In sport, and in life, they say that timing is everything.
In an era of fragile egos it probably becomes more important than ever. Talking to modern day coaches no longer can a team be pinned on a wall or even announced an hour before the game. Some have revealed that they have to tell some players the night before a game that they are playing, as they know that will help that individual to relax and focus on the game the next day. While with others they will wait until a few hours before the start of the match, as they know these players will fret and worry about the game if told too far in advance.
Of course, there is no right or wrong way to do these things, however it is incumbent on a coach to manage expectations, and also find a way to bring out the best in the players, ultimately ensuring the best outcomes for the individual and the team.
There are certainly many in Australian hockey who are totally bemused that Hockey Australia would opt to announce the Kookaburras squad for 2024 when they did. On the second day of the Men’s Junior World Cup, and the day after Australia’s opening game.
Some of these players will be a part of the next generation of Kookaburras. This is a group of players who missed out on the 2021 Junior World Cup due to the Covid Pandemic and Australia’s travel restrictions.
Some would say this hampered their development by comparison to those who have gone before, but these young players have still performed admirably when they have played internationally. Two years in succession they have made the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup, which is Asia’s, and possibly the world’s premier under 21 tournament outside of the World Cup, only to lose in a shoot-out both times.
Here they are finally at a World Cup and looking to not only be amongst the medals, but also force their way into the national squad with a tournament defining performance.
They would have woken up on Wednesday morning to see that door slammed firmly in their face.
Without doubt it will be shattering news for some of these young players, knowing that no matter how they perform at the World Cup they will not break into the national squad for another year, if ever.
The coaches at the junior World Cup, Jay Stacy, Matthew Wells and Mark Knowles will now face the added distraction of keeping these players focused on this tournament, and not worrying about their futures in the game. Quite why this announcement could not have been delayed until after the event is truly amazing.
After winning the inaugural FIH Pro League in 2019, and been runners up in 2020/21 Australia withdrew in the next season, and the Kookaburras had a below par seventh place finish in 2022/23.
Such a finish in a nine-team competition is virtually unheard of in Australian Hockey, where until the new World rankings system was introduced, the Kookaburras had been in the top four since the mid 1970’s.
As result the timing of this announcement and the lack of fresh faces in the squad has raised more than a few eyebrows. Most believing that introducing new blood puts much needed pressure on those already in the squad, and creates healthy competition which then brings out the best in players.
Certainly, the powers that be have now placed a great deal more pressure on the Kookaburras squad who will have to make sure that they achieve in the coming year, both in the Pro League and at the Paris Olympics.
As for the generation participating at the Junior World Cup in Malaysia, hopefully this will be the spur they need to show what they are capable of with a really strong performance and possibly a medal.
If that happens no doubt there will be many a debate at the bar in Hockey clubs across the country…
