There was a "Silver Lining" in the 58th Tun Abdul Razak Cup hockey tournament which ended over the weekend i.e. new cycle of young potential Coaches managing the teams.
The potential ones are such as Jiwa Mohan, Mohd Sofian, Madzli Ikmar, Selvaraju, S Kumar, Jivan Mohan, Roslan Jamaluddin, Azlan Misron, Kevinder Singh, Iman Gobi, Azrul Affendy, Ikmal Abd Jabar (Women) & Mohammad Sabri (Women) and soon to be Coaches after their playing days end are Baljit Singh, Shahrun Nabil and Ismail Abu. Others like Chairil Anwar, Shukor, Shaiful Azli, Azlan Bakar and Zam Zam to be considered too.
There are about 20 potential young Coaches to be created to serve hockey in this Country whether is at grassroot, development or high performance levels.
Question? Do the Coaching Committee has a plan or pathway for these young potential Coaches? Answer is NO!
Pathway is a way of achieving a specified result; a course of action. If nothing is done, then these young potential Coaches will remain in their cocoon, fade away and will forever lack the latest modern international hockey training methodology.
There must be an opportunity available for them to grow as one of the top National or International standing Coaches. And there must be a plan for these young Coaches. We have been dependent on Foreign Coaches over the years and since 2015 we used 9 Foreign Consultants but achieved mediocre results. Unbelievable.
This are few suggestions to enhance these young potential Coaches:
1. Foreign League Attachment
Should negotiate with Top Foreign Countries mainly like of Germany, Holland, England, Spain, Australia and India for an Attachment Coaching Program with Government to Government understanding. For an example, could get Shell (Dutch Company) to sponsor such stints for the selected Coaches in Holland and many other German Company or Australia are based in Malaysia, speak to them and for sure they want to be part of National Service or CSR program.
2. Mentoring Program
There are many local qualified Veteran Coaches that could play a mentoring to these young Coaches. Coaches like Collin, Stephen, Tai Beng Hai, Lim Chiow Chuan, Dharmaraj, Nor Saiful, Yahya Atan & Sarjit Singh who knows modern International hockey requirements and still actively involved in Coaching.
For the 20 young potential Coaches divide them into 3 or 4 each under each Mentor Coaches and pay some token of allowance to the Mentors on a monthly basis. This will build confidence and productive partnership between young & seasoned Coaches. This method will expedite the missing bridge gap of experience and knowledge for the young Coaches.
3. Performance Plan
The young potential Coaches must be trained at early stage on how to do develop a good performance plan for teams. They must understand Macrocycles, Mesocycles and Microcycles which essentially covers General Preparation, Specific Preparation phases with Pre & In Competition details of Conditioning and Physiology Assessment.
4. Performance Support i.e. Sports Science
These young Coaches should attend Sports Sciences Courses organised by National Coaching Academy (AKK).
The key areas of support - Strength & Conditioning; Power; Nutrition; Mental Skills & Psychology; Physiology; Rehabilitation & Basic Medicine knowledge.
5. Technology & Biomechanics
It will be good if this young coaches are exposed to Biomechanics which is used by Coaches in order to gain a greater understanding of performance through modelling, simulation and measurement.
Another area is Performance Analysis which is the notational and statistical analysis of performance and Technology support which provides strategies to gain maximum advantage in term of preparation and during the play of matches.
6. Dedicated Fast-Track Coaching Program - for these 16 Coaches
There should be a fast-tracked program for these Coaches. A clear pathway of Coaching Education from Level 1 to Level 3 with Sport Sciences Accreditation of level 1 to 3. Thereafter, follow up on AHF & FIH Courses for these Coaches.
7. Local Coaching Attachment Stints
If possible, these young Coaches be attached with National Senior & Junior teams or MHL Clubs. It can be done on a rotational basis to allow them to understand the drills and expectation of being a Coach.
8. Developing Coaching Training Methodology
This area is the most crucial element. Young Coaches must learn and develop their own Coaching Training Methodology. This allows for evidence based and informed decision to be made regarding structure training to meet teams need and strategies which shall allow to perform at best, peak when appropriate and ensure optimal recovery.
9. Specific Coaching
There must be a specific Coaching Workshop such as Technical Skills, PC Attack, PC Defense, Goal Scoring, Goalkeeping, Attacking Principles and Defending Principles. And it must be inline with current International standards which incorporates modern hockey.
Conclusion:
The pathway has to be developed by some of the most prominent experts in the game to welcome and mentor new coaches as well as inspire and assist veteran coaches, including those who coach professionally. But does the current Chairman of Coaching Committee has the knowledge and qualified to address this pathway. Doubt! Worst never before a President took a role of Coaching Committee due to conflict and a President must stay above board since he chairs the Executive Board. But currently, a haywire administration is acceptable by stakeholders.
You must understand qualified coaches are critical to the long-term growth and success of our sport. The education and development of coaches will play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainable athlete success from grassroots to high performance. The long-term aim is to develop more technically proficient players and teams across all levels and assist veteran coaches, including those who coach professionally.
The goal of a dedicated Coaching Education is to provide a coach education system that supports, sustains and grows our sport by producing exceptional leaders, instructors and coaches.
Therefore, a clear pathway of Coaching Education is imminent to uplift these young potential Coaches to higher level.
In this Country, we do not have any policies or program of such nature for Malaysian Hockey at all levels but we had numerous of "bengkels/workshops" reporting on social media till I have lost count..
P/S - As for Indoor Coaching Education, similar approach could be implemented after selecting good young potential Coaches after the National Indoor Hockey League that begins next month.