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Athens 2004

SHIV JAGDAY, FIH COACH, US MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH

INTRODUCTION
We have come a long way, in our game of field hockey. There have been vast improvements in most areas and in some; we have just maintained the standard; and in the others we have slipped considerably down the scale. Let's view together what has improved and what needs to be improved, to make our sport more appealing to the masses, like soccer.


CLOSE COMPETITION
The competition in Athens was very close, both in the men and the women's section. Likely the closest ever, compared to the previous Olympics. All the teams were more or less evenly matched - apart from a couple - no one being far stronger than the other. Indeed the gap between the strongest and weakest teams in the tournament has shrunk. In this competition, on any given day the team, which availed their chances at the right moment during the run of play, came out as winner.

The only exception to this observation was the top 4 teams in the men's division namely, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and Spain, who were quite a few steps ahead.

ARTICLE FORMAT
This article will cover the technical, tactical, physical and psychological aspects of the game. I was not present at the Athens Olympic Games. My observations are based upon viewing, the semi-final and final matches, and limited pool matches shown on television in USA, along with reading the reports posted by the journalist present at the Olympic Games. This article is also based upon my observations of the development - evolution and revolution - and the changing phases of the game over the previous four decades.

I will cover the men and the women tournaments, separately.
Just for a change …Gents first please.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
There are more positive things to focus upon, than the negative ones, when we compare our modern game, to the game of the decade of the 70's and onwards. It has improved tremendously, in the following areas.

TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS
1. Basic skills of passing and receiving, both short range and long range, while employing the push, hit, scoop and German sweep. There is a far more effective number of passes knitted together. E.G. In the Men's semi - final matches, Spain scored their first goal, against Australia, after connecting eight continuous passes. And Netherlands connected 12 passes, while attacking on the left side, to score their 2nd goal against Germany in the other semifinal.
2. Indoor tackling in a confined space and gang tackles.
3. Overall tackling by the forwards. They recover like a pack of wolves, attacking the opponents from all angles and directions.
4. Utilizing deflections to play the ball into the open space for a team mate to receive it on the run, in the different parts of the field.
5. The backhand hit. We have seen some beautiful field goals scored from this skill, the equalizer by the Aussies in the Men's Olympic final match, is just one example.
6. The block receiving under pressure and maintaining possession.

TACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS
1. Tactical awareness and decision making, as a whole team. Now the game is being played with all the members of the team involved, at the same time. It is truly a total hockey game - leveraging the concept introduced to the world of soccer by the famous Dutch Coach Rinus Michels in the early 70's.
2. Over all improved game sense, in the most departments of the game, with an exception of the critical few.
3. Running off the ball individually and as a team. It is done so intelligently and effectively, that most of the work is done by the athletes before they receive the ball by placing themselves, in a strategically optimum position, to connect the next pass of the chain, to complete the move successfully.
4. Moving the ball in the back with purpose. And not overdoing it. This is the best thing which has happened to our game, as it has opened so many more tactical plays and options for the athletes to employ.
5. Employing the various types of Press, during the changing phases of the game.
6. Forwards were at their very best in getting behind the defenders to receive the ball, on the run, in the opponents D. They kept their options and space open by leaving 5 - 7 yards from the goal line. This way, they did not cut their options or make the angles narrow, to take a shot on the goal. This is different and an improvement from the recent past. The first goal the Dutch scored against Australia in the finals is a good example of letting the ball do the hard work and running without the ball in the open created space.
7. Using the block pass - with the back towards the attacking goal - in a timely and effective fashion, followed by a lay off pass to the overlapping teammate.
8. Change of focus. The speed with which the Point - Focus - of attack is changed from the right to the left and vice versa, exploiting the width and depth of the field, leaves the weaker teams vulnerable and the spectators wondering what has happened in these few seconds.
9. Complete team defense.
10. Complete team offense.
11. Translating this complete team defense in to team offense instantly, and vice versa.

SET PLAYS IMPROVEMENTS
1. Penalty corner conversion, offensive and defensive.
2. Out of D free hits (offensive). The decoy runs and the deflections have been mastered to the highest degree. We have seen some marvelous goals scored from these set pieces, where as one could not have said the same, 4-6 years ago.

PHYSICAL
Improved physical fitness level. This has definitely resulted in an overall higher individual and collective team work rate. When one dares to compare the qualitative work rate of the current star Aussie C.F. Jamie Dwyer, with their former greats of 70's, 80's and 90's, Ron Riley, Terry Walsh and Mark Hager respectively, there would be a big difference. Although Jamie does have the luxury to take a water break and rest - only if his gold winning coach Barry Dancer allows - due to the unlimited substitutions, which the former Aussie great C.F.'s did not have.

PSYCHLOGICAL
1. The modern coaches and athletes have widely opened their mental doors to this branch of science. It sure has helped them to cope with the higher demands and pressure of today's game effectively, which has resulted in an over all improved performance.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED?

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. Disraeli.

We should always try to see the good in others, not the bad. And, than why am I - with all due respect to the modern hockey players - zooming on the negatives?

The worst man often gives the best advice. Bailey

1.0. PASSING AND RECEIVING SKILLS UNDER PRESSURE IN DEFENCE.
1.1. When the passing and receiving skills - possession skills - had to be performed under pressure in a dynamic game situation, there was a breakdown, which resulted in a big drop in the performance. The top teams have very good understanding of, running off the ball and creating space - to receive the pass in a situation without pressure - this made it very hard to corner them individually or as a team but, once one had cornered them, the individual player/teams felt like a fish out of water.

In the men's final the Aussie's put a full court press on the Dutch, and they had a lot of difficulty, making a pass - positive or negative - and maintain the possession, during the critical stages of the game, there were quite a few unforced and forced turnovers.
Specific example: Please view the video tape and observe the game situation in the second half, when there were 5 minutes left in the game.

1.2. Another vulnerable game situation worth mentioning is, when the deep defender is cornered in the left side of his D near the goal post and the goal line or far left corner - goal line and the side line - and has to bring the ball from his left (weak) side to the right (strong) side. The success rate has been low in the majority of the game situations.
Specific Example: Please view Pakistan v/s Korea pool match, where there are 14:13 minutes to go in the second half and the Korean defender is trying to clear the ball from his left, it is intercepted and results in the 2nd goal for Pakistan.

NEED TO IMPROVE:
1. Possession skills under pressure, demonstrating close range control by the defenders and the midfielders.
2. Deceptive hitting and passing.
3. Intimidating tactics, in deep defensive zone, faking a hit pose.
4. Bringing the ball from the left to right, while employing deceptive moves, footwork and change of pace and direction.

"You have to monitor your fundamentals constantly because the only thing that changes will be your attention to them. The fundamentals will never change. It comes down to a very simple saying: There is a right way and a wrong way to do things. You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, than all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise".

Michael Jordon. A basketball legend.



2.0. TACKLING
2. 1. The clean tackling technique of the various types of tackles by the deep defenders and midfielders needs further improvement. Majority of the deep defenders and field players had difficulty, making a right decision and employing the right tackle - Poke, Lunge, reverse or indoor, during the run of play. These defenders could make a professional fowl sophisticatedly and stop the play, which allowed their teammates to recover and regroup and reorganize the defense, but one hardly saw very many clean tackles executed, where the ball was regained and it resulted in the offensive positive play, by the tackler / defender.
This was done exceptionally well by the Aussie deep defenders especially Mathew Wells, to be specific, who reminded me the class of the 70's deep defenders like, Jim Irvine (Australia), Manzoor Sr and Munamar Zaman from Pakistan, while making lunge and tackles from left.

Specific example: Please view the Olympic final match video tape and fast forward it to the game situation, where 30 seconds are left in the extra time period. This results in Aussies getting a penalty corner and the winning goal. Zoom on the many Dutch players -orange shirts - caught flat footed, and the one recovering crisscrossing his feet rather than shuffling them.
Photo # 1. Here are some Tackling photographs in action to make my point.


2.2. FLAT FOOTED INDOOR STYLE BLOCK TACKLING.
These tackles are employed in an open space and at the wrong time.
I like to mention the situations with an example, which I see over and over again happening, without being successful, and resulting in penalty corners.
A forward is coming with the ball in the D and the defender, lays down his stick flat on the ground with his feet wide apart - wider than the length of his stick - sitting on his heels. The forward pushes the ball in to the defender and forces a penalty corner, which he is awarded.
When the defender does so, he has not only shown all his cards - options - but has also made the job of the forward easier, and on top of this, minimized his chances to recover quickly.


Specific example: Please view the women's Bronze medal game Argentina v/s China, where there are 4.42 minutes to go in the game.
Cecilia Rognoni, a very talented and experienced deep defender from Argentina, tries to tackle flat footed with the flat stick, making the job of the Chinese forward easy. A must see tape as it is also played in the slow motion. This results in a penalty corner, from which China does not score.
The Photo # 2 makes my point.

JUDGEMENT ERROR

I hardly ever see a basketball or a soccer player tackling like most of our field hockey players, planting themselves on heals. May be I am comparing apples and oranges?

"Tackling is important without it we would be denying the public an exciting part of the game. Aggression and endeavour are admired. Players who drive in to win the ball fairly can expect as much applause as the ball artists".
Sir Alf Ramsey. Manager of the England 1970 Soccer world cup team.

PAST IS THE PART OF THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.
It was a beauty to see the Germans in the 80's - especially Volker Fried, who started his career playing as Left Link and later moved as Center Back in front of Carsten Fisher. He executed beautiful tackles on the run, from the left, making the opponent feel like his pocket has been picked gracefully.
What has happened now is that there is too much influence of the indoor hockey, flat stick tackles, at the wrong timing.

"Knowing when to tackle is probably more important than knowing how to?"
Ken Jones (How to play soccer)

I remember a quote from Germany's 1976 Montreal Olympic team's coach Dr. Hugo Budinger commenting, when his team failed to defend their 1972 Munich Olympic gold medal, which was somewhat like … "his players forgot that they were playing outdoor hockey and not indoor". The exact quote was in the 1976 Post Olympic Games world hockey magazine.

"Even the best horse with his four feet occasionally stumbles". German Proverb.

NEED TO IMPROVE:
1. The quality of decision making and knowing which tackle to employ, when, where, why and how?
2. Footwork. Especially while tackling from the left. Shuffling ones feet rather than
criss - crossing them.
3. Avoiding flat footed indoor style tackling in the open space and showing ones cards too early.

3.0. DODGING, PLAY MAKING MOVES AND PASSING ON THE RUN.
This sure is a dying art. In this area even the hard working Australian forwards need to improve, where they can cleanly eliminate the defender on the run, by their marvelous close range stick work, body feints and change of pace, in an open or confined space.
Of course, there is an exception to every rule and example. Luciana Aymar - Argentina's (women's) play making and creative midfielder - with her dazzling effective play making skills, moves and passing, is head and shoulders above her contemporaries.

Where have the silky magical 1 on 1 skills in a confined space gone?
Here are 2 examples which are worth mentioning, from the Men's Olympic final match.
Please view the Men's Olympic final and fast forward the tape, where there are 6:40 and 8:9 minutes to go in the second half of the regular game. It says it all.


COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
When I think of Ric Charlesworth, Colin Batch, Peter Haselhurst (Australia) Mansoor Hussain jr., Shabbaz Ahmed, Samiullah Khan (Pakistan) Stefan Blocher, Heiner Dopp, Michael Hilgers (Germany) Stephen Batchelor, Imran Sherwani (England), Taco van den Honert, Stephan Veen (Netherlands), Balbir Singh Railways, Mohammad Shahid (India) and compare them with the modern player. There is a day and night difference, in this specific department of the game.
All the above players, with the exception of Balbir Singh Railways are the players from the decades of 80's and 90's.

Have the Brazilian soccer players lost this art? No. This has been their trump cards. How can one forget the 1 on 1 elimination skills and goals from Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Rolandinho, in the 2002 soccer world cup. And Romario's from the 1994 Soccer world cup. They have maintained their traditional 1 on1 and 2 on 1 dodging and play making skills, where as we in the world of field hockey have drifted away or discarded them.

ALARMING SITUATION
To swing the things in my favor, the dashing former Center forward from Australia, Terry Walsh and the coach of the Dutch national team at the Athens Olympic Games put it candidly, during the Olympics, "It's becoming far too physical. It's moving towards a body-and-ball game rather than a stick -and - ball game".

A very powerful and true statement, indeed! Thanks Terry!

This is a nice wake up call message.
We have come a long way and have a long way to go. We take 2 steps forward in one department of the game and take 1 or 2 steps back wards in another one.

By the way, with all due respect … if any of you from the younger generation would like to debate and contradict us, think twice before you say a word, as we have a world renowned former hockey player cum lawyer, Paul Litjens on our side to advocate our case. Please give a try if you dare and be ready for a lawsuit from the oldie goldies.
Just kidding.

Here is what Paul Litjens had to say, when he was asked about his thoughts on the modern game by the editor of WHO magazine, Cathy Harris in the Nov. / Dec., 2004 WHO magazine, "Of course players are much faster and physically much fitter now days but they are not so clever on the pitch. It's my opinion that players all do the same things at the same frantic speed and seem totally unaware as to where their team mates are.
There are very few players who can combine intelligence and pace and (Dutch Midfielder) Teun de Nooijer is one of them. Very few players possess his skills. They all lose possession too often. I also think it's easier to play on a true artificial surface although I must admit there are some players that I love to watch."

Isn't this an honest and powerful comment by a powerful penalty corner hitter?
Please say, Yes.

FIH RULE BOARD
In my humble opinion the FIH Rules board members have been working very hard, to change the rules and make the game more attractive and easy for the forwards to score field goals. This reminds me of a rich dad bending back words to buy the love of their kid by buying him expensive toys and being lenient. Has it ever worked? You be the Judge.

Instead of finding ways of improving the individual skills -close range and creative - of the players, we are changing and bending the rules.

We are treating the symptoms rather than the causes!

SHIVI YOU ARE DAY DREAMING?
You have a right to say … Shivi you are day dreaming, the modern game has changed.
"It has become so fast. It is on Astroturf, etc. Perhaps some modern coaches and players would say this to me".

Please pick up the video tapes from the 1984 Olympics and 1994 world cup, semifinals and finals, and see what Mansoor Hussain Jr. and Shabbaz Ahmed and their teammates did to their opponents in this pressure cooker packed crucial games. These tournaments were played on the Astroturf. The last two major competitions won by Pakistan.

If you want to entertain yourself with the magic of Ric Charlesworth's stick, view his spectacular opening goal against Russia in the 1986 London world cup semifinal. In a way, it reminded me of Maradona's goal against England, in the 1986 Soccer world cup.
Both these former stocky super stars had amazing skills and could see the things before they happened. And made them happen, with so much grace and power.

HOCKEY HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER TO PLAY THAN IT IS TODAY.
In my unique and understandably controversial opinion, the game of hockey has never ever, been easier to play in many ways, than it is in this modern era.
I am sincere in my statement. To answer the questions WHY and HOW an another article focussing just on this angle and aspect exclusively, will be on the way.
The challenge we are facing is, that the modern players, close range individual skills and game sense is not what it used to be of their predecessors, or for that matter close to the modern Soccer and Basketball players. We have slipped down in this department, with an exception of few talented hockey players, Teun de Nooijer, Juan Escarre, Eduard Tubau, Troy elder and Brent Livermore to name a few.
Our modern coaches may be have over coached - micro coaching and management - our athletes, in certain areas of the game and neglected the others. This has resulted, upon the athletes, being overly dependent upon their coaches, and has effected their decision making ability, to a certain degree.



NEED TO IMPROVE
1. 1 on 1 elimination skills, on the run.
2. Body feints and stick feints, under pressure - to control the ball - in tight situations.
3. Deception, change of pace, direction and quick acceleration.
4. First soft touch to receive, control and eliminate the defender, all in one move.
5. Possession skills and close control under pressure, while attacking.


TACTICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The modern game tactics have advanced to the extent, where we have over emphasized on them and partly neglected some vital basic skills, necessary to play the game. In other words, this deficiency in the skills department has become a hurdle to employ creative play making and fluid tactical moves. This has also snatched away the creativity from our game, dragging it more towards a robotic feel to the game.

We have stepped away from the old fashioned basic simple concepts which sprinkled grace and charm, to our game. The focus is now, tilted towards the advanced complex tactics and concepts - which demand speed and power - rather than keeping the things simple, with a flavor of grace. There is a time and place during the run of game for both the modern and traditional tactics. As we know, that now the balance has shifted heavily towards one side. We are being too modern. It is time to blend the both for the benefit of the game. And develop our game as much an art as a science and as much an grace as power!

It was refreshing to see Australia play, simple fast paced hockey, with the blend of traditional and modern tactics in the final, and take home the 2004 Olympic gold medal for the first time.


WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED TACTICALLY OR EMPLOYED TO A HIGHER DEGREE.
1. Play making moves and creativity in the midfield and the opponents 25, rather than just getting a free hit out side the D and than fishing for a penalty corner by hitting the ball hard in to the packed defense.
On a positive note, there were some very well planned and executed out of D free hits, which resulted in beautiful deflected field goals.
2. Teams need to blend the modern and traditional tactics in an optimum way.
3. Control of pace during the various phases of the game. Just the way Germany did it in the 80's.

CONCLUSION
I like to conclude this article with the words of wisdom, from a highly successful Dutch soccer coach, Rinus Michels, who was also the coach of the flying Dutchman Johan Cryff, whom our hockey wizard Teun de Nooijer considers his idol.

"I have no doubt that players are moving more during ninety minutes play than they did ten years ago. To watch films of the top teams of ten years ago confirms this theory-that overall mobility with in the team is much greater.
This leads directly to the biggest single problem facing the game today. The players are better prepared physically than ever before, and the tactical awareness of the players is much improved and indicated by the greater movement off the ball. So these two factors have combined to make it much more difficult to play football and on top of this, instead of improving in terms of individual technique, which is necessary to play in modern conditions, the modern player is less skilled than his predecessors were.
The game generally is suffering because the players do not have the highly developed skills to match the improved physical preparation and greater tactical understanding. This stems from the fact that young boys between the ages of five and ten years, these very vital years, are not spending as much time playing football as they used to do.
There is no way that players can make up later for these lost five years at the most critical age in their technical development. So although the game has improved in other respects, the level of skill we require today is missing".
Soccer Coaching: the European way. Edited by Eric Batty, 1980.

CLOSING COMMENTS:
The purpose of this article was to provide positive feedback and constructive criticism. I do understand that there are more than one way of doing things and this does not mean that one way is right and the other one is wrong. What I am trying to convey is, be open to change, but at the same time not to forget the traditional values and the concepts of the game. They are universal.

You be the judge, what is good and what is not so good. Take the good and leave the bad.
Thanks for reading this article. Your feedback and healthy criticism will be very much appreciated.
I can be contacted by email… jagdsh@aol.com.

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