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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 vital choices concerning the way forward for our sport have been communicated. Additionally roughly 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 growth for the FIH in regards to the Hockey2024 plan that was about to launch.
So at present, roughly 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 completed since then in 2019 or might be in 2020. We outlined 10 matters to debate with them:
- FIH Professional League
- FIH Qualifiers
- Tokyo 2020
- A dry synthetic pitch
- The FIH.stay platform
- Hockey2024
- Rising hockey
- LA 2028
- One quick format of hockey
- Do all stakeholders have a voice?
Please be aware this column shouldn’t be an actual transcript (removed from it) of the podcast. I do suggest 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 in all probability. At the very least by way of visibility on a worldwide scale. 
FIH felt it was essential to improve the promotion of hockey world wide. After they spoke to broadcasters their main concern with our sport was the dearth of a set calendar, a time of 12 months when broadcasters have 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 key studying from this primary 12 months of the FIH Professional League has been the house & away video games within the present schedule have been an excessive amount of of a stress on the well being of gamers. So the 2nd 12 months will see an vital change with double dwelling video games for some opponents this 12 months adopted by double away video games for a similar the subsequent 12 months. This implies journey is reduce in half which isn’t solely higher for our environmental footprint however particularly might be much less of a pressure on participant well being. Suggestions from coaches and gamers, in line with Weil, was very optimistic. However clearly some modifications have been wanted going into 12 months two. The change of schedule for participant welfare but additionally a change within the manufacturing of those occasions for TV. Extra uniformity in exhibiting a recognisable format of the sport on TV. One other concern in 12 months 1 has been the dearth 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’s sufficient time for the marketeers in every nation to work on an excellent ticketing plan and promotion of their dwelling video games. For instance in Germany this time the advertising company that was in cost for the very profitable indoor world cup will be sure the German hockey supporters is not going to miss out on their dwelling video games once more, in line 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 vital objective is to create income and revenue for the FIH to make use of for the event of hockey world wide. As a result of with the intention to develop hockey, extra money is required. So clearly a marketing strategy for this occasion in some unspecified time in the future in time might want to present earnings to have the ability to do extra for rising our recreation of hockey. Although Weil states he would even be pleased with a break even and extra promotion of our sport, the marketing strategy by the FIH assumes a revenue might be generated to assist develop hockey as of 2022 or 2023 on the newest.
Nonetheless, even when I take into account myself a giant fan of prime worldwide hockey & the FIH Professional League… I might 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 taking part 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 growth of leisure hockey as a substitute of the promotion of tophockey.
I nonetheless take into account myself a fan of the idea of extra dwelling video games for worldwide hockey and do suppose the Professional League in itself is a good suggestion to advertise hockey. Nonetheless the best way it’s organised now, even after some modifications, I nonetheless imagine the burden on home membership hockey is an excessive amount of and might be prevented.
FIH Qualifiers
Not likely new, although in a reinvented format, 2019 additionally introduced us some spectacular hockey and drama throughout 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 via the FIH Qualifiers. As an alternative of the standard event the place the highest 6 or 7 acquired their Olympic ticket, the FIH determined to go together with a brand new format. Primarily based upon their international rating international locations have been drawn in opposition to 1 opponent and needed to beat them in a better of two, performed at dwelling for the best ranked nation.
I cannot conceal the very fact I used to be considerably sceptical about this beforehand and would have most well-liked to maintain the prevailing event format. Feeling that may be the fairest format for all to succeed in for the celebrities. I nonetheless suppose a event has some benefits over the 1 vs 1 format of those new model qualifiers. However I’ve acquired to confess the drama and pleasure proven throughout the video games performed in these new qualifiers have been thrilling.
Thierry Weil shared my shock on the success of those Qualifiers, although for various causes… His principal concern with the brand new format was the dearth of time (solely 6 weeks) in between the second the taking part nations have been identified and the video games have been performed. He feared it could not be sufficient time to commercialise these occasions, the place my issues have 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 facet you’re certain to make errors that might damage the game. The FIH thought is to have extra time between saying the taking part international locations and the precise video games with the intention to “promote” the occasion to public, broadcasters, sponsors, and so forth… That is smart. Nonetheless if you don’t keep in mind the golf equipment in your planning you can 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 & apply collectively (bear in mind the complaints by the German captain Mats Grambusch in our podcast with him over the last 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 can be a protected window of 2x 3 months for home membership hockey! September, October and November + March, April, Could ought to be devoted to home membership hockey. Worldwide hockey might have his justifiable share with December, January, February + June, July, August. That manner broadcasters know which months they’ll 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. House & away video games as a substitute of two dwelling 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 received’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 said 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 throughout the Tokyo Video games. Near the town centre, with two fields inside strolling distance from one another. Ticketing gross sales is doing very nicely in line with Weil. The 2 host groups managed to qualify on their very own and never only for being the host nation. That’s exceptional and good outcomes from a bunch nation will assist make the Video games a hit as nicely. We’ve got the very best groups for each males & ladies from all around the world with nations from all continents. Not loads of crew sports activities can declare this…
Weil additionally confirmed the participation of the South Africa ladies. Though they didn’t meet all the factors 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
Kind of a 12 months in the past, throughout the FIH international congress it was introduced the 2024 Video games in Paris, would see our recreation performed on a dry synthetic pitch with none water. Clearly the concept shouldn’t be to return to grass or sandfilled turfs. Hockey has developed due to the waterbased pitches to an ever sooner, 3D recreation. So the ambition is to have the identical taking part in situations gamers and coaches have at present however on a turf with none water.
Though many consultants (hear for instance to our podcast with Arnoud Fiolet from RSI) nonetheless doubt the feasibility of this ambition, Weil maintains will probably be achieved.
To start with of 2020 gamers and coaches might be concerned in testing the primary steps in the direction of a dry pitch. Weil states ideally the subsequent 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 expertise on the very newest in 2022, ideally even in 2021…. in line with Thierry Weil that’s.
As many others, if not all, I applaud the ambition of wanting to realize this. Water is a scarce useful resource in lots of components of the world. Nonetheless till at present 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 information. I hope Thierry Weil will show us improper right here!
FIH.stay
One other promise launched throughout the international congress a 12 months in the past has been the devoted OTT platform to showcase hockey: FIH.stay ! The platform introduced had all types of great options that may assist change the best way we expertise hockey. Nonetheless when FIH.stay 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 amassing knowledge on its viewers. So sure, a few of will probably 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.stay platform might seem like. I’m curious….
Hockey2024
The worldwide growth plan , known as Hockey2024, was launched throughout the international congress a 12 months in the past by Mike Joyce. 
We had a protracted speak about this then with Mike in one other podcast. So the place are we now? A 12 months down the highway….
Promotion & growth go hand in hand…in line with Joyce. The Professional League & co additionally assist growth, 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 loads to assist develop hockey in Japan.
On the congress we spoke in regards to the 3 pillars for growth: participation, schooling and infrastructure. In the meantime a fourth pillar was added: inspiration.
Equally superb was the hashtag for 2019 and a few nice work has been achieved world wide regarding that subject (gender stability) in line with Joyce. Hockeydreams would be the hashtag for 2020, getting youth extra concerned.
Relating to schooling, the prevailing packages continued. 46 programs , 750 people licensed in 2019 and these ought to be doubled in 2020. However clearly rising hockey is the number one precedence for international growth of hockey.
Rising hockey
For me rising hockey is generally about having extra infrastructure and rising the variety of energetic gamers. My worry is (nonetheless at present) an excessive amount of focus goes to rising the variety of followers & followers as a substitute of leisure gamers. How is the expansion of energetic gamers being measured globally and is there development? In 2020 a brand new “state of the sport” survey might be carried out to see what the affect has been. It is going to nonetheless be tough to measure the distinction between registered and occasional gamers… an issue for all sports activities. So the affect will turn into extra clear when the brand new survey has been achieved in 2020. However my worry is we might be pleased to see a development in participation whereas unable to show the variety of gamers have grown.
In an effort to get extra gamers infrastructure is essential. However nonetheless… with the vital message on the congress that hockey will be performed (additionally for official tournaments and occasions) on any floor, we must always not get caught on the dearth of synthetic turf pitches world wide.
A serious message by Weil is to not fear a lot about having “the precise infrastructure”. Simply exit and have some enjoyable taking part in hockey…. on no matter floor is accessible! He’s proper!
So what has been achieved concerning growth in 2019. TAP East Africa concerned 7 totally different nations to get began in hockey, however that’s not all. Numerous initiatives have been held in different areas additionally to advertise taking part in hockey. In accordance with Joyce it’s anticipated 4 or 5 new nations will be part of the FIH on the subsequent international congress.
Joyce additionally burdened yearly 1,1 million greenback is invested by FIH into continental federations to assist develop hockey of their area
As Weil additionally said, each penny made by FIH might be invested into growth of the game, however in line with their pondering promotion and occasions such because the Professional League additionally counts in the direction of funding in growth. I assume, he’s acquired some extent. But it surely’s vital it’s tracked cash is pent on initiatives that develop the quantity of gamers, not simply the quantity of followers and followers. Weil says it’s greatest apply to not separate these…. However in every little thing Weil does it’s clear his first objective is to develop the viewers, hoping the gamers will observe. It’s a improper focus in line with me. Sure we want each, however the final objective is to have extra individuals taking part in the game. That objective is extra vital in comparison with the expansion of the individuals watching the sport, in line 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 precise issues to advertise our sport and turn into extra related after all. However hockey will nonetheless be on the Olympic roster in line with Weil. When requested Weil additionally confirms hockey5s is not going to exchange 11-a-side hockey within the Olympics. However he hopes 5s or a brief format might be added subsequent to 11s…. so we can have extra medals which appears to be an vital 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. Hearken to my podcast on this subject entitled “Hockey5s: our Frankenstein’s monster” if you wish to know extra on this.
Sure, a brief format subsequent to the standard principal 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 world wide has confirmed to not be cautious of adjusting for the higher… And sure, indoor hockey is appropriate for taking part in open air as nicely.
Thierry Weil says he thinks indoor hockey and hockey5s will turn into one quick format! Inside 2 or 3 years this ought to be 1 format! If which means taking part in with 5 outfield gamers and 1 goalie, taking part in with a scoring zone (the D or circle) an a recreation the place dangerously hitting the ball shouldn’t be promoted, I’m all for it. Even when it means some particular “indoor” traits akin to not lifting the ball in play can be eliminated, even when again boards can be added as nicely.
I’m certain some indoor lovers wouldn’t be pleased with a few 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 any 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 choices are made. Though Weil disputes this, claiming most suggestions made by the totally different FIH committees might be accepted with out change by the EB. The present EB members are elected via politics (together with, in line with some, lobbying, “various” info, bribes and empty guarantees) by directors as a substitute of representatives of all related roles in hockey…. At this time 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 throughout the congress.
I distinguish 5 so known as stakeholders in our recreation of hockey that ought to be proportionally represented throughout the choice making unit within the FIH.
- Gamers: ought to have a number of representatives with a minimum of 2 energetic (!) prime athlete, 2 latest ex prime athletes and a pair of energetic younger U23 prime athlete… every time 1 male & 1 feminine, ideally from all continents
- Coaches: 1 male & 1 feminine coach from a prime 10 nation and 1 male & 1 feminine coach from nations outdoors of prime 10, ideally from totally different continents – might be coaches or excessive efficiency directors- however must be energetic
- Golf equipment: 2 representatives from prime golf equipment and a pair of representatives from leisure golf equipment, every from 4 totally 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 totally different stakeholders are speaking about even when the y are usually not represented among the many choice makers. That’s a begin, however is not going to do… stakeholders want a seat on the desk the place choices 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 ok. 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 can be:
- The assured continuation of 11-a-side hockey as our principal 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 roughly 3 months uninterrupted & protected for both home or worldwide hockey.
Let me know what your needs can be… 😉
Please be aware, as talked about above, this column shouldn’t be an actual transcript of the podcast. I do suggest each studying the total textual content in addition to listening the total podcast.
Episode 34 was recorded on 2019-11-27 & revealed on 2012-12-26 by OSMpodcasts.com.
Host : Ernst Baart
Podcast: Studio Hockey
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