N.Z. hockey said to be at "crossroads”

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 16

N.Z. hockey said to be at "crossroads”

n (New Zealand Press Association * WELLINGTON. j.| New Zealand men’s hockey is at the cross- ; roads, the national team coach. Mr R. Gillespie, said in his report on the Olympic Games, ‘■| tabled at the annual meeting of the New Zea- □ land Hockey Association yesterday.

“We have now competed in five Olympic Games without reaching a semi-final, and after each encounter we re-; turn home with basically the; same comments,” Mr Gillespie said. A decision had to be made (either to stay in the inter- ; national scene or endeavour (to put more into the game in New Zealand. “If we are to continue our international programme—! and I feel we should, for the future of hockey—many; changes will have to be, brought about, not only by I the players, but also by the administration,” he said. He detailed the major reasons for New Zealand’s failure at Olympic Games, were its lack of international; experience, the inability to I analyse the opposition. in-| flexibility of approach, passing, penalty corners, circle; work and technical skills. “We are not flexible in our I approach, and we do not! spend enough time on coach-;; ing tactics, on how to score!’ goals and hit the ball,” he( said. I; In his suggestions for the!; future, Mr Gillespie sugges-h ted a programme of interna- , tional matches in the inter-(I vening four-year period be-!:

tween Olympic Games—the World Cup this year, the international tournament in New Zealand next year, an loverseas tour to either Aus tralia or Asia in 1975, and a European tour before the Olympic Games in 1976