Why we play hockey (or any sport) is a query that has many solutions. It’s not solely totally different due to the place we dwell. Our “why” for enjoying hockey is totally different for a lot of causes. And for apparent causes the totally different why’s additionally makes the “how we play hockey” may be very totally different around the globe.
TL;DR
We’re getting close to the top of hockey as we all know it. The 11 v 11 recreation performed on a discipline of 100 yards x 50 yards. The place you may solely rating from inside the circle (or D). With distinctive components just like the penalty nook. Certain the sport has identified many modifications all through its historical past. Some with a significant influence as properly. The introduction of synthetic grass. The abolition of the off-side rule. The introduction of the self-pass rule.
Subsequent we’ll should witness the transition to hockey5s. Sadly, sport will not be the explanation for this newest change. Politics, enterprise and directors defending their job, are on the root of this alteration. 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 fairly concerning the variations should you begin enjoying hockey as a result of it’s a method out of poverty. As a result of it’s a one thing they make you do at college or possibly a method 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 totally different causes for enjoying hockey make it troublesome to handle the game around the globe in the identical method.
Completely 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. In case you’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 may be very totally different around the globe.
In some elements of the world sports activities (and hockey) is one thing you do at college or as an extra-curricular college exercise. And a organised sports activities construction for adults or seniors is tough to search out. For some colleges 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 become profitable and entice new college students and sponsors. So the explanation for taking on hockey primarily is both as a result of I’ve to, it’s a compulsory factor at my college. Or as a result of it’s a option to get a scholarship so I can afford a (higher) training. Neither cause is prone to to make hockey the game of your alternative for the remainder of your life.
In different elements of the world sports activities (and hockey) is simply thought of to be a attainable profession. A option to safe a job at an organization that makes use of sports activities as a PR device. Or if you’re fortunate and decided sufficient to grow to be a professional athlete at worldwide degree making sufficient cash to assist your loved ones and have a greater alternative to land a job after your enjoying 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 enjoying hockey. As a result of they’re too distant from the world I dwell in and perceive. I can solely attempt to clarify the way in which we dwell 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 strategy and have a look at it from the identical “why”.
Why play hockey – the unique why…
I consider the why we’ve for enjoying 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 conceited. However I’ve tried sincerely searching for the nice (or higher) in different setups for our sport, however was by no means satisfied by them. Possibly that’s me and the way in which I used to be introduced up to have a look at the world. I’m open for the talk and all different arguments, aside from the straightforward method out in saying the way in which we do it, simply wouldn’t work in different cultures or areas of the world. I consider that to be a pretend argument from these not keen to think about 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 developed to family-centric golf equipment and our “what‘ has grow to be the native/regional/nationwide leagues wherein we compete.
Mother and father with younger kids selected hockey. To allow them to be part of a hockey membership as a spot for his or her youngsters to satisfy and interact with household & associates and find out about working collectively as a workforce. But additionally to enhance their very own well being & abilities by perseverance and primarily a lot of enjoyable. It supplies a bodily exercise in a wholesome outside surroundings. 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 secure surroundings for our children to be taught and apply in actual life that what’s taught at dwelling and in class. When finished 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 secure wholesome surroundings to wind down from the efforts required by our research or beginning up work life. It supplies a option to stay shifting . And never get caught behind a desk on a regular basis and a few totally different psychological challenges to assist clear the thoughts. Moreover it ‘s the place we be taught the artwork of networking. A ability that can serve us properly in our skilled lives afterward. Typically the bonds cast 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 method to assist educate our youngsters. The membership additionally supplies 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 take care of every others variations, strengths and weaknesses. Mens sana in corpore sano is one thing it’s best to 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 shortage 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 an alternative of being 100% devoted to hockey. My major concern… and the explanation 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 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, wherein he claims the entire cash earned by FIH will go into improvement. Nevertheless, 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 collected substantial monetary losses these latest years. So improvement suffered.
That’s, should you think about improvement to be rising the variety of gamers enjoying the sport. As a result of it’s clear to some it’s extra (or solely) about rising the variety of followers and viewers fairly than gamers. However even from that angle I doubt there was a lot progress. The numbers from the “state of the sport” survey finished 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 mentioned could be finished after the summer season of 2021 more than likely. However I worry these won’t be dependable nor related to what I consider needs to be the one and solely goal for FIH. Rising the variety of gamers enjoying hockey in a sustainable method. 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 concerning the origin and the information about hockey5s and why I consider it to be our Frankenstein’s monster. Very a lot parallel to the fictional character from ebook and flicks, I’m satisfied a few of you should have grown to love the monster. As I’m certain the monster will do some good alongside the way in which. 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 recreation of 11-a-side hockey will probably be performed.
Directors and people in command of our sport declare they want to see 5s launched to the Video games along with the normal format of hockey. I consider 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, just lately re-elected as FIH president, was fairly unapologetic in stating his ambitions to get 5s to the Video games. Shortly 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 car to advertise sport – the IOC – has been taken hostage by the folks in sports activities administration. With the intention to defend their livelihood they promote out to sponsors and broadcasters who’ve turned sport right into a mere PR device 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 lots 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 explanation 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 dwelling nation. It’s the explanation 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? In fact there’s. In hockey additionally. However… and this is a crucial 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.
Wanting ahead to your feedback under. I don’t count on everyone to agree with me and am completely happy to interact in a well mannered and constructive dialogue… 😉