Why we play hockey (or any sport) is a query that has many solutions. It’s not solely completely different due to the place we stay. Our “why” for taking part in hockey is completely different for a lot of causes. And for apparent causes the completely different why’s additionally makes the “how we play hockey” could be very completely 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 sport performed on a discipline of 100 yards x 50 yards. The place you possibly can solely rating from throughout 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 impression as properly. The introduction of synthetic grass. The abolition of the off-side rule. The introduction of the self-pass rule.
Subsequent we’ll must witness the transition to hockey5s. Sadly, sport will not be the rationale for this newest change. Politics, enterprise and directors defending their job, are on the root of this modification. 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 quite in regards to the variations if you happen to begin taking part in hockey as a result of it’s a approach out of poverty. As a result of it’s a one thing they make you do in school or possibly a approach 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 completely different causes for taking part in hockey make it troublesome to handle the game all over the world in the identical approach.
Totally different “Why – How – What” for hockey
The golden circle is a advertising and marketing idea by Simon Sinek and it applies to quite a bit in life, not simply advertising and marketing. If you happen to’re not accustomed to it watch this video. So take into consideration your why for being concerned in hockey… There is no such thing as a denying the why we play sports activities or hockey could be very completely different all over the world.
In some elements of the world sports activities (and hockey) is one thing you do in school or as an extra-curricular faculty exercise. And a organised sports activities construction for adults or seniors is difficult 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 earn cash and entice new college students and sponsors. So the rationale for taking over hockey primarily is both as a result of I’ve to, it’s a compulsory factor at my faculty. Or as a result of it’s a method to get a scholarship so I can afford a (higher) training. Neither cause is prone to to make hockey the game of your selection for the remainder of your life.
In different elements of the world sports activities (and hockey) is barely thought of to be a potential profession. A method to safe a job at an organization that makes use of sports activities as a PR instrument. Or if you’re fortunate and decided sufficient to change into a professional athlete at worldwide stage making sufficient cash to assist your loved ones and have a greater alternative to land a job after your taking part in days. A system that can result in deception within the sport for many and a profession for few…
I can’t attempt 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 attempt 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 have a look at it from the identical “why”.
Why play hockey – the unique why…
I imagine 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 great (or higher) in different setups for our sport, however was by no means satisfied by them. Perhaps that’s me and the best way I used to be introduced up to take a look at the world. I’m open for the controversy and all different arguments, aside from the simple approach out in saying the best way we do it, simply wouldn’t work in different cultures or areas of the world. I imagine that to be a faux argument from these not prepared to contemplate change (and the laborious work that comes with change).
Our “why” relies upon two components we have to work on our total life: well being & training. From this why our “how” has advanced to family-centric golf equipment and our “what‘ has change into the native/regional/nationwide leagues during which we compete.
Mother and father with younger youngsters selected hockey. To allow them to be a part of a hockey membership as a spot for his or her youngsters to fulfill and have interaction with household & buddies and find out about working collectively as a workforce. But in addition to enhance their very own well being & abilities by perseverance and primarily a lot of enjoyable. It offers a bodily exercise in a wholesome out of doors surroundings. Which stimulates working not solely the physique but additionally the thoughts. To realize the “mens sana in corpore sano” ultimate. Our golf equipment present a wholesome and secure surroundings for our children to study and observe in actual life that what’s taught at house and in class. When accomplished proper its makes them higher individuals. These golf equipment are sometimes an necessary a part of the “village we have to increase our youngsters“.
For college college students and younger adults becoming a member of a membership – or persevering with to play at their childhood membership – offers a steady wholesome surroundings to wind down from the efforts required by our research or beginning up work life. It offers a method to stay shifting . And never get caught behind a desk on a regular basis and a few completely different psychological challenges to assist clear the thoughts. Moreover it ‘s the place we study the artwork of networking. A talent that can serve us properly in our skilled lives afterward. Usually 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 approach to assist educate our youngsters. The membership additionally offers in our personal wants for staying wholesome. By working towards sports activities and by no means cease studying about ourselves (and others) by sports activities. Accepting and studying to cope with every others variations, strengths and weaknesses. Mens sana in corpore sano is one thing it is best to 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 tackle the shortage of affection for the sport of hockey from the directors operating 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 kind based mostly upon the customs in every area of the world), worldwide hockey may have no future!
It triggered a response from the newly appointed CEO for the FIH, Thierry Weil, a former FIFA advertising and marketing director, during which he claims all the cash earned by FIH will go into growth. 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 collected substantial monetary losses these latest years. So growth suffered.
That’s, if you happen to contemplate growth 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 quite than gamers. However even from that angle I doubt there was a lot progress. The numbers from the “state of the sport” survey accomplished by FIH for the congress in 2021 need to show one thing else. So we’ll await these numbers to be defined intimately by FIH. Which they stated can be accomplished after the summer time of 2021 most certainly. However I worry these won’t be dependable nor related to what I imagine ought to be the one and solely goal for FIH. Rising the variety of gamers taking part in hockey in a sustainable approach. 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 in regards to the origin and the information about hockey5s and why I imagine 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’ll have grown to love the monster. As I’m positive the monster will do some good alongside the best way. Although I worry, as within the story, in the long run 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 may very properly be the final video games the place our sport of 11-a-side hockey can be performed.
Directors and people in command of our sport declare they wish to see 5s launched to the Video games along with the standard format of hockey. I imagine this to be naive from some and a down proper lie from others. LA 2028 will see our sport of hockey being changed by Frankenstein’s monster if we proceed this fashion. 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 through the press convention following the FIH congress earlier this yr. However who’re we kidding right here…
Sport is taken hostage by the IOC
Sadly the best automobile to advertise sport – the IOC – has been taken hostage by the individuals in sports activities administration. As a way to defend their livelihood they promote out to sponsors and broadcasters who’ve turned sport right into a mere PR instrument 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 a variety of 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 house 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 assets. 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’s. 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 beneath. I don’t anticipate everyone to agree with me and am glad to have interaction in a well mannered and constructive dialogue… 😉
