As we look to the future it is imperative that we build on the success to date and maximise the number of our players that progress through the England Hockey Player Pathway as well as generically enhancing the technical and tactical shaping of all hockey players in Suffolk.
It is vital that we provide a common language for the development of players through the Suffolk Hockey talent pathway and allow for a shared understanding to guide player development by empowering our coaches to become the architects of learning environments, which enable our players to acquire the on-field “End in Mind” characteristics to play the game of hockey.
Hockey is a fast paced, interactive and highly skilled sport. Players continually move into different positions, at varying speeds and are required to rapidly assess changing situations and make decisions. In looking to develop young hockey players GB Hockey has started with the “End in Mind” and identified five key characteristics that we should be looking to develop in players to make them the most effective on the pitch.
- Highly Skilled and Creative – players who can execute highly adaptable skills and tactical understanding under pressure. Players who use the correct technique at the right time, when under pressure. Players who can take fleeting moments of opportunity, spot the improbable and execute devastating skill.
- What it Takes to Win Attitude – players that consistently thrive and look to develop themselves and teammates.
- Effective Decision Makers – players who implicitly understand the game and link these to the skills required to deliver performance. Players who can ‘read’ the game and make really good decisions on and off the ball.
- Self-Organising – players that transfer best practice based on tactical and experimental knowledge and can adapt in order to perform. Players who are flexible, can solve problems and respond well to unexpected situations.
- Fast and Robust – players who are consistently available and motivated for long-term training, and ready for the technical, tactical, physiological, psychological, social and emotional demands of high level hockey.
Our focus should always be on the player. This should be the central focus in the creation of effective development environments. In highly interactive invasion games, (like hockey), research is now unequivocal in supporting a contextually appropriate learning environment where perception and action are coupled. The Golden Thread offers a guide to help coaches design effective practices within their learning environment.