1973: World Cup Indian Observers’ Report: ‘No Explanation for stroke failures’

We have really no explanation as to why our players did not excel in penalty pushes in spite of all our efforts. This is one of our failures which is very difficult to explain

This is one of the observations made in a joint report submitted to the Indian Hockey Federation by the three official who accompanied the Indian team to the second world cup tournament at Amsterdam – JD Nagarwala, JS Gonsalves and RS Gentle.

India lost to Holland in the final. The report stressed that it would not be o correct to say that the team was not given practice in penalty pushes. Besides imparting, training in Patiala, a lot of time was devoted to this aspect when the team reached Amsterdam, because a number of penalty pushed had been missed in the Pre World Cup tour matches in the GDR and Poland

Referring to penalty corners, the report said before leaving India the team has practiced hitting the ball instead of pushing it. But in Europe players pushing the ball found it difficult to get the correct hit. At a meeting of the team the players asked to revert to the practice of pushing. This change was agreed to for psychological reasons to help the players, the report said.

But most of the pushes were top slow on the soft ground, and one player who hit the ball well over hit with too much strength. This resulted in the ball not going to the goal or rising when it did go. This mistake was sought to be correct but reaction of players to take short corners was not satisfactory Direct Short corners were recommended, not indirect ones.

Other recommendations made in the report are

The IHF must prepare a soft ground with long grass for practice at the training camps to enable players to develop their game on such type of grounds.

A little more attention to hockey practice should be made possible than was possible this time

No man should be selected as coach or manager till he established his claim by staying at the camp with the players for at least 74 percent of days as mentioned in the Sarin report and accepted by IHF, and they must enjoy each other’s trust and confidence and that of the players.

Young umpires be recommended to the international hockey body for classification

The report recommended that only those persons who had time to spare and attend important tournaments and camps for at least 33 percent of days should be eligible for being members of the selection committee. It was not necessary to have only hockey players on the committee. Even students of hockey who understood the game and hand made s study of the game should be eligible

Pointing out that 50 pounds sterling given to the team for medical expenses was inadequate, the report recommend that the international on insurance scheme for players be considered. This scheme, which exists in all countries, enables players to be insured for a small sum which covered all treatment in all countries.

Extracts from the Official Report submitted to IHF

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