Put the Field Back in Hockey?

To people of the Indian subcontinent, hockey refers to ‘Field hockey,’ and is distinct from ‘Ice hockey’. Hockey in the Paris Olympics is played on Astroturf.

Field hockey was introduced to India by the British during the colonial era. Indians soon took to the game and were quickly dominating the English teams, and indeed, everyone else.  Indian players were famous for their skilful dribbling, clever passing, body swerves and general artistry. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

In the Summer Olympics, India was dominant between 1928 and 1956, winning gold in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Berlin, London, Helsinki and Melbourne. Another Indian gold medal in Tokyo (1964) was sandwiched between the two Pakistani triumphs of 1960 and 1968.

Cracks in the pre-eminence of subcontinental hockey became evident in the 1970s. During this period, the Indian victory in the World Cup final over Pakistan in 1975 proved to be a high point. By the time the Moscow Olympics in 1980, India was no longer a dominant force.  That year, although India did win its eighth (and last) Olympic gold medal in hockey, it perhaps lacks the lustre of the previous seven golds, as many of the best teams of that era boycotted the tournament for political reasons.

All sports evolve over time. Technologically advanced countries probably analysed the all-conquering Asian hockey teams and developed means to counter them. Gradually, the Europeans and Australians began to catch up to the subcontinental teams and eventually surpass them.

Furthermore, numerous changes were implemented in the rules of hockey.  Some of these were ostensibly to speed up the game and make it more visually appealing to television audiences; although the result may have been detrimental to the Indians and Pakistanis.  A major change was the switch from natural to synthetic surfaces that were inaccessible to many players in these countries.

In ‘lawn’ tennis, surfaces vary depending on the tournament.  Two of the major championships, the Australian Open and the US Open, are now played on synthetic courts. Wimbledon, on the other hand, is played on grass; whereas the French Open is conducted on clay.

Many giants of the sport have had limited success in adapting to courts that were relatively unfamiliar to them. For instance, the American stars, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras were unable to conquer the red clay of Roland-Garros at singles, although they had great success at the other major tournaments. A Wimbledon title eluded Ivan Lendl, though he won multiple major tournaments on surfaces other than grass. All sports change over time. Modern-day tennis players use racquets with large sweet spots and can generate incredible pace and topspin. 

What’s the above got to do with field hockey? Everything. You could change with changes in rules and turfs or develop separate rules for different artificial turfs. Meanwhile, look at how to attract youngsters.

1. Allow the use of different playing surfaces

A talented young hockey player in rural setting may not have access to artificial turf. The skills needed to succeed on a natural surface are different from those required for synthetic surfaces.  By the time the player is proficient enough to be selected for a training facility with access to artificial surfaces, new skills will have to be learned and old ones unlearned, putting the youngster at a disadvantage.

The teams that can adapt to different types of surfaces will be more successful as in the case of a tennis player who is able to win all four major tournaments and earn the coveted Grand Slam, or a cricket team that wins at home and abroad.

2. Reduce the chance for injury and the need for protective equipment

While playing hockey on uneven surfaces and indeed on any surface, perhaps we can take a step back for reasons of player safety and ensure that the ball remains on the pitch, or not more than a few inches above the ground, except when ‘scooped’.  Strong enforcement of the old rule of ‘sticks,’ whereby a hockey stick may not be raised above shoulder level when taking a shot, would also reduce the likelihood of injury.

3. Encourage the scoring of more field goals

Modifying rules to enable the scoring of more field goals and reducing the emphasis on ‘corners’ may well make the game more exciting.  

4. Look after the interests of hockey players in the developing world

Many in the developing world don’t get the same opportunities as those in developed nations. For this FIH needs to secure funds for players to remain committed in the developing world.

5. Identify talent early

A scientific approach to identifying and grooming promising players is essential. In the highly competitive world of American football, players are constantly evaluated for parameters pertinent to that sport.  Very often, but not always, elite athletes end up being exceptional football players. Conversely, some of the greatest professional players have not necessarily been the best athletes.  

It’s time Asian nations developed hockey according to their needs, changed the rules and promoted it for their youths. The hegemony of the West must stop. The ideal is to perhaps follow the path of tennis, with different surfaces for different tournaments. Meanwhile, Asian countries will remain disadvantaged in the Paris Olympics.

Reference:

Shouldn’t we put the field back in Hockey? Dr Tilak Ponappa, Star of Mysore, 

28 November 2022