Sideline
opinion
Ady Kerry
No country for
short men!
Kingston Grammar School director of Substitution in itself is now a
hockey and former GB Olympic coach nightmare in many situations. The
S
Jon Royce contemplates whether some vast majority of players ‘pay to play’
recent, and not so recent, rule changes and don’t want to spend time sat
are turning hockey into a game on a bench. Youth players equally,
where athleticism trumps skill and are no fans of a squad system, they
perceptiveness. desperately want to play every minute.
Frequent substitutions break up team
I have just returned home from running understanding making our sport
an under 14 boys’ match between ever more dominated, not by skilful
two of england’s better hockey combination, but by early maturing
schools. There were seven goals and speedsters. The problem is that these
Jon Royce
conservatively 10 other gilt-edged individuals often struggle in tight
opportunities. as a consequence of situations – the very scenario they
‘no offside’ and the ‘self dribble’ [or will meet in international competition effectively over 20 minutes into play.
self pass] the overriding impression further down the line when teams More goals does not necessarily
was that the game was played on a defend the final 35 yards of the pitch. mean more excitement.
very large pitch. Team selection has are we thus preparing our youngsters The vast majority of spectators at our
changed dramatically: tall, long- to meet the challenges ahead? major championships watch the game
striding wingers are now found in Selection has long been affected at on television or on the internet. How
midfield as they are the only ones senior international and club level by can one achieve any appreciation of
capable of covering the yards from the demands of ‘no offside.’ Hockey the game when the producer has the
circle to circle demanded by recent rule players’ body shape has changed over camera is focused on the back four
changes. the years, the vast majority are tall, and is then suddenly forced to switch
I suspect that international coaches slim mesomorphs. Smaller, skilful to a camera at the other end of the
involved in the recent men’s Champions players have been sidelined in the ground? The armchair spectator has
Trophy in Melbourne will be waking in search for athleticism. True, there no idea how the pass came to travel
a cold sweat reflecting on australia’s are some exceptions to the norm at 70m and thus no appreciation of the
nine-goal second-half demolition of present, but will those same players – skill involved. Team games are after all
Spain that finished 10-2. There will be Dwyer and Jackson to name two – even mainly about movement off the ball.
very few professional coaches, paid on make it through selection at junior level I strongly suspect that ‘no offside’
results, who will be prepared to take in this Brave New World? would never have been contemplated if
a ‘gung ho’ attack-at-all-costs attitude. I am saddened that very skilful players we had first thought of the self dribble.
Many will be working late into the with excellent elimination techniques The self dribble works especially well
evening trying to solve defensive issues and perceptive passing ability have in the back 70m of the pitch. One
thrown up by the self dribble and the little or no chance of gracing our game possibly unforeseen consequence is
consequent increase in space and at senior club or international level. the ability to move the ball rapidly
faster tempo. The answer I fear will The beauty of football is that you into position to perform a passing
be deep-lying defences, elimination of can be world class at 5’” or at 6’4” technique, eliminating the need for
risk in passing into midfield and three- and even play next to each other in excessive foot movements at a dead
and four-man raiding parties sent on attack, take for instance Joe Cole ball which take time and give away
counter attacks while seven and the and Didier Drogba at Chelsea. The passing direction. The women’s game,
goalkeeper sit back and await the tide. unfortunate consequence for hockey especially at junior level, has been
The number of players contributing at the world level is the demise of revolutionised for the better.
to team attack will consequently be Pakistan and India who struggle to everyone has in their mind their
reduced. I suspect, the number of compete in physical terms – yet they favourite goal, for some it will be a
goals scored in the Champions Trophy have so many gifted ball players and solo effort for others a team goal,
will not be replicated in competitive are a joy to watch. the critical point is that variety is all
matches in the later stages of the No offside has in many ways been important. The combination of self
World Cup or Olympic games when a disaster for the game. Deep-lying dribble and no offside threaten to make
freedom of expression will be second to defences leave no space behind for our game more defensive, capable
achieving a team result (and retaining through passes. The anticipation of being played only by tall middle-
government funding). of a goal being scored is part of distance athletes with a sprint finish.
Will the interminable passing across the drama of a match, yet all too My plea is to keep hockey as a game
the back four seeking a safe pass into often the goal is scored in a mêlée of skill, capable of being played by as
midfield, lead in future years to a shot with none of the spectators present wide a variety of talented individuals
a
ge 22
clock akin to basketball. For who would even sure how the ball ended up in as possible. The rules it appears
P have suspected a generation ago that we the net or who scored. also, many were framed on the continent in the
H
would have basketball style substitution? games are now very one sided and land of giants.

Pus
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