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” may be very completely different world wide.
TL;DR
We’re getting close to the top 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. Certain the sport has identified many adjustments all through its historical past. Some with a serious impression as nicely. 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 shouldn’t 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 relatively in regards to the variations should you begin taking part in hockey as a result of it’s a means out of poverty. As a result of it’s a one thing they make you do at college or possibly a means 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 tough to handle the game world wide in the identical means.
Totally different “Why – How – What” for hockey
The golden circle is a advertising idea by Simon Sinek and it applies to rather a lot in life, not simply advertising. In the event you’re not conversant in it watch this video. So take into consideration your why for being concerned in hockey… There isn’t any denying the why we play sports activities or hockey may be very completely different world wide.
In some components of the world sports activities (and hockey) is one thing you do at college or as an extra-curricular faculty exercise. And a organised sports activities construction for adults or seniors is difficult to search out. For some faculties it’s part of the academic curriculum. For others (the place training is also a enterprise) it’s part of the PR machine wanted to earn a living 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 faculty. Or as a result of it’s a approach to get a scholarship so I can afford a (higher) training. Neither motive is more likely to to make hockey the game of your selection for the remainder of your life.
In different components of the world sports activities (and hockey) is just thought of to be a doable profession. A approach to safe a job at an organization that makes use of sports activities as a PR software. Or if you’re fortunate and decided sufficient to change into a professional athlete at worldwide stage 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 way in which 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 an analogous method and take a look at it from the identical “why”.
Why play hockey – the unique why…
I imagine the why now we have for taking part in hockey in my a part of the world is the one that’s closest to the unique purpose of sports activities as described again within the days by the Olympic motion. I do know this sounds conceited. 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 way in which I used to be introduced up to take a look at the world. I’m open for the controversy and all different arguments, apart from the straightforward means out in saying the way in which we do it, simply wouldn’t work in different cultures or areas of the world. I imagine that to be a pretend argument from these not keen to contemplate change (and the onerous work that comes with change).
Our “why” is predicated 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 by which we compete.
Dad and mom with younger youngsters selected hockey. To allow them to be part of a hockey membership as a spot for his or her youngsters to fulfill and interact with household & buddies and study working collectively as a crew. But additionally to enhance their very own well being & expertise by means of perseverance and primarily plenty of enjoyable. It supplies a bodily exercise in a wholesome out of doors setting. Which stimulates working not solely the physique but additionally the thoughts. To realize the “mens sana in corpore sano” splendid. Our golf equipment present a wholesome and protected setting for our youngsters to be taught and observe in actual life that what’s taught at house and in class. When achieved proper its makes them higher folks. These golf equipment are sometimes an vital a part of the “village we have to elevate our youngsters“.
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 approach 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 be taught the artwork of networking. A talent that may serve us nicely in our skilled lives afterward. Typically the bonds solid at our golf equipment at a younger age stay sturdy after we encounter one another once more in enterprise or life afterward.
For adults it’s not solely a means to assist educate our youngsters. The membership additionally supplies in our personal wants for staying wholesome. By means of practising sports activities and by no means cease studying about ourselves (and others) by means 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 top of hockey
It has been over 3 years since I wrote a column “The top of hockey“. In it I deal with the dearth 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 a substitute of being 100% devoted to hockey. My major concern… and the rationale for predicting the top 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 revenue. Due to this the FIH has gathered substantial monetary losses these latest years. So improvement suffered.
That’s, should 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 relatively than gamers. However even from that angle I doubt there was a lot development. The numbers from the “state of the sport” survey achieved by FIH for the congress in 2021 need to show one thing else. So we’ll look forward to these numbers to be defined intimately by FIH. Which they mentioned could be achieved after the summer time of 2021 almost certainly. However I concern these is not going to be dependable nor related to what I imagine must be the one and solely goal for FIH. Rising the variety of gamers taking part in hockey in a sustainable means. 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 info 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 should have grown to love the monster. As I’m positive the monster will do some good alongside the way in which. Although I concern, as within the story, ultimately the monster will come again to destroy its creator. Which means the push in direction of 5s will imply the Paris Video games in 2024 might very nicely be the final video games the place our recreation of 11-a-side hockey can be performed.
Directors and people answerable for our sport declare they wish to see 5s launched to the Video games along with the normal format of hockey. I imagine 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 fashion. Narinder Batra, 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 throughout 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 folks in sports activities administration. So as 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 loads 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 revenue alternatives.
It’s the rationale why folks 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 a substitute of taking care of what would profit the game will get him nearer to his personal private purpose: energy in India.
Is there room for professionalism and the enterprise of leisure in sport? In fact there’s. In hockey additionally. However… and this is a vital however… provided that the folks managing our sport, can present proof it’s on the service of getting extra folks to play the sport of hockey.
Trying ahead to your feedback beneath. I don’t count on everyone to agree with me and am pleased to have interaction in a well mannered and constructive dialogue… 😉
