There have been many examples of sports administrators making decisions that defy logic, and when these occur they rightly deserve criticism. However sometimes they find themselves stuck between a rock and hard place as to what exactly is the right thing to do.
Regular readers of this site will know that we have frequently questioned some decisions that appear to defy logic, but sometimes the administrators do get it right even if it may appear otherwise.
The International Hockey Federation have pushed ahead with their Hockey Revolution. The Pro League will commence in January 2019 and the Hockey Series Open – for those not in the Pro League has commenced.
It was interesting to read the comments of the new CEO of the FIH regarding the Hockey Revolution on an interview on the Federation’s website where he stated, “From the President to the Executive Board to the office staff, there is a passion for the sport that comes from lifelong involvement. For some people, they have been in hockey their entire lives and their parents were involved in the sport before them.”
He continued to say “The term ‘revolution’ means dramatic change, so for me, as an outsider, a revolution within the sport is an exciting prospect but it’s not easy to implement because the passion for the sport makes it difficult to introduce too much radical change.”
This is a point that is hard to argue with. Getting the balance between radical change and yet preserving the aspects that are good, and give the sport its history and its meaning is no easy task. Changing the scoring received mixed feedback when trialled in the Hockey India League and European Hockey Leagues. Whereas it changes the way teams play, and forces a change of tactics it is confusing to the viewer in the way it is conveyed and can result in scores blowing out.
The International Hockey Federation has to grow the game. They have to help try and raise the standard of the tier two nations and to all intents and purposes look to be doing that with the indoor and Hockey Fives programs. Austria a tier two nation won the Indoor Hockey World Cup and Iran, another tier two nation came third.
Some may say that this is a completely different game to the eleven-a-side version, and they would be right. However many of the skills are transferrable. Success in this form of the game will create interest, which will increase participation numbers which in turn can assist in the development of the eleven-a-side game. To produce a pool of players able to compete at the highest level is going to take time. It is likely to take a generation and a great deal of planning and promotion, but with the right structures, patience and a plan it can be achieved.
At the recent Men’s Hockey Series Open in Zagreb, Austria and Wales finished top of the pool and therefore progressed to the next round which will be played on a date yet to be announced. What is at stake for all of the teams playing in this Series is the opportunity to next year progress through the competition and play off against teams from the Pro League for a spot at the Tokyo Olympics.
This is where the competition threw up an anomaly.
Wales do not compete at the Olympic Games as an independent country. They compete as a part of Great Britain; made up of players from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
Scotland are due to compete in a pool in the same competition in September.
Understandably there are some who feel that it is wrong that two teams who have no chance of competing at the Olympic Games should be taking the place of others who can only dream of winning such a place.
So the third placed team should replace Wales? That would be Croatia, a team Wales beat 9-0 and lost to Austria 3-2.
It is a very difficult question to answer. Wales and Scotland have to play in major competitions so that they can develop not only as nations but so that the game continues to grow in these areas. (See Podcast to hear the progress Scotland has made). When it comes to this same competition in two years time both will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup.
The problem is a longstanding one when it comes to the Olympic Games. It started back in 1922, when the Parliament of Northern Ireland petitioned the King to excercise his option to accept them into the country (rather than join the newly-created Free State), the country changed its name to ‘The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.’ In fact the Irish have frequently requested that the Olympic team be known as the United Kingdom rather than Great Britain.
Despite Ireland joining the United Kingdom of Great Britain the Olympic registration has remained in the name GB. A request was made in the 1990’s to allow a name change but the IOC refused.
The team is in fact officially registered as the “Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team.”However, the British Olympic Association has branded itself “Team GB.”
To muddy the waters even more when it comes to Hockey, at the 1908 Olympics hosted by London, the first time the sport was contested at an Olympic Games, six teams entered from three Countries.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was represented by a team from each of the four Home Nations: England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Germany sent a championship club team, while France sent a team composed of players from three clubs.
England won the gold medal, Ireland the silver, and Scotland and Wales the bronze medals. There was no bronze medal play off.
So the issue as to whether Wales and Scotland should be allowed to progress in such a tournament is in fact far more complicated than it at first appears.
Sport should always come down to merit. If these two nations have won the right to progress surely they should be allowed to, in the interests of the development of the game? If those who lost out to them feel they should have taken their place, hopefully they will go away and work harder at their game and make sure that they win on the pitch next time.
As for those administering the game, spare a thought for them on this one. They are trying to help teams develop their game, while at the same time making sure that all competitions are meaningful.
