Coudron challenges Batra
Marc Coudron launched his bid for the FIH presidency mid March 2021. For a very long time it appeared Narinder Batra would run unopposed for reelection, earlier than Coudron mentioned he needed a change. Which suggests the FIH international congress should make an essential choice on Could 22. As a result of, regardless that Coudron is an excessive amount of of a gentleman and diplomat, with solely type phrases for the sitting president, they do have a really completely different view on the best way hockey ought to transfer ahead. And hockey could be very a lot at a crossroads.
In a nutshell…
The main focus for Batra is on rising the worldwide fanbase. The main focus for Coudron is on rising the playerbase. Thoughts you, that is my evaluation from these males and mine alone. Not an official viewpoint from both candidate.
From desires to plans & to do’s
My dream for hockey worldwide, Coudron mentioned, is definitely the identical I had 16 years in the past for hockey in Belgium. Give a risk to each younger woman and each younger boy, all around the world, to play hockey with good gear, good coaches on a very good floor. The place coaches cross on the values of hockey.
As adults we’ve got the accountability to cross on the baton to the youth. These are the widespread values we share with all of society, not simply hockey, not simply sports activities. These values embody respect, teamspirit, honest play, integrity, conviviality, tolerance, inclusion,…
Speaking in regards to the plans Coudron indicated he can be 100% devoted to hockey. Sure, he nonetheless has a standard job (Coudron is a banker) and sure clearly he nonetheless has a household life as effectively. However he would cease all different extracurricular actions. Corresponding to his function inside the Belgian federation and likewise his operate as treasurer and government member for the Belgian Olympic Committee. For me, Coudron mentioned, it’s regular the function of heading up the FIH requires complete dedication.
Secondly, with out blaming anybody or something, we can’t deny the funds of the FIH right now aren’t good. Discovering the fitting and sustainable options to repair our monetary state of affairs is the precedence.
Governance can be a 3rd facet. Among the many values mentioned earlier are integrity and transparency. Inside a number of years the FIH needs to be the function mannequin for good governance on the earth of sports activities.
Final however actually not least, the deal with the event of hockey all through the world. We make investments loads nowadays in occasions just like the FIH Professional League. However that’s only for the highest 10 nations. The FIH needs to be about all of its members, some 140 nations right now. There’s a have to put money into occasions just like the Professional League, however we must always not neglect the remainder. So the principle focus for FIH needs to be on growth for the second tier nations and third tier nations. Coudron needs to have the ability to say in a number of years the hole between the highest and second tier nations has diminished. But additionally that third tier nations have moved nearer to the second tier nations. We’ve to bridge the hole between the highest 10 and the opposite 130 nations in FIH to make hockey develop.
On my to do checklist, based on Coudron, the most important process is listening to all completely different nations in our hockey household. To study their expectations. I’m simply at first of this process however already I’ve discovered a lot. Corresponding to for instance the significance of indoor hockey for the event of our sport in Africa. They’ve much more entry to those sorts of services in comparison with full synthetic pitches for instance. We even have 3 codecs of the sport with 11-a-side hockey, indoor and hockey5s. Some nations would go for 5s or indoor, whereas others would deal with 11-a-side. Some would possibly even mix all three. No matter works greatest for them to develop hockey of their nation.
Fixing the monetary points would even be excessive on his to do checklist. Coudron claims this is able to be solved in simply a few months as a result of clearly he wouldn’t have to begin from scratch. The FIH administration is already engaged on doable options to repair the monetary issues we’ve got right now. He would construct upon that and from his personal expertise within the monetary world to ensure the present issues as a result of launch of the Professional League and the pandemic are handled swiftly.
Fixing the premise for good governance must also be a fast repair, he thinks. However the work on growth can be one with out finish. The potential for growth continues to be enormous. With the pandemic we’ve discovered we will do loads by way of webinars, however these are principally performed in English nonetheless right now. Coudron want to see these in French, Spanish, Russian or the Arab languages as effectively… We should always discover extra monetary sources to make these developments doable within the quick time period.
Coming again to the funds and what wants fixing there, Coudron advised us: I’m not the person who focuses on chopping prices instantly. I might first do a radical evaluation of the state of affairs. Gamers inform me they love the essential idea of the Professional League, the product in itself is an efficient one. However we might must adapt and tweak each present broadcasting offers and the format of the occasion. Possibly the nations who cannot carry the price themselves for this occasion ought to take a step again.
Various world
For Coudron it’s not solely in regards to the viewers, or solely in regards to the gamers. In fact you’ll want to develop the viewers to herald sponsors for instance, however in the event you first develop your variety of gamers, the viewers will observe. However it all begins by listening to the completely different nations. Coudron doesn’t need the FIH to alter the best way the sport is performed in numerous nations. It won’t be a one measurement matches all strategy all over the world. We’re too completely different all all over the world and we have to respect these variations and one another’s tradition.
He want to insist extra on the three merchandise hockey has on supply for nations to decide on one of the best ways to develop hockey of their a part of the world. Every nation should discover their very own particular options to get folks to play the game and to maintain folks within the sport as a participant for many of their life. Each nation has its challenges and the FIH won’t have one international resolution. Coudron says he doesn’t have the answer to assist all nations, however he’ll begin by listening and assist them discover their resolution. As a result of he has confirmed he is aware of the right way to develop hockey in his Belgium, however understands not all will profit from the very same strategy.
Inconceivable is non permanent
The primary lesson for Coudron has been to encompass him with higher and extra clever folks than himself. “I’m good with the confrontation of concepts, not the confrontation of individuals.” It’s like being on a hockey workforce. Even in the event you’re a very good participant your self you want different qualities round you to make it work.
Coudron could be very proud he had a component in altering the previous Belgian mentality of simply being pleased to take part with out an excessive amount of expectations to a extra bold mindset and self perception. The well-known quote by Muhammed Ali “Inconceivable is non permanent” is all the time high of thoughts for Coudron. So he needs to assist construct this perception within the so-called “smaller” hockey nations to dream huge. Why would it not not be doable for Iran to change into world champion indoor or Namibia world champion in 5s? The identical means Belgium construct their confidence to develop from a smaller hockey nation to change into the reigning world champion. It’s by no means a straightforward path and would possibly take time however inconceivable is non permanent. The identical means Coudron and his workforce grew the Belgian hockey in numbers and outcomes he believes the potential for hockey all over the world is big. It’s inside attain to have extra gamers, higher coaches, good infrastructure…
The aim for FIH needs to be to increase the highest occasions in all three merchandise. The aim is a world cup in all disciplines with 24 nations competing on the high. We’ve to make room for brand spanking new nations on the high. Regardless that right now a rustic like for instance Croatia will acquire nothing from taking part in a high nation like Australia. However in simply a few years they is likely to be even contenders in for instance hockey 5s and, why not, afterward in 11-a-side hockey as effectively? We have to set up an atmosphere wherein the three merchandise (11-a-side, 5s and indoor) reinforce one another to assist develop the game. So as to try this we have to have much more nations taking part in at high degree. The dream is to get extra codecs from our sport of hockey on the Olympics. However perhaps the best way to go is to merge 5s and indoor hockey. All choices ought to stay on the desk. No door is closed.
Risk of getting kicked from the Olympics?
Essential can even be the event away from waterbased pitches. The FIH must work collectively on the dream of a floor with none water. Coudron sees potentialities if the FIH would work along with soccer and rugby federations to persuade producers of synthetic pitches to discover a resolution that works for all. Now could be the time to make huge strides in these areas however it’ll want cooperation between completely different sports activities to make this occur. No empty guarantees or unrealistic deadlines. Simply the robust need and drive to make this occur as quickly as doable.
Regardless of the state of affairs right now when the subsequent Youth Olympic Video games would happen in Africa and even the 2028 Video games in LA we want to ensure we’ve got an answer for a floor that doesn’t want any water to play the sport all of us love. It’s a should for remaining a related member of the Olympic household. As a result of that place is below risk. The IOC is pushing arduous in direction of sports activities that may supply extra occasions, with extra medals in a shorter time and with much less sources wanted. Sources being the variety of athletes taking over house within the Olympic Village, but in addition scarce water sources
Nonetheless Coudron tries to reassure, we even have a number of robust factors as a sport to persuade the IOC of our value. We’re one in all few sports activities the place high nations come from all 5 continents and doubtless the one sport the place all 5 continents have nations within the international high 15 for each women and men. Not many sports activities can boast gender equality on the sphere in addition to within the boardroom. We’re one in all few sports activities with no doping or betting scandals. Possibly we don’t insist sufficient on these qualities? It’s not about getting in a contest with different sports activities. However we’re who we’re and we’ve got sure qualities that ought to matter. For instance our deal with inclusion and looking out past simply hockey, it could be the final word dream for me to see the Olympic Video games merge with what we right now know because the Paralympic Video games and have only one occasion: thé Olympic Video games… for all athletes who excel of their self-discipline.
Stress between home and worldwide leagues
We should always not exaggerate the issues right here Coudron claims. The one stress is between worldwide hockey and the highest leagues in sure nations. Leisure hockey shouldn’t be affected as a lot by this. However on the high degree we want higher options. Possibly a primary step can be for all European nations to get a coordinated calendar for his or her home leagues? Not a straightforward process with completely different climates and cultures both. The error made by many directors exterior of Europe is to assert that is only a European downside. Not true based on Coudron, since many gamers from Australia, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand,… additionally play and make their cash in these home leagues in Europe. So it has an impression on all of us. However the splendid resolution doesn’t exist. It’s been on the agenda for a few years with out a resolution to this point. Possibly the one means is to get a hard and fast calendar the place all know beforehand what weeks can be put aside for worldwide video games and the home leagues must finetune their very own calendars based on this.
Totally different nations will all have their completely different pathways into hockey. For some it begins as a leisure exercise, for others it’s a technique to get an training in school and for others they hope to make a dwelling from it. However what high hockey gamers right now earn throughout their profession won’t ever be sufficient to sit down again and chill out for the remainder of their lives as soon as their taking part in days are over. We’re not soccer, cricket, rugby or basketball… and even in these sports activities it’s solely the pleased few, the 1%, who make sufficient. So taking part in in hockey would all the time should be mixed with a preparation for the profession after your taking part in days. It’s not doable for anybody on the earth right now to make sufficient cash from hockey to have the opportunity to not fear for what comes after your taking part in days. However that’s a very good factor based on Coudron. It’s not in regards to the cash. It’s a few ardour for the game.
Why ought to 140 very completely different nations select Marc Coudron to change into their president?
“I’m very motivated to attain some targets. I shall be 100% devoted to this operate. I’m certain we’re simply at first of an enormous growth. Inside 10 years there needs to be much less distinction between the extent of first tier and second nations and between second and third tier nations. To have much more hockey nations with a risk to play world cups, to achieve the Olympic Video games. Why not within the 3 codecs, however actually in one in all these with 11-a-side hockey. Inconceivable is non permanent, actually!
So how about Mr. Batra?
We reached out to Mr. Batra as effectively to speak about his plans for hockey. However once we, at his request despatched him our questions (the identical we used for Coudron) previous to setting a date for the interview, we by no means heard again. We haven’t heard again from Batra, nor has the world of hockey in his years as FIH president I would add. Other than the occasional irrelevant quick promo video on the FIH web site no precise and significant accomplishments in step with earlier guarantees had been reported, so far as I do know. We already wrote, following the final FIH international congress, we favored among the plans. And a few we didn’t like in any respect, however the proof of the pudding was all the time going to be within the consuming. The guarantees made by Batra (see video right here beginning at 12:08) concerning his personal contribution again then had been easy: improve income for FIH, improve attain for hockey all over the world, make hockey a viable profession selection for gamers all over the world. I would love you to guage for your self if yow will discover any proof of creating good on any of those guarantees. I’ve discovered none…
One promise from the total video was clearly made in unhealthy religion, can be my evaluation. In the event you scroll to 08:54 on this video he’s requested if he sees his FIH presidency as a step in direction of different capabilities with IOA or the IOC. He categorically denies this (“For me it’s hockey, hockey, hockey and that’s it“). Inside a yr or so the promise was damaged and all of Batra’s focus shifted to the IOA. He by no means regarded again at hockey…
