When I was a national hockey defender in the early 90s, many youngsters were vying for my place in the team. One of them I can vividly remember was Mininderjit Singh. He was 17 years old, a young, vibrant and handsome boy.
Mike, as he was fondly called, his hockey specific skills were not up to mark but had good general athleticism and passion to learn. These two qualities in Mike were the essence that eased his task in mastering the hockey skills needed to perform at the international level.
In time with access to better coaching, more opportunities for deliberate practice provided with quality feedback, Mike went on to become one of the greatest hockey defenders in Malaysia and the world.
My friend Mike was at the right time and place where age, athleticism, and passion to learn was the key criteria to become a good hockey player.
Hence there is no better person than Mike to share his thoughts on the Malaysian Hockey Confederation(MHC) decision to limit the number of teams to 14 based on quality.
I think MHC could have arrived at this decision by looking at the list of players selected for the national Junior team from the previous Junior Leagues, whereby the majority of players were from the 1st division of the MJHL.
If we put age, athleticism, and passion to learn as the key criteria in selecting future national junior hockey players, I bet many players from Division 2 would make it to the training squad. Maybe that's where the "gems" went missing and Malaysia is struggling to make a mark in international hockey.
Below is Mike's perspective:-
This decision is mortified and unreasonable as it will hinder the growth of clubs, schools, and youth hockey players. Moreso the spiral effect of allowing other segments such as the growth of umpires and TQ/Judges will be affected badly. Reduction from 30 teams to 14 teams would automatically remove a loss of more than 300 players via this decision.
Malaysian Junior Hockey League(MJHL) is a platform for youth hockey players to get their exposure and experience and also for local coaches to unearth new talent. This decision will deprive many youth hockey players at the State and National levels.
I suggest the custodian read up the history and why this MJHL was initiated and hope they will review this decision as based on my view, it's a "suicide" decision in which will destroy the ecosystem that churns the future stars in players, Umpires and TQ/Judges.
Just a question, whether the custodian had a series of dialogue with all interested participating teams and stakeholders about the implications of this decision.
Currently, without 1 MAS development program and non-existent Under 21 and Champions Schools events, for sure this decision will hinder the affiliates to promote and develop the sport.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's the trouble with the current decision-makers. Fixing things that aren't broken and not fixing the things that are broken.
Maninderjit Singh
Former Malaysian Hockey International
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ReplyDeleteAiyoo!!! The responsibility to improve the quality is with MHC. Pleaselah, when you have half past six coaches don't expect for quality players.Go and educate the coaches then the quality will improve.
ReplyDeleteFirstly MHC need to be aware that at the junior level its responsibility is to create an opportunity for the youths to compete.Out of this exposure the youths will decide from their coaches,peers and parents view whether they have the quality to take up the game seriously,socially or drop out.
ReplyDeleteThe decision of "Quality" is with the youth.
"Youths are our future and we don't shape their future,we create an opportunity for them to shape their future."
Good coaches will certainly play a pivotal role,