Junior hockey players get an English tutor
English tutors will be an integral part of the Indian junior hockey development programme after it was observed players weren’t able to express themselves on the playfield.
Hockey India’s high-performance director, Australia’s David John told HT that, “It’s important for players be familiar with basic hockey terminology in English…we have Indian coaches with the team, but we are looking ahead. We are not just focusing on 2020 World Cup but also on the 2024 Olympic Games.”
To begin with, a teacher has been appointed for the junior women’s squad and soon the men’s side will also get tuitions on English language. “We plan to have four sessions of one hour each every week. It will help bridge the communication gap,” he added.
John, a member of the selection panel, has also set high standards for the selection of 66 probables for the junior development programme. He has outlined a 12-point criteria, with emphasis on fitness, skills and match temperament. During the week-long selection, currently underway, John said, the emphasis will be on basics. “We have set a parameter in fitness and skills programme. If a player has exceptionally high skills and is average in fitness, we might consider him or her for the camp,” he said.
To check the basic speed of an individual, a player covering a distance of 40m in 5.70 seconds will be considered good. For women, it is 6.10 secs. There will be a set of 12 repetitions of 40m to test speed and endurance. “Modern hockey is all about high intensity and accuracy,” he said.