Coudron challenges Batra
Marc Coudron launched his bid for the FIH presidency mid March 2021. For a very long time it appeared Narinder Batra would run unopposed for reelection, earlier than Coudron mentioned he wished a change. Which suggests the FIH world congress must make an vital choice on Could 22. As a result of, despite the fact that Coudron is an excessive amount of of a gentleman and diplomat, with solely sort phrases for the sitting president, they do have a really totally different view on the way in which hockey ought to transfer ahead. And hockey could be very a lot at a crossroads.
In a nutshell…
The main target for Batra is on rising the worldwide fanbase. The main target for Coudron is on rising the playerbase. Thoughts you, that is my evaluation from these males and mine alone. Not an official viewpoint from both candidate.
From goals to plans & to do’s
My dream for hockey worldwide, Coudron mentioned, is definitely the identical I had 16 years in the past for hockey in Belgium. Give a chance to each younger woman and each younger boy, all around the world, to play hockey with good tools, good coaches on a very good floor. The place coaches cross on the values of hockey.
As adults we’ve the duty to cross on the baton to the youth. These are the widespread values we share with all of society, not simply hockey, not simply sports activities. These values embrace respect, teamspirit, truthful play, integrity, conviviality, tolerance, inclusion,…
Speaking concerning the plans Coudron indicated he could be 100% devoted to hockey. Sure, he nonetheless has a standard job (Coudron is a banker) and sure clearly he nonetheless has a household life as nicely. However he would cease all different extracurricular actions. Equivalent to his position throughout the Belgian federation and in addition his perform as treasurer and govt member for the Belgian Olympic Committee. For me, Coudron mentioned, it’s regular the position of heading up the FIH requires complete dedication.
Secondly, with out blaming anybody or something, we can’t deny the funds of the FIH immediately aren’t good. Discovering the suitable and sustainable options to repair our monetary scenario is the precedence.
Governance could be a 3rd side. Among the many values mentioned earlier are integrity and transparency. Inside a couple of years the FIH needs to be the position mannequin for good governance on this planet of sports activities.
Final however actually not least, the deal with the event of hockey all through the world. We make investments so much lately in occasions just like the FIH Professional League. However that’s only for the highest 10 nations. The FIH needs to be about all of its members, some 140 nations immediately. There’s a must spend money on occasions just like the Professional League, however we must always not overlook the remainder. So the principle focus for FIH needs to be on improvement for the second tier nations and third tier nations. Coudron desires to have the ability to say in a couple of years the hole between the highest and second tier nations has diminished. But in addition that third tier nations have moved nearer to the second tier nations. We’ve to bridge the hole between the highest 10 and the opposite 130 nations in FIH to make hockey develop.
On my to do checklist, in line with Coudron, the most important job is listening to all totally different nations in our hockey household. To find out about their expectations. I’m simply initially of this job however already I’ve discovered a lot. Equivalent to for instance the significance of indoor hockey for the event of our sport in Africa. They’ve much more entry to those sorts of amenities in comparison with full synthetic pitches for instance. We even have 3 codecs of the sport with 11-a-side hockey, indoor and hockey5s. Some nations would go for 5s or indoor, whereas others would deal with 11-a-side. Some would possibly even mix all three. No matter works finest for them to develop hockey of their nation.
Fixing the monetary points would even be excessive on his to do checklist. Coudron claims this could be solved in simply a few months as a result of clearly he wouldn’t have to begin from scratch. The FIH administration is already engaged on potential options to repair the monetary issues we’ve immediately. He would construct upon that and from his personal expertise within the monetary world to verify the present issues because of the launch of the Professional League and the pandemic are handled swiftly.
Fixing the premise for good governance must also be a fast repair, he thinks. However the work on improvement could be one with out finish. The potential for improvement remains to be large. With the pandemic we’ve discovered we are able to do so much via webinars, however these are largely performed in English nonetheless immediately. Coudron want to see these in French, Spanish, Russian or the Arab languages as nicely… We must always discover extra monetary sources to make these developments potential within the quick time period.
Coming again to the funds and what wants fixing there, Coudron instructed us: I’m not the person who focuses on chopping prices instantly. I’d first do a radical evaluation of the scenario. Gamers inform me they love the fundamental idea of the Professional League, the product in itself is an effective one. However we could must adapt and tweak each present broadcasting offers and the format of the occasion. Possibly the nations who can’t carry the fee themselves for this occasion ought to take a step again.
Various world
For Coudron it’s not solely concerning the viewers, or solely concerning the gamers. After all it’s good to develop the viewers to usher in sponsors for instance, however when you first develop your variety of gamers, the viewers will comply with. However it all begins by listening to the totally different nations. Coudron doesn’t need the FIH to alter the way in which the sport is performed in several nations. It won’t be a one measurement matches all method all over the world. We’re too totally different all all over the world and we have to respect these variations and one another’s tradition.
He want to insist extra on the three merchandise hockey has on provide for nations to decide on one of the best ways to develop hockey of their a part of the world. Every nation must discover their very own particular options to get individuals to play the game and to maintain individuals within the sport as a participant for many of their life. Each nation has its challenges and the FIH won’t have one world resolution. Coudron says he doesn’t have the answer to assist all nations, however he’ll begin by listening and assist them discover their resolution. As a result of he has confirmed he is aware of easy methods to develop hockey in his Belgium, however understands not all will profit from the very same method.
Not possible is short-term
The primary lesson for Coudron has been to encompass him with higher and extra clever individuals than himself. “I’m good with the confrontation of concepts, not the confrontation of individuals.” It’s like being on a hockey workforce. Even when you’re a very good participant your self you want different qualities round you to make it work.
Coudron could be very proud he had a component in altering the previous Belgian mentality of simply being completely happy to take part with out an excessive amount of expectations to a extra formidable mindset and self perception. The well-known quote by Muhammed Ali “Not possible is short-term” is all the time prime of thoughts for Coudron. So he desires to assist construct this perception within the so-called “smaller” hockey nations to dream large. Why would it not not be potential for Iran to turn out to be world champion indoor or Namibia world champion in 5s? The identical means Belgium construct their confidence to develop from a smaller hockey nation to turn out to be the reigning world champion. It’s by no means a straightforward path and would possibly take time however not possible is short-term. The identical means Coudron and his workforce grew the Belgian hockey in numbers and outcomes he believes the potential for hockey all over the world is big. It’s inside attain to have extra gamers, higher coaches, good infrastructure…
The objective for FIH needs to be to develop the highest occasions in all three merchandise. The objective is a world cup in all disciplines with 24 nations competing on the prime. We’ve to make room for brand spanking new nations on the prime. Though immediately a rustic like for instance Croatia will acquire nothing from taking part in a prime nation like Australia. However in simply a few years they could be even contenders in for instance hockey 5s and, why not, afterward in 11-a-side hockey as nicely? We have to set up an atmosphere through which the three merchandise (11-a-side, 5s and indoor) reinforce one another to assist develop the game. With a purpose to do this we have to have much more nations taking part in at prime stage. The dream is to get extra codecs from our sport of hockey on the Olympics. However possibly the way in which to go is to merge 5s and indoor hockey. All choices ought to stay on the desk. No door is closed.
Risk of getting kicked from the Olympics?
Essential can even be the event away from waterbased pitches. The FIH must work collectively on the dream of a floor with none water. Coudron sees potentialities if the FIH would work along with soccer and rugby federations to persuade producers of synthetic pitches to discover a resolution that works for all. Now could be the time to make large strides in these areas however it is going to want cooperation between totally different sports activities to make this occur. No empty guarantees or unrealistic deadlines. Simply the robust need and drive to make this occur as quickly as potential.
Regardless of the scenario immediately when the following Youth Olympic Video games would happen in Africa and even the 2028 Video games in LA we’d like to verify we’ve an answer for a floor that doesn’t want any water to play the sport all of us love. It’s a should for remaining a related member of the Olympic household. As a result of that place is beneath menace. The IOC is pushing arduous in the direction of sports activities that may provide extra occasions, with extra medals in a shorter time and with much less sources wanted. Assets being the variety of athletes taking on house within the Olympic Village, but additionally scarce water sources
Nevertheless Coudron tries to reassure, we even have a whole lot of robust factors as a sport to persuade the IOC of our value. We’re one in all few sports activities the place prime nations come from all 5 continents and possibly the one sport the place all 5 continents have nations within the world prime 15 for each women and men. Not many sports activities can boast gender equality on the sphere in addition to within the boardroom. We’re one in all few sports activities with no doping or betting scandals. Possibly we don’t insist sufficient on these qualities? It’s not about getting in a contest with different sports activities. However we’re who we’re and we’ve sure qualities that ought to matter. For instance our deal with inclusion and searching past simply hockey, it could be the last word dream for me to see the Olympic Video games merge with what we immediately know because the Paralympic Video games and have only one occasion: thé Olympic Video games… for all athletes who excel of their self-discipline.
Stress between home and worldwide leagues
We must always not exaggerate the issues right here Coudron claims. The one stress is between worldwide hockey and the highest leagues in sure nations. Leisure hockey shouldn’t be affected as a lot by this. However on the prime stage we’d like higher options. Possibly a primary step could be for all European nations to get a coordinated calendar for his or her home leagues? Not a straightforward job with totally different climates and cultures both. The error made by many directors exterior of Europe is to assert that is only a European drawback. Not true in line with Coudron, since many gamers from Australia, Argentina, South Africa, New Zealand,… additionally play and make their cash in these home leagues in Europe. So it has an influence on all of us. However the ultimate resolution doesn’t exist. It’s been on the agenda for a few years with out a resolution up to now. Possibly the one means is to get a hard and fast calendar the place all know beforehand what weeks could be put aside for worldwide video games and the home leagues must finetune their very own calendars in line with this.
Completely different nations will all have their totally different pathways into hockey. For some it begins as a leisure exercise, for others it’s a method to get an schooling in school and for others they hope to make a residing from it. However what prime hockey gamers immediately earn throughout their profession won’t ever be sufficient to sit down again and calm down for the remainder of their lives as soon as their taking part in days are over. We’re not soccer, cricket, rugby or basketball… and even in these sports activities it’s solely the completely happy few, the 1%, who make sufficient. So taking part in in hockey would all the time must be mixed with a preparation for the profession after your taking part in days. It’s not potential for anybody on this planet immediately to make sufficient cash from hockey to give you the option to not fear for what comes after your taking part in days. However that’s a very good factor in line with Coudron. It’s not concerning the cash. It’s a few ardour for the game.
Why ought to 140 very totally different nations select Marc Coudron to turn out to be their president?
“I’m very motivated to realize some objectives. I will likely be 100% devoted to this perform. I’m positive we’re simply initially of an enormous improvement. Inside 10 years there needs to be much less distinction between the extent of first tier and second nations and between second and third tier nations. To have much more hockey nations with a chance to play world cups, to achieve the Olympic Video games. Why not within the 3 codecs, however actually in one in all these with 11-a-side hockey. Not possible is short-term, actually!
So how about Mr. Batra?
We reached out to Mr. Batra as nicely to speak about his plans for hockey. However once we, at his request despatched him our questions (the identical we used for Coudron) previous to setting a date for the interview, we by no means heard again. We haven’t heard again from Batra, nor has the world of hockey in his years as FIH president I would add. Other than the occasional irrelevant quick promo video on the FIH website no precise and significant accomplishments according to earlier guarantees have been reported, so far as I do know. We already wrote, following the final FIH world congress, we preferred a few of the plans. And a few we didn’t like in any respect, however the proof of the pudding was all the time going to be within the consuming. The guarantees made by Batra (see video right here beginning at 12:08) relating to his personal contribution again then have been easy: enhance income for FIH, enhance attain for hockey all over the world, make hockey a viable profession alternative for gamers all over the world. I would really like you to evaluate for your self if yow will discover any proof of creating good on any of those guarantees. I’ve discovered none…
One promise from the complete video was clearly made in dangerous religion, could be my evaluation. When you scroll to 08:54 on this video he’s requested if he sees his FIH presidency as a step in the direction of different features with IOA or the IOC. He categorically denies this (“For me it’s hockey, hockey, hockey and that’s it“). Inside a 12 months or so the promise was damaged and all of Batra’s focus shifted to the IOA. He by no means appeared again at hockey…
