Coudron challenges Batra
Marc Coudron launched his bid for the FIH presidency mid March 2021. For a very long time it appeared Narinder Batra would run unopposed for reelection, earlier than Coudron stated he needed a change. Which suggests the FIH world congress should make an essential resolution on Could 22. As a result of, although Coudron is an excessive amount of of a gentleman and diplomat, with solely variety phrases for the sitting president, they do have a really completely different view on the way in which hockey ought to transfer ahead. And hockey may be very a lot at a crossroads.
In a nutshell…
The main focus for Batra is on rising the worldwide fanbase. The main focus for Coudron is on rising the playerbase. Thoughts you, that is my evaluation from these males and mine alone. Not an official viewpoint from both candidate.
From goals to plans & to do’s
My dream for hockey worldwide, Coudron stated, is definitely the identical I had 16 years in the past for hockey in Belgium. Give a chance to each younger woman and each younger boy, everywhere in the world, to play hockey with good tools, good coaches on a very good floor. The place coaches go on the values of hockey.
As adults we now have the accountability to go on the baton to the youth. These are the frequent values we share with all of society, not simply hockey, not simply sports activities. These values embody respect, teamspirit, truthful play, integrity, conviviality, tolerance, inclusion,…
Speaking concerning the plans Coudron indicated he can be 100% devoted to hockey. Sure, he nonetheless has a standard job (Coudron is a banker) and sure clearly he nonetheless has a household life as effectively. However he would cease all different extracurricular actions. Akin to his function throughout the Belgian federation and in addition his perform as treasurer and government member for the Belgian Olympic Committee. For me, Coudron stated, it’s regular the function of heading up the FIH requires complete dedication.
Secondly, with out blaming anybody or something, we can not deny the funds of the FIH at present aren’t good. Discovering the correct and sustainable options to repair our monetary state of affairs is the precedence.
Governance can be a 3rd side. Among the many values mentioned earlier are integrity and transparency. Inside just a few years the FIH needs to be the function mannequin for good governance on the earth of sports activities.
Final however definitely not least, the concentrate on the event of hockey all through the world. We make investments quite a bit nowadays in occasions just like the FIH Professional League. However that’s only for the highest 10 nations. The FIH needs to be about all of its members, some 140 nations at present. There’s a must spend money on occasions just like the Professional League, however we should always not neglect the remainder. So the primary focus for FIH needs to be on improvement for the second tier nations and third tier nations. Coudron needs to have the ability to say in just a few years the hole between the highest and second tier nations has diminished. But additionally that third tier nations have moved nearer to the second tier nations. We now have to bridge the hole between the highest 10 and the opposite 130 nations in FIH to make hockey develop.
On my to do record, in accordance with Coudron, the largest activity is listening to all completely different nations in our hockey household. To find out about their expectations. I’m simply initially of this activity however already I’ve discovered a lot. Akin to for instance the significance of indoor hockey for the event of our sport in Africa. They’ve much more entry to those sorts of services in comparison with full synthetic pitches for instance. We even have 3 codecs of the sport with 11-a-side hockey, indoor and hockey5s. Some nations would go for 5s or indoor, whereas others would concentrate on 11-a-side. Some would possibly even mix all three. No matter works greatest for them to develop hockey of their nation.
Fixing the monetary points would even be excessive on his to do record. Coudron claims this is able to be solved in simply a few months as a result of clearly he wouldn’t have to start out from scratch. The FIH administration is already engaged on potential options to repair the monetary issues we now have at present. He would construct upon that and from his personal expertise within the monetary world to verify the present issues as a result of launch of the Professional League and the pandemic are handled swiftly.
Fixing the idea for good governance also needs to be a fast repair, he thinks. However the work on improvement can be one with out finish. The potential for improvement continues to be big. With the pandemic we’ve discovered we are able to do quite a bit via webinars, however these are largely performed in English nonetheless at present. Coudron wish to see these in French, Spanish, Russian or the Arab languages as effectively… We must always discover extra monetary assets to make these developments potential within the quick time period.
Coming again to the funds and what wants fixing there, Coudron informed us: I’m not the person who focuses on chopping prices instantly. I’d first do an intensive evaluation of the state of affairs. Gamers inform me they love the fundamental idea of the Professional League, the product in itself is an effective one. However we could need to adapt and tweak each present broadcasting offers and the format of the occasion. Perhaps the nations who cannot carry the price themselves for this occasion ought to take a step again.
Various world
For Coudron it’s not solely concerning the viewers, or solely concerning the gamers. After all you must develop the viewers to usher in sponsors for instance, however in the event you first develop your variety of gamers, the viewers will comply with. But it surely all begins by listening to the completely different nations. Coudron doesn’t need the FIH to vary the way in which the sport is performed in several nations. It is not going to be a one measurement matches all strategy around the globe. We’re too completely different all around the globe and we have to respect these variations and one another’s tradition.
He wish to insist extra on the three merchandise hockey has on supply for nations to decide on one of the best ways to develop hockey of their a part of the world. Every nation should discover their very own particular options to get individuals to play the game and to maintain individuals within the sport as a participant for many of their life. Each nation has its challenges and the FIH is not going to have one world answer. Coudron says he doesn’t have the answer to assist all nations, however he’ll begin by listening and assist them discover their answer. As a result of he has confirmed he is aware of how one can develop hockey in his Belgium, however understands not all will profit from the very same strategy.
Not possible is momentary
The primary lesson for Coudron has been to encompass him with higher and extra clever individuals than himself. “I’m good with the confrontation of concepts, not the confrontation of individuals.” It’s like being on a hockey workforce. Even in the event you’re a very good participant your self you want different qualities round you to make it work.
Coudron may be very proud he had an element in altering the previous Belgian mentality of simply being comfortable to take part with out an excessive amount of expectations to a extra bold mindset and self perception. The well-known quote by Muhammed Ali “Not possible is momentary” is at all times prime of thoughts for Coudron. So he needs to assist construct this perception within the so-called “smaller” hockey nations to dream huge. Why would it not not be potential for Iran to turn into world champion indoor or Namibia world champion in 5s? The identical means Belgium construct their confidence to develop from a smaller hockey nation to turn into the reigning world champion. It’s by no means a simple path and would possibly take time however unimaginable is momentary. The identical means Coudron and his workforce grew the Belgian hockey in numbers and outcomes he believes the potential for hockey around the globe is large. It’s inside attain to have extra gamers, higher coaches, good infrastructure…
The purpose for FIH needs to be to broaden the highest occasions in all three merchandise. The purpose is a world cup in all disciplines with 24 nations competing on the prime. We now have to make room for brand spanking new nations on the prime. Regardless that at present a rustic like for instance Croatia will acquire nothing from enjoying a prime nation like Australia. However in simply a few years they could be even contenders in for instance hockey 5s and, why not, in a while in 11-a-side hockey as effectively? We have to set up an surroundings by which the three merchandise (11-a-side, 5s and indoor) reinforce one another to assist develop the game. With the intention to do this we have to have much more nations enjoying at prime stage. The dream is to get extra codecs from our recreation of hockey on the Olympics. However perhaps the way in which to go is to merge 5s and indoor hockey. All choices ought to stay on the desk. No door is closed.
Risk of getting kicked from the Olympics?
Crucial can even be the event away from waterbased pitches. The FIH must work collectively on the dream of a floor with none water. Coudron sees potentialities if the FIH would work along with soccer and rugby federations to persuade producers of synthetic pitches to discover a answer that works for all. Now’s the time to make huge strides in these areas however it is going to want cooperation between completely different sports activities to make this occur. No empty guarantees or unrealistic deadlines. Simply the robust need and drive to make this occur as quickly as potential.
Regardless of the state of affairs at present when the subsequent Youth Olympic Video games would happen in Africa and even the 2028 Video games in LA we want to verify we now have an answer for a floor that doesn’t want any water to play the sport all of us love. It’s a should for remaining a related member of the Olympic household. As a result of that place is below risk. The IOC is pushing onerous in direction of sports activities that may supply extra occasions, with extra medals in a shorter time and with much less assets wanted. Assets being the variety of athletes taking over house within the Olympic Village, but additionally scarce water assets
Nonetheless Coudron tries to reassure, we even have plenty of robust factors as a sport to persuade the IOC of our price. We’re one in every of few sports activities the place prime nations come from all 5 continents and doubtless the one sport the place all 5 continents have nations within the world prime 15 for each women and men. Not many sports activities can boast gender equality on the sphere in addition to within the boardroom. We’re one in every of few sports activities with no doping or betting scandals. Perhaps we don’t insist sufficient on these qualities? It’s not about getting in a contest with different sports activities. However we’re who we’re and we now have sure qualities that ought to matter. For instance our concentrate on inclusion and looking out past simply hockey, it might be the final word dream for me to see the Olympic Video games merge with what we at present know because the Paralympic Video games and have only one occasion: thé Olympic Video games… for all athletes who excel of their self-discipline.
Stress between home and worldwide leagues
We must always not exaggerate the issues right here Coudron claims. The one stress is between worldwide hockey and the highest leagues in sure nations. Leisure hockey will not be affected as a lot by this. However on the prime stage we want higher options. Perhaps a primary step can be for all European nations to get a coordinated calendar for his or her home leagues? Not a simple activity with completely different climates and cultures both. The error made by many directors outdoors of Europe is to say that is only a European downside. Not true in accordance with Coudron, since many gamers from Australia, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand,… additionally play and make their cash in these home leagues in Europe. So it has an affect on all of us. However the splendid answer doesn’t exist. It’s been on the agenda for a few years and not using a answer up to now. Perhaps the one means is to get a hard and fast calendar the place all know beforehand what weeks can be put aside for worldwide video games and the home leagues need to finetune their very own calendars in accordance with this.
Totally different nations will all have their completely different pathways into hockey. For some it begins as a leisure exercise, for others it’s a option to get an schooling at college and for others they hope to make a residing from it. However what prime hockey gamers at present earn throughout their profession won’t ever be sufficient to sit down again and loosen up for the remainder of their lives as soon as their enjoying days are over. We’re not soccer, cricket, rugby or basketball… and even in these sports activities it’s solely the comfortable few, the 1%, who make sufficient. So enjoying in hockey would at all times have to be mixed with a preparation for the profession after your enjoying days. It’s not potential for anybody on the earth at present to make sufficient cash from hockey to have the ability to not fear for what comes after your enjoying days. However that’s a very good factor in accordance with Coudron. It’s not concerning the cash. It’s a few ardour for the game.
Why ought to 140 very completely different nations select Marc Coudron to turn into their president?
“I’m very motivated to realize some targets. I might be 100% devoted to this perform. I’m positive we’re simply initially of an enormous improvement. Inside 10 years there needs to be much less distinction between the extent of first tier and second nations and between second and third tier nations. To have much more hockey nations with a chance to play world cups, to achieve the Olympic Video games. Why not within the 3 codecs, however definitely in one in every of these with 11-a-side hockey. Not possible is momentary, actually!
So how about Mr. Batra?
We reached out to Mr. Batra as effectively to speak about his plans for hockey. However once we, at his request despatched him our questions (the identical we used for Coudron) previous to setting a date for the interview, we by no means heard again. We haven’t heard again from Batra, nor has the world of hockey in his years as FIH president I would add. Aside from the occasional irrelevant quick promo video on the FIH website no precise and significant accomplishments in keeping with earlier guarantees have been reported, so far as I do know. We already wrote, following the final FIH world congress, we favored a number of the plans. And a few we didn’t like in any respect, however the proof of the pudding was at all times going to be within the consuming. The guarantees made by Batra (see video right here beginning at 12:08) concerning his personal contribution again then have been easy: enhance income for FIH, enhance attain for hockey around the globe, make hockey a viable profession alternative for gamers around the globe. I would love you to guage for your self if yow will discover any proof of creating good on any of those guarantees. I’ve discovered none…
One promise from the total video was clearly made in unhealthy religion, can be my evaluation. When you scroll to 08:54 on this video he’s requested if he sees his FIH presidency as a step in direction of different capabilities with IOA or the IOC. He categorically denies this (“For me it’s hockey, hockey, hockey and that’s it“). Inside a yr or so the promise was damaged and all of Batra’s focus shifted to the IOA. He by no means regarded again at hockey…
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