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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Impetus and technique could take us to Asian standards - German coach by PELHAM JURIANSZ German International Olympic Committee (IOC) hockey coach Horst Wein, who is in Sri Lanka on a coaching mission, is of the opinion that we have the talent, and all that is needed is the impetus and the necessary technique to develop the game of hockey and bring it to Asian standards. For a country that once dribbled in the lofty heights at Asian level in the 1950's to the 1970 era, Wein's observations must indeed make one wonder whether the authorities who run the game were sleeping since that Golden Era which produced a galaxy of names who brought glory to this land. I met up with the sweaty coach who was hard at work with his charges at the Astro Turf in Colombo where he is handling about 30 district coaches including some of Sri Lanka's top umpires in M. B. Herath and B. L. V. S. Perera who are amongst those showing interest in the techniques of the German. Wein who holds a Masters degree in Physical education from "Deutsche Sporthoschule Koln with Hennes Weisweiler as football coach, is of the opinion that the small stature of Sri Lankans is not a deterrent to success. eing the head coach of the German and Spanish hockey National teams for 12 years with a track record to prove it, having won an Olympic silver Medal in 1980 and a Gold Medal at the European Cup, Wein has been with the "Olympic Solidarity" Committee for 26 years. This is his second visit here having first come here 18 years ago. He has coached 5 Olympic sports in 51 countries. Here at the invitation of the IOC and Hockey Federation's President, Senior DIG Jayatissa Herath, who was present at the ground, Wein claims that he has the key to success in hockey and has streamlined an optimal coaching and learning model to unlock and develop the innate potential of young hockey players. 5 stages of training The first level of development is for boys and girls from 7 years with games of basic abilities and capacities teaching them dribbling, passing and receiving the ball, etc while the 2nd level is for boys and girls from 8 years where mini hockey, using three players is involved. The third level of training is for 10 year olds where goalkeeper is stressed and simplified games from penalty corners and indoor hockey is explored. The 4th and 5th levels is for 12 years and 16 years onwards respectively. Wein is of the opinion that young children cannot stay in one place and in a game of one hours hockey sometimes a sticker does not get the ball much and yet it is essential that one keeps focused. Having authored 31 books on hockey and soccer, he does not advise youngsters of the ages of 9 to run a 100 metre race because it is too strenuous. The younger players should involve themselves in mini hockey(with three players) and then quietly graduate to 6-a-side and seven -a-side games. The coaching period is from December 26- January 2 at the Astro Turf. "My idea is to increase the knowledge of the players and if you ask me as to where Sri Lanka is in the Asian circuit I would say about 10th, behind neighbours India and Pakistan, and China,Japan and South Korea." Talent wasted "Sri Lankans have the intelligence but it needs to be stimulated ,and I do not give too much instruction in my class but I let them discover for themselves then they will learn more and it will stick in their memory more. I have prepared a programme that is very easy to understand. In football and in hockey training I develop the two against one situation and this develops the young players. I feel that the talent here is wasted. The youngsters should not emulate the training programme for the grown ups as they then develop wrong habits. There should be more flexibility with the ball." Horst Wein is on the way to developing the much neglected game of hockey here and it is hoped that the enthusiasm shown by organiser ASP Sumith Edirisinghe will be translated beneficially in reviving a lost image. |
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