younger age stay sturdy once we encounter one another once more in enterprise or life afterward.
For adults it’s not solely a manner to assist educate our kids. The membership additionally supplies in our personal wants for staying wholesome. Via training sports activities and by no means cease studying about ourselves (and others) by way of sports activities. Accepting and studying to take care of every others variations, strengths and weaknesses. Mens sana in corpore sano is one thing you must by no means cease working at.
The tip of hockey
It has been over 3 years since I wrote a column “The tip of hockey“. In it I deal with the shortage of affection for the sport of hockey from the directors working our sport. Or to say it much less dramatically the issue of getting different priorities as an alternative of being 100% devoted to hockey. My primary concern… and the rationale for predicting the tip of hockey as we all know it’s that with out the respect given to home hockey (in any form or type primarily based upon the customs in every area of the world), worldwide hockey could have no future!
It triggered a response from the newly appointed CEO for the FIH, Thierry Weil, a former FIFA advertising director, by which he claims the entire cash earned by FIH will go into improvement. Nonetheless, the FIH made the selection to handle the Professional League themselves. As a substitute of outsourcing it to specialists who assured a considerable earnings. Due to this the FIH has gathered substantial monetary losses these current years. So improvement suffered.
That’s, in case you think about improvement to be rising the variety of gamers taking part in the sport. As a result of it’s clear to some it’s extra (or solely) about rising the variety of followers and viewers moderately than gamers. However even from that angle I doubt there was a lot progress. The numbers from the “state of the sport” survey executed by FIH for the congress in 2021 wish to show one thing else. So we’ll watch for these numbers to be defined intimately by FIH. Which they stated could be executed after the summer time of 2021 almost definitely. However I concern these won’t be dependable nor related to what I consider must be the one and solely goal for FIH. Rising the variety of gamers taking part in hockey in a sustainable manner. Anyway… we’ll wait & see and get again to you as soon as these stats are launched.
Hockey5s, our Frankenstein’s monster
In the meantime the eye of FIH has shifted in direction of a brand new format they launched in 2013: hockey5s. Or if you’ll: the answer to an issue that doesn’t exist… In January 2019 I wrote a column concerning the origin and the info about hockey5s and why I consider it to be our Frankenstein’s monster. Very a lot parallel to the fictional character from e-book and flicks, I’m satisfied a few of you should have grown to love the monster. As I’m certain the monster will do some good alongside the best way. Although I concern, as within the story, ultimately the monster will come again to destroy its creator. That means the push in direction of 5s will imply the Paris Video games in 2024 might very properly be the final video games the place our recreation of 11-a-side hockey will probably be performed.
Directors and people accountable for our sport declare they wish to see 5s launched to the Video games along with the standard format of hockey. I consider this to be naive from some and a down proper lie from others. LA 2028 will see our recreation of hockey being changed by Frankenstein’s monster if we proceed this manner. Narinder Batra, just lately re-elected as FIH president, was fairly unapologetic in stating his ambitions to get 5s to the Video games. Rapidly corrected for PR causes by his CEO in the course of the press convention following the FIH congress earlier this 12 months. However who’re we kidding right here…
Sport is taken hostage by the IOC
Sadly the best car to advertise sport – the IOC – has been taken hostage by the individuals in sports activities administration. To be able to defend their livelihood they promote out to sponsors and broadcasters who’ve turned sport right into a mere PR software for his or her manufacturers. It has degraded our sport into an leisure product. Product being the important thing phrase right here. Due to this we see numerous the sports activities authorities led by directors who’ve misplaced contact with the unique “why” however -understandably- are extra involved with their profession and earnings alternatives.
It’s the rationale why individuals like Mr. Batra, the present FIH president, is ready to abuse our sport for his personal political ambitions. Batra solely cares about 1 factor. Bringing the Olympics to India and having fun with the political affect due to this for him in his residence nation. It’s the rationale why he pushes a format like 5s, as a result of that’s what the IOC likes: extra medals utilizing much less sources. Giving the IOC what they need as an alternative of taking care of what would profit the game will get him nearer to his personal private aim: energy in India.
Is there room for professionalism and the enterprise of leisure in sport? After all there may be. In hockey additionally. However… and this is a crucial however… provided that the individuals managing our sport, can present proof it’s on the service of getting extra individuals to play the sport of hockey.
Wanting ahead to your feedback under. I don’t anticipate everyone to agree with me and am joyful to have interaction in a well mannered and constructive dialogue… 😉
