Coach gives hockey new direction

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 15

Coach gives hockey new direction

By

KEVIN TUTTY

When he accepted the post of national director of hockey coaching in New Zealand. Pieter Jongejan gave himself three years in the position. Last month the 30-year-old Dutchman started his fifth year, and his enthusiasm now is as insatiable as it was at the start of his term.

The benefits of his vigorous promotion of the sport have not manifested themselves yet. but the dividends should become more tangible in the next couple of years..

The most significant advance during his employment was made last year when the New’ Zealand Hockey Association and the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association formed a joint coaching sub-committee with Mr Jongejan as the director.

His first task was to establish a group of regional coaches who are responsible for introducing the game at primary and intermediate school level.

Last year Mr Jongejan appointed 13 regional coaches in all parts of New Zealand. This year he. has 12, all working industriously to achieve the aims expected of them — the exposure of young people to the game; to develop and promote hockey; to coach coaches; and to delegate further coaching where possible.

Mr Jongejan knew that if he had tried to establish the group of regional coaches through the various associations. it would have taken him most of the season.

Instead, and with the blessing of the sub-commit-tee. he picked his own coaches — people he had met in his first three years in the job. and knew would handle their positions capably.

"Had I not hand-picked the coaches, the wrong people could have been appointed. In some cases the coach was not acceptable to the association, and I stood on a few toes. Under our system the coaches are responsible to me. If a regional coach is not doing his work he is responsible to me. and I am responsible to the coaching committee and. ultimately, the national association.”

The introduction of the regional coaches has brought about a change in coaching emphasis. They are ’ now operating in areas that were

previously largely neglected. “We are concentrating on the primary and intermediate . schools where, in the past, the j’oung sportsperson has been exposed to the established codes.

"Hockey has obviously missed out badly, so the coaches and their assistants are exposing the youngsters to mini-hockey before they graduate to the full 11-a-side game,” said Mr Jongejan.

“Last year we were embarrassed by the numbers responding to the scheme. We learned from that and have adapted our scheme this year.”

When establishing a coaching programme for young children Mr Jongejan had to ensure that it included a "fun" element. “If codes can offer enjoyment for the children they will get the numbers.”

Mr Jongejan emphasised that the regional coaches are directed to work solely' at the basic level of the game. They are not responsible for coaching provincial representative teams, or any other teams.

In some areas the work load of the regional coaches has become too large for one

person to handle. Canterbury is one of these areas. Pat Barwick, the former New Zealand women’s captain and regional coach, has been able to appoint three assistants, all representative players, thanks to a grant to the sub-committee from theRecreation and Sport ministry.

• “The grant has enabled us to extend the scheme,” said Mr Jongejan.

Assistants give the regional coaches more flexibility. Several schools prefer the coaches to visit during the day, so where possible assistants are appointed who can fill this requirement. Most of the regional coaches, because of their regular employment, are unable to visit schools during the day. This year a three-level coaching accreditation scheme was introduced by Mr Jongejan and the national men’s team coach, Brian Maunsell. The regional coaches have all qualified at the lowest level.

They will have the opportunity to move to the second

level at the end of the season. The lowest level is for "grass roots” coaches, as Mr Jongejan describes them. In the future they will have something tangible for their coaching efforts, and the incentive to progress to the higher levels if they desire.

A coaching accreditation scheme would have been difficult to establish previously, said Mr Jongejan, because there was no direction to coaching.

“Everyone worked hard and probably did the same amount of coaching that is being done now. but there was no over-all system. Now we have a system so we can accredit coaches."

Each month regional coaches submit reports to Mr Jongejan which gives a breakdown of the number of schools visited, and the number of children, parents and coaches attending.

“We could not say at the end of last season that we had 500 new hockey players, but there were some hard facts. During the season 2500

boys and girls were introduced to the game and 80 per cent continued their involvement after the regional coach left the school." (The coach leaves the groups in the hands of a parent or teacher after three visits).

“The response to the scheme in 80 per cent of the schools was positive, and all regional coaches found that the numbers wanting to play were overwhelming.

“For instance, the Nelson regional coach had a session in Murchison for parents and coaches and there were 18 people present. In one particular month in Nelson he coached 449 children and 59 parents.

“I believe hockey has a healthy future. I have analysed other codes in New Zealand and Europe, and if you provide the right activities for young players you will gain numbers,"’ said Mr Jongejan.

More responsibility for the promotion of the game will have to be accepted by clubs. ‘lt is not enough that clubs have a strong senior side. They must help to coach school teams in their areas so they have a constant flow of players. In some areas the regional coach is helping to co-ordinate clubs in this

respect. We hope to extend that to all provinces." In spite of all that has been achieved in the last year. Mr Jongejan sees room for improvement in several areas. “I haven't reached the

point where I can say; ‘there is nothing else I can do.’ But after this year I can leave a I system that will operate I easily in the future.” 5 Next year someone will I have to take the reins from 1 Mr Jongejan. He wants to spend a year in Europe catching up on new’ coaching J trends, and completing a uni-1— versity course in public relations. promotion, and management responsibilities. Mr Jongejan is keen to return to New Zealand in 1984 but that has still to be discussed with the coaching - sub-committee. IAfter four years involve- I ment with New Zealand i hockey. Mr Jongejan has | been able to draw some I forthright conclusions about I the sport. | "There needs to be more I positive outlook — towards I what we want to achieve — I by hockey people in general. I Domestic hockey will have to I be looked at more closely I How can we improve the | game in New .Zealand? I “Maybe New Zealand will g have to be less ambitious as | far as playing overseas is | concerned. I am very I worried for the New Zealand | hockey player who is being I levied and raffled constantly. | What does he or she see from I al) this money being put into | the game? f “New Zealand doesn’t use I the national team to its full | extent by having an internal | tour, or a strong side coming | to New Zealand. I would like g to see New Zealand use its | energies and money to pro- I mote junior hockey, before | we start committing our- | selves to the heavy projects | of the last couple of years.” I A much closer liaison be- | tween the national men's and I women's association has | been one of the important I rub-offs from the establish- | ment of the joint coaching I committee. Eventually, as | has happened in a number of | instances overseas, the two | associations could combine. I That would give the sport | increased strength in many I vital areas. ' f In* the interim the joint | sub-committee must do | every- | thing possible to regain the g services of Mr Jongejan in | 1984. His passion for his job | has begun to overcome the g drastic lack of coaches in | New Zealand, one of the I major reasons for the stag- I nation of the sport. f I