MALAYSIAN WOMEN HOCKEY - PART 2: PREVAILING ISSUES & WAY FORWARD with Prerequisite & Performance Execution Plan (PEP)

To understand Part 2: Prevailing Issues & Way Forward, please read the earlier Part 1 at https://stickwithmike.blogspot.com/2020/06/malaysian-women-hockey-asia-no-1.html

In today's article, will divide into 3 segments:

1. Prevailing Issues
2. The Way Forward & Prerequisite
3. Performance Execution Plan (PEP)

Prevailing Issues:

Based on my personal view, the following are the valid & current prevailing issues faced by the Malaysian Women Hockey Team to obtain a World Class playing hockey Nation:

- No proper Women Junior Teams planning for upcoming Junior World Cups.

- No National Women Hockey Development Plan from Grass-root till High Performance. Done on a piecemeal approach. National Women Development Team was abolished in March 2017 & convert few players to Indoor for Sea Games level.

- Lack the exposure of International Hockey at age group or Project Squads.

- Most young players bypass the Junior Team and plays directly with Senior Team and only then such players would get an International Matches and maturity will take a longer period of 4 to 6 years to be a Top player at International stage.

- Only 1 or 2 out of 16 Affiliates has a Women State League.

- Main Event TNBMHL for Women has limited 6 teams with 120 players to choose to form National Team. Insufficient talent and creates non competitiveness between players to don the National colors.

- Women Junior Hockey League made of Sukma Development Teams, State Sports School & one National Sports School. Total participation 9 teams.

- Women Tun Abdul Razak Cup premier event only has 8 teams. Lack of interest from Affiliates.

- High Turnover of Withdrawals by Key Women National Players after marriages or birth of a child.

- No clear Pathway of Livelihood or Career. Currently, Women National players are selling online cakes, festive biscuits, scarfs etc, Since January NSC/MHC has no salary or allowance for National Women Hockey Players. Recently, national Women players started auctioning their playing attires to survive their livelihood.

- Delayed in Post-Mortem & Appointment of Coach for National Women Team has delayed their program and been inactive mode since June 2019. This approach has hinder the growth or progress of players. For sure many players has put on weight, lost interest, drastic drop in fitness/strength and all the 4 to 5 years of plan has gone to waste.

- The current Junior Women Asia Cup team lack the physical size to compete at International stage. There should be balance of sizes in a team. This would allow an advantage. Now China, Japan, India most their players has the physical abilities to compete with European teams.

- No continuity of National Age-Group Project Squads & Low Quality of Matches for preparation.

- Lack Talent Identification Plan through-out the Country. No key selectors at National or State Age-Group Championships.

- Lack of International High Performance & Development Women Coaches in Malaysia.

- Employment Opportunities – in this era, players need an academy qualification to obtain jobs security. No extra Tuition Classes held & weak in mastering English Language which is a must to communicate ie Video Refferal Scenario, attending Tournament Meetings or any technical discussion with Foreign Consultants or Coach.

- Lack of Media Publicity Support for Women Hockey – Media is an important element to create awareness of gender equality, popularize the sports to next generation, in promotion & development from school to National level.

- No Policy or SOPs in MHC to create and operate electronic database. For Development, the training & tactical syllabus are not accessible electronically including latest modern hockey updates. For National Teams, integration of various reports – fitness, bio-medical, performance, mental strength & experience are not available for decision making.

- No dedicated electronic Database on Women Hockey such as Players, Coaches,Umpires & Officials.

- No proper support from Funding to Women Hockey Programs at all levels.

- Lack importance & effort by National & State Affiliates on Women Hockey

- No Clarity & Emphasis of Direction for Women Hockey

THE WAY FORWARD

WAY FORWARD FOR MALAYSIAN WOMEN HOCKEY TEAM

There is talk that total disbanding the current National Women Team and will be using the current Jnr W Asia Cup team to compete in next Senior events. Asian Games is less than 2 years and it will a suicidal act.

Firstly, maintain the current National Women Team but keep a maximum age of 25 years old below players & combining with current Junior Asia Cup team to put the challenge for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and expect to be top 5 again. 

As for this year Jnr W Asia Cup, expected not to qualify for 2021 W Jnr World Cup due to bad & ad-hoc planning. This current Malaysian Jnr W Asia Cup team will face India, Korea & Japan with China Jnrs, the defending Champions returning to play after withdrawing due to Covid19 pandemic. The Malaysian Women Junior Team has to get top 3 to qualify next  years Junior World Cup in South Africa. 

STEP 1

Both Short & Long-Term Approach must run & operated immediately & simultaneously but it comes with different objectives & targets.

Short-Term Approach:
Maintain current National Women Team to play in 2022 Asian Games – Keep players below 25 years and only for participation level.

Long-Term Approach:

Start your Project Squads as "NEXT-GEN":

- National U18 for 2023 W Jnr World Cup

- National U16 for 2025 W Jnr World Cup

- National U14 for 2027 W Jnr World Cup
- National U12 for 2028 W Jnr World Cup

Note: As for 2021 W Jnr World Cup –Expected not to Qualify

STEP 2

After 2 Jnr World Cup Cycle (2023&2025), total of 40 new top players combine with Senior Players to form the next 2 Asian Games squad – 2026 & 2028 Asian Games. Key Objective in 2028 is to break into Top 4 In Asia & at least play in the final playoff of Olympic & World Cup Qualifiers.Ranking should be below 18 in World Hockey. 

STEP 3

After another 2 Jnr World Cup Cycles (2027 & 2029), total of 40 more new top players combine with Senior Players to form the next 2032 Asian Games squad. Key Objective in 2032 is to win a Medal In Asia Games & qualify for 2030 Women Hockey World Cup. Ranking should be below 15 in World Hockey.

The Key Element based on "Way Forward" which is the formation of next 4 Project Squads (NEXT-GEN) which is crucial to achieve the Step 2 & 3 milestones and beyond. 

Did not mention about Olympics, as it could only be achieved when Malaysian Women has reach 15 & below in World Rankings and until winning a medal at Asian Games in 2032 & playing in the 2030 Hockey World Cup. 

We must understand that Olympic caters for 12 teams. If ranked below 15, the playoff draw will be favourable and permits avoiding top ranked teams. It makes more sense then rather than current 20. 

First win a Medal at 2032 Asian Games then  play in FIH World Cup/Olympic Playoff followed by qualifying to 2030 Women World Cup. Thereafter, begin the Olympic dreams! Not now as it sounds like a fairy tale. The current methodology too far fetched than reality.

This Continuous Cycle has to continue till the Olympic Dream is achieved.  Mantra - Success of a Senior Team is always depended on Junior Teams Performance". How good is your current Senior Team, just look at your previous two Junior World Cup Team success. Is common sense right!

Prerequisite: 

"NEXT-GEN” should require the following:

-  - Need High Profile Coaches (min 12 Coaches for 4 Teams) to handle these 4 National Project Squads - National U12,U14,U16 & U18.

   - U16&U18 to play at least 20 to 30 International Matches a year till the Qualifiers & respective Jnr World Cups. As for U12 & U14 to concentrate of developing high International skills & maintaining a high level of periodization plan.

    - Form a dedicated High Performance Unit with supporting staff to re-evaluate the Next-Gen facets such as:

·         National Teams’ Program

·         Fitness

·         Training Methodology

·         Technical and Tactical

·         Supervision & Monitoring

·         Adoption of Innovation

·         Technology Implication

·         Sport Science application 

-      - ISN to support team on sports science, fitness, physiology, strength, dietician and psychologist from early stage.

-       Foreign League Attachment - The Senior Players and players after or during Jnr World Cup. A minimum of seven (7) players to be attached in Europe and Australia first class league and the proposition will be 1 Goalkeeper, 2 Defenders, 2 Midfielders and 2 Forwards and from this at least 2 players must be Penalty Corner Flickers. Modern hockey is all about Penalty Corners conversion and defending it. 

-       Should hold more Women Hockey International Competition & Test Matches for exposure.

-       Should base the Senior Team in Belgium, England, Holland and Germany to play in their Leagues & quality matches.

-       Must enhanced & Overhaul Key Domestic Events mainly MHL, JHL, Razak Cup

-       Bring in Specialist Coaches on periodically

-       Appoint Credible Team Managers i.e. Women as they will understand women emotions and other aspect of issues. There are plenty Former Internationals who could also be their Role Model.

-   Affiliates must have Women State Leagues & participation at Age-Group Women Competitions.

    -   Formation of nationwide National Development Women Hockey Plan.

    -   Set-up an Talent Identification Committee to oversee the potential of players of age group of U12 & U14 and managing their growth & development till they achieve the Internationals grade.      

    -   The Budget Assurance must be clear and available.

-       Provide a clear pathway of education & career after school.

-       All teams must submit periodical reports to the Board

-       Each Team Manager & Coaches of this 4 National Project Squads to present their progress & shortcomings in every EB Meetings.

-       There should be a monthly meeting by a representative from Board overseeing the requirements and addressing the issues.

-       There should be a clear 4 to 8 years cycle of International & Domestic Calendar. In detail should be at least 3 years about domestic & international plan for all this 4 National Teams. Key Domestic Competitions needs new innovative ideas and purpose.

-       Database to be electronically kept for decision making for Coaches, Officials & Administrators. Engage Media Personnel to keep the hockey fraternity on the updates and journey.

   Performance Execution Plan (PEP)

  To achieve the above Way Forward & Prerequisite, MHC has come up with Performance Execution Plan (PEP) to achieve the Step 1 to Step 3. 

This may include identifying an appropriate support team of sport science and sport medicine coordinating the effective delivery of support, and regularly reviewing plans.

The Performance Execution Plan (PEP) will be break into Macrocycles, Mesocycles and Microcycles and essentially covers:

- General Preparation Phase
- Specific Preparation Phase
- Pre-Competition
- In-Competition
- Conditioning (TR, TA, R & CR)
- Medical Screening
- Anti-Doping Procedures
- Physiology Assessment
- Nutrition (BC, EA & ED)
- Mental Skills Assessment
- Biomechanics Assessment
- Key Competition Ratings
- Program&Performance Meeting & Working Committee Meetings

The PEP will also cover the followings:

- Feedback Loop System

- Online Athlete Monitoring System

- Performance Analysis

- Technology support

The PEP can only function if the various elements are put together with the right people so as of wanting to make Malaysian Women Hockey sports as a World force materialized.

The implementation needs substantial resources and various ideas have been floated in this article is to ensure that MHC is able to undertake its task without any hindrances.

It is essentially to set a foundation for Malaysian Women Hockey Programme to move in the right direction with various stakeholders playing a key role through qualitative inputs.

Ultimately it is to invest on the “Right persons in the Right positions” embodying the principles of “Excellence”, to take Malaysian Hockey to World Class status and sustain it’s prime position.

P/S - Call for a tea session and will explain on how to implement the Way Forward. Prerequisite & Performance Execution Plan (PEP). No charges, free consultations as the Nation is above self.