Hockey coaching school to proceed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32562, 23 March 1971, Page 14

Hockey coaching school to proceed

The coaching school for the New Zealand hockey squad to be held In Christchurch at Easter will still be conducted In spite of a recommendation from the selector-coach of the national team (Mr R. MacKinlay) that the school be canThe management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association decided last evening to continue wtih the school after discussing a letter from Mr MacKinlay which gave several reasons why he thought the school should not be held. He understood too much of the national coaching fund was being used for the New Zealand team: that there was no urgency for the school as there now appeared to be no international matches this year; and that it was better to conserve funds to have the players together later in the season. Mr MacKinlay added that it was disappointing to learn the national team was being deprived of international competition with the Olympics just over a year away, but if a proposed tour to Europe near the end of the year became a reality several players may have to miss the tour because they would be involved in examinations. The chairman of the committee (Dr L. McH. Berry) said it would be unfortunate if the school was not proceeded with.

“We have to make up our minds and stick by the decision. Our image with the players is very important," he said. Mr G. S. Maister said for the first time the national association had accomplished something It had tried for. for many years. Excellent grounds had been arranged for the school at Ham and if the weather was wet a hanger at Wigram Air Force base could be used as an alternative. Matches had also been arranged with four Canterbury teams.

Spanish Invitation The Spanish Hockey Association advised that if a New Zea-

land team toured Europe later this year it would be willing to play an international match and pay part of the expenses involved. Spain said it would pay all internal accommodation expenses for a party of 18 and in order to help with the travel expenses of the team would make available SUSSOO. The proposed match would be played in Madrid, probably sometime in October.