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A 12 months in the past, in November 2018, the FIH had its international congress. An occasion the place a number of necessary selections concerning the way forward for our sport had been communicated. Additionally kind of a 12 months in the past we spoke with the “new” CEO of the FIH Thierry Weil, earlier than the worldwide congress on some my worries for the way forward for our sport. Following the worldwide congress a 12 months in the past we had a chat with Mike Joyce, director of improvement for the FIH in regards to the Hockey2024 plan that was about to launch.
So at the moment, kind of a 12 months down the highway, with the tip of 2019 in sight, we thought it could be good to have one other discuss with these two directors from FIH in regards to the plans launched in 2018 and what has been achieved since then in 2019 or can be in 2020. We outlined 10 subjects to debate with them:
- FIH Professional League
- FIH Qualifiers
- Tokyo 2020
- A dry synthetic pitch
- The FIH.reside platform
- Hockey2024
- Rising hockey
- LA 2028
- One quick format of hockey
- Do all stakeholders have a voice?
Please observe this column shouldn’t be an actual transcript (removed from it) of the podcast. I do advocate each studying the total column in addition to listening the total podcast… 😉
FIH Professional League
2019 has been the 12 months of the launch of the FIH Professional League greater than the rest most likely. At the least when it comes to visibility on a worldwide scale. 
FIH felt it was crucial to improve the promotion of hockey around the globe. Once they spoke to broadcasters their main situation with our sport was the shortage of a set calendar, a time of 12 months when broadcasters had been assured of sufficient worldwide video games to schedule of their programming. So the want from broadcasters for a extra constant hockey calendar has been fulfilled. The foremost studying from this primary 12 months of the FIH Professional League has been the house & away video games within the present schedule had been an excessive amount of of a stress on the well being of gamers. So the 2nd 12 months will see an necessary change with double residence video games for some opponents this 12 months adopted by double away video games for a similar the following 12 months. This implies journey is minimize in half which isn’t solely higher for our environmental footprint however particularly can be much less of a pressure on participant well being. Suggestions from coaches and gamers, in accordance with Weil, was very constructive. However clearly some modifications had been wanted going into 12 months two. The change of schedule for participant welfare but in addition a change within the manufacturing of those occasions for TV. Extra uniformity in displaying a recognisable format of the sport on TV. One other situation in 12 months 1 has been the shortage of supporters within the stands in some international locations. A reality Weil blames on the quick preparation time between the ultimate inexperienced gentle and the primary Professional League video games. Not permitting sufficient time for some good advertising of those occasions to attract within the crowds. This time nonetheless there may be sufficient time for the marketeers in every nation to work on a great ticketing plan and promotion of their residence video games. For instance in Germany this time the advertising company that was in cost for the very profitable indoor world cup will make certain the German hockey supporters won’t miss out on their residence video games once more, in accordance with Weil. Financially it’s clear this primary 12 months has been an funding. A a lot wanted funding within the promotion of hockey. However one other equally necessary objective is to create income and revenue for the FIH to make use of for the event of hockey around the globe. As a result of to be able to develop hockey, more cash is required. So clearly a marketing strategy for this occasion sooner or later in time might want to present income to have the ability to do extra for rising our sport of hockey. Although Weil states he would even be proud of a break even and extra promotion of our sport, the marketing strategy by the FIH assumes a revenue can be generated to assist develop hockey as of 2022 or 2023 on the newest.
Nonetheless, even when I think about myself an enormous fan of high worldwide hockey & the FIH Professional League… I can be curious to see a full analysis by 2023-2024 to see how a lot cash not solely the FIH has invested within the Professional League however add to this additionally the cash invested by the collaborating international locations and do a full ROI analysis evaluating to what we might have anticipated in rising hockey if this cash had been spent straight into improvement of leisure hockey as a substitute of the promotion of tophockey.
I nonetheless think about myself a fan of the idea of extra residence video games for worldwide hockey and do assume the Professional League in itself is a good suggestion to advertise hockey. Nonetheless the way in which it’s organised now, even after some modifications, I nonetheless consider the burden on home membership hockey is an excessive amount of and may very well be prevented.
FIH Qualifiers
Not likely new, although in a reinvented format, 2019 additionally introduced us some spectacular hockey and drama in the course of the FIH Qualifiers for Tokyo 2020. The Olympics is performed with 12 international locations for each women and men. Each groups of the host nation qualify straight, as do the 5 continental champions. The remaining comes by the FIH Qualifiers. As an alternative of the normal event the place the highest 6 or 7 bought their Olympic ticket, the FIH determined to go together with a brand new format. Based mostly upon their international rating international locations had been drawn in opposition to 1 opponent and needed to beat them in a better of two, performed at residence for the very best ranked nation.
I cannot disguise the actual fact I used to be considerably sceptical about this beforehand and would have most well-liked to maintain the prevailing event format. Feeling that will be the fairest format for all to achieve for the celebs. I nonetheless assume a event has some benefits over the 1 vs 1 format of those new fashion qualifiers. However I’ve bought to confess the drama and pleasure proven in the course of the video games performed in these new qualifiers had been thrilling.
Thierry Weil shared my shock on the success of those Qualifiers, although for various causes… His important situation with the brand new format was the shortage of time (solely 6 weeks) in between the second the collaborating nations had been identified and the video games had been performed. He feared it could not be sufficient time to commercialise these occasions, the place my issues had been in regards to the sport and a good likelihood for all to undergo primarily based upon deserves.
So the modifications launched by FIH are about making it extra business. Clearly in case you solely (!) take a look at the business aspect you’re certain to make errors that might damage the game. The FIH concept is to have extra time between asserting the collaborating international locations and the precise video games to be able to “promote” the occasion to public, broadcasters, sponsors, and so forth… That is smart. Nonetheless if you don’t consider the golf equipment in your planning you’ll be hurting hockey as a substitute of rising the game. So what occurs… As a result of nobody on the FIH is defending membership pursuits they schedule these qualifying video games in March. This implies golf equipment and their gamers get no time to coach & follow collectively (keep in mind the complaints by the German captain Mats Grambusch in our podcast with him over the past EC) and the essential a part of most European membership competitions as soon as once more is harmed.
So my want for hockey in 2020 and past could be a protected window of 2x 3 months for home membership hockey! September, October and November + March, April, Could must be devoted to home membership hockey. Worldwide hockey might have his fair proportion with December, January, February + June, July, August. That manner broadcasters know which months they will deal with worldwide hockey, plus they may/ought to focus a few of their consideration throughout these different months additionally on the highest home leagues and market these all around the world. There’s some spectacular hockey to be seen between golf equipment as nicely!
Sadly, the FIH declare they perceive the significance of golf equipment and recognise these home membership leagues are the muse of our sport. However phrases are low cost… All that actually issues is what you do! When push involves shove it’s all in regards to the worldwide video games for the FIH. So the reply to my concern on these qualifiers to be performed in March was the necessity for a long run worldwide calendar. Residence & away video games as a substitute of two residence video games and extra time to market & promote these qualifying occasions. And a few shuffling round with the FIH Professional League video games in these months to create a bit of bit extra respiration room for the golf equipment. In my view that won’t remedy something, the home membership leagues and worldwide hockey have to divide the 12 months into manageable blocks of time enough for each so as to add their worth to the sport of hockey. Some half-hearted compromises gained’t do the trick. In 2020 the FIH says she has given the month of April again to membership hockey. That’s simply not sufficient!
Tokyo 2020
Weil is happy to have two main occasions in hockey with each the World Cup and the Olympic Video games. When at first he acknowledged it ought to all be in regards to the World Cup, he says a 12 months within the job he now has a greater understanding of the significance of the Olympics for hockey. He’s very enthusiastic in regards to the venue for hockey in the course of the Tokyo Video games. Near town centre, with two fields inside strolling distance from one another. Ticketing gross sales is doing very nicely in accordance with Weil. The 2 host groups managed to qualify on their very own and never only for being the host nation. That’s outstanding and good outcomes from a bunch nation will assist make the Video games successful as nicely. We’ve the most effective groups for each males & ladies from all around the world with nations from all continents. Not a whole lot of crew sports activities can declare this…
Weil additionally confirmed the participation of the South Africa ladies. Though they didn’t meet all the standards set out by their very own nationwide Olympic committee, South Africa did affirm each their women and men will participate within the Tokyo Video games. So the drama of refusing the boys to go to Rio 4 years in the past shouldn’t be repeated.
Dry synthetic pitch
Roughly a 12 months in the past, in the course of the FIH international congress it was introduced the 2024 Video games in Paris, would see our sport performed on a dry synthetic pitch with none water. Clearly the concept shouldn’t be to return to grass or sandfilled turfs. Hockey has advanced due to the waterbased pitches to an ever quicker, 3D sport. So the ambition is to have the identical taking part in situations gamers and coaches have at the moment however on a turf with none water.
Regardless that many specialists (hear for instance to our podcast with Arnoud Fiolet from RSI) nonetheless doubt the feasibility of this ambition, Weil maintains it is going to be performed.
At first of 2020 gamers and coaches can be concerned in testing the primary steps in direction of a dry pitch. Weil states ideally the following World Cup in 2023 would already be performed on this dry pitch. For the Youth Olympic Video games in 2022 in Dakar (Senegal) a turf with none water is a should. Which means we’ll see the primary dry pitches to check the brand new know-how on the very newest in 2022, ideally even in 2021…. in accordance with Thierry Weil that’s.
As many others, if not all, I applaud the ambition of wanting to attain this. Water is a scarce useful resource in lots of elements of the world. Nonetheless till at the moment I’ve not but met the corporate stating they are going to be prepared by the tip of 2021 with a turf that can assure the identical taking part in situations with out using water. Most producers will state the brand new era of turfs will want considerably much less water, however none will assure a dry synthetic pitch to my data. I hope Thierry Weil will show us fallacious right here!
FIH.reside
One other promise launched in the course of the international congress a 12 months in the past has been the devoted OTT platform to showcase hockey: FIH.reside ! The platform introduced had all types of fantastic options that will assist change the way in which we expertise hockey. Nonetheless when FIH.reside launched in January it was type of a disappointment. The promised added worth in comparison with the prevailing YouTube channel was lacking.
However Weil assured us the unique imaginative and prescient and ambition was nonetheless there and a relaunch of the platform is foreseen for March 2020, so in simply a few months. Together with many of the added worth options promised a 12 months in the past. The OTT platform, as it’s known as technically, will permit lastly for the FIH to start out gathering information on its viewers. So sure, a few of it is going to be behind a paywall. However higher to have some content material we beforehand couldn’t see due to contracts with sure broadcasters, now out there with out geoblocking. Even when generally it’s behind a paywall. So by March we’ll get a peak of what a revamped FIH.reside platform might appear to be. I’m curious….
Hockey2024
The worldwide improvement plan , known as Hockey2024, was launched in the course of the international congress a 12 months in the past by Mike Joyce. 
We had an extended speak about this then with Mike in one other podcast. So the place are we now? A 12 months down the highway….
Promotion & improvement go hand in hand…in accordance with Joyce. The Professional League & co additionally assist improvement, these act as our store window.
Hockey 2024 can be about having the plans prepared to maximise on these moments the place hockey will get to shine. So for Tokyo for instance the FIH is doing rather a lot to assist develop hockey in Japan.
On the congress we spoke in regards to the 3 pillars for improvement: participation, training and infrastructure. In the meantime a fourth pillar was added: inspiration.
Equally wonderful was the hashtag for 2019 and a few nice work has been performed around the globe regarding that matter (gender stability) in accordance with Joyce. Hockeydreams would be the hashtag for 2020, getting youth extra concerned.
Concerning training, the prevailing applications continued. 46 programs , 750 people licensed in 2019 and these must be doubled in 2020. However clearly rising hockey is the #1 precedence for international improvement of hockey.
Rising hockey
For me rising hockey is generally about having extra infrastructure and rising the variety of lively gamers. My concern is (nonetheless at the moment) an excessive amount of focus goes to rising the variety of followers & followers as a substitute of leisure gamers. How is the expansion of lively gamers being measured globally and is there progress? In 2020 a brand new “state of the sport” survey can be carried out to see what the affect has been. It’ll nonetheless be tough to measure the distinction between registered and occasional gamers… an issue for all sports activities. So the affect will turn out to be extra clear when the brand new survey has been performed in 2020. However my concern is we can be comfortable to see a progress in participation whereas unable to show the variety of gamers have grown.
So as to get extra gamers infrastructure is vital. However nonetheless… with the necessary message on the congress that hockey could be performed (additionally for official tournaments and occasions) on any floor, we must always not get caught on the shortage of synthetic turf pitches around the globe.
A serious message by Weil is to not fear a lot about having “the appropriate infrastructure”. Simply exit and have some enjoyable taking part in hockey…. on no matter floor is on the market! He’s proper!
So what has been performed concerning improvement in 2019. TAP East Africa concerned 7 completely different nations to get began in hockey, however that’s not all. Plenty of initiatives had been held in different areas additionally to advertise taking part in hockey. In keeping with Joyce it’s anticipated 4 or 5 new nations will be part of the FIH on the subsequent international congress.
Joyce additionally confused yearly 1,1 million greenback is invested by FIH into continental federations to assist develop hockey of their area
As Weil additionally acknowledged, each penny made by FIH can be invested into improvement of the game, however in accordance with their considering promotion and occasions such because the Professional League additionally counts in direction of funding in improvement. I suppose, he’s bought a degree. Nevertheless it’s necessary it’s tracked cash is pent on tasks that develop the quantity of gamers, not simply the quantity of followers and followers. Weil says it’s greatest follow to not separate these…. However in every part Weil does it’s clear his first objective is to develop the viewers, hoping the gamers will observe. It’s a fallacious focus in accordance with me. Sure we’d like each, however the final objective is to have extra folks taking part in the game. That objective is extra necessary in comparison with the expansion of the folks watching the sport, in accordance with me.
LA 2028
When requested if hockey will nonetheless be performed in LA 2028, Weil leaves no room for doubt: sure, hockey will nonetheless be within the Video games in 2028….
Clearly we have to proceed doing the appropriate issues to advertise our sport and turn out to be extra related after all. However hockey will nonetheless be on the Olympic roster in accordance with Weil. When requested Weil additionally confirms hockey5s won’t exchange 11-a-side hockey within the Olympics. However he hopes 5s or a brief format can be added subsequent to 11s…. so we could have extra medals which appears to be an necessary criterium for the IOC.
Nonetheless I cannot relaxation assured till the IOC has confirmed our conventional format of hockey for the LA Video games…
One quick format
My place concerning the creation of Hockey5s as a brand new sport stays unsupportive. Take heed to my podcast on this matter entitled “Hockey5s: our Frankenstein’s monster” if you wish to know extra on this.
Sure, a brief format subsequent to the normal important format of the sport (11-a-side) is attention-grabbing for various wants. However why not use the prevailing quick format of the sport (indoor hockey) and adapt this to raised fit your (future) wants? If something our hockey household around the globe has confirmed to not be cautious of adjusting for the higher… And sure, indoor hockey is appropriate for enjoying open air as nicely.
Thierry Weil says he thinks indoor hockey and hockey5s will turn out to be one quick format! Inside 2 or 3 years this must be 1 format! If meaning taking part in with 5 outfield gamers and 1 goalie, taking part in with a scoring zone (the D or circle) an a sport the place dangerously hitting the ball shouldn’t be promoted, I’m all for it. Even when it means some particular “indoor” traits resembling not lifting the ball in play could be eliminated, even when again boards could be added as nicely.
I’m certain some indoor lovers wouldn’t be proud of a number of the modifications however something is healthier than the prevailing format of 5s. And I do agree with Weil, as I’ve mentioned all alongside, there isn’t a room for two quick codecs of the sport.
Do all stakeholders have a voice in FIH?
The manager board (EB) of the FIH is the place selections are made. Regardless that Weil disputes this, claiming most suggestions made by the completely different FIH committees can be accepted with out change by the EB. The present EB members are elected by politics (together with, in accordance with some, lobbying, “various” info, bribes and empty guarantees) by directors as a substitute of representatives of all related roles in hockey…. Right now the members of this EB are from 2 FIH, 1 participant consultant, 5 representatives from each continental federation and seven directors chosen by their fellow directors in the course of the congress.
I distinguish 5 so known as stakeholders in our sport of hockey that must be proportionally represented throughout the resolution making unit within the FIH.
- Gamers: ought to have a number of representatives with at the least 2 lively (!) high athlete, 2 latest ex high athletes and a pair of lively younger U23 high athlete… every time 1 male & 1 feminine, ideally from all continents
- Coaches: 1 male & 1 feminine coach from a high 10 nation and 1 male & 1 feminine coach from nations exterior of high 10, ideally from completely different continents – may very well be coaches or excessive efficiency directors- however should be lively
- Golf equipment: 2 representatives from high golf equipment and a pair of representatives from leisure golf equipment, every from 4 completely different home leagues
- Directors : 1 consultant from every continent + FIH president + FIH sports activities director
- Followers: represented by CEO & advertising director FIH
Mike Joyce claims the FIH is listening to what completely different stakeholders are speaking about even when the y will not be represented among the many resolution makers. That’s a begin, however won’t do… stakeholders want a seat on the desk the place selections are made.
Thierry Weil says his door is at all times open for many who have an issue to debate or for who has concepts to make our sport even higher. Recommendable… however once more, not adequate. Stakeholders deserve their seat on the desk. That’s extra than simply being heard.
My 3 needs for hockey in 2020… and past
Sadly it doesn’t work this manner, however ought to there be a “genie in a bottle” granting me 3 hockey needs for 2020 and past, my 3 needs could be:
- The assured continuation of 11-a-side hockey as our important Olympic sport past Paris 2024
- All stakeholders, together with gamers, coaches and golf equipment, represented within the EB of the FIH
- A set calendar, respecting each worldwide and home hockey, with every 2 intervals of kind of 3 months uninterrupted & protected for both home or worldwide hockey.
Let me know what your needs could be… 😉
Please observe, as talked about above, this column shouldn’t be an actual transcript of the podcast. I do advocate each studying the total textual content in addition to listening the total podcast.
Episode 34 was recorded on 2019-11-27 & printed on 2012-12-26 by OSMpodcasts.com.
Host : Ernst Baart
Podcast: Studio Hockey