John looks to fine-tune team
Indian hockey team’s exercise physiologist David John hit the straps straightaway on Tuesday, putting the core group of national campers through an endurance test.
Working for the first time with a national team after two and a half decades of experience with many international athletes, the Australian said he is confident of fine-tuning the overall performance of the team.
“I need time till the end of the month to assess all the players,” said John in his first interaction with the Indian media here at the Sports Authority of India, South Centre. “I need to conduct at least 40 tests. It is very unfair to comment on them right now. At the end of the month I will have a very good understanding of what individual players require and they will be given specific individual programmes.
“The programme will help eliminate weaknesses and accentuate their strengths. When the guys leave the camp, they will be also given very specific training and nutrition programmes which they would be instructed to follow as well. When they come back, they will be tested again if they have adhered to the programme,” said the 48-year-old, who also tested and trained newly-appointed India coach Michael Nobbs.
John, who has worked with cricketers like Damien Martyn and Tom Moody, has a degree in Sports Science from Western Australia. He also specialised himself in fast bowling injuries and rehabilitation and had a small stint with pace bowling legend Dennis Lillie at the MRF Pace Academy in 2006. Over the last 25 years he has worked on prevention of injuries and rehabilitation while in the last five years, he has switched his focus to fine-tuning the performance of athletes via exercise and nutrition.
“I got a call from Michael (Nobbs),” said John on how he got the India job. “When Michael told me he was applying for the coach’s job, I helped him in the preparation of his interview to outline what is needed for a professional team to be successful in terms of sports science and medicine. Once he got his job as the coach of the Indian team he invited me to join him as the exercise physiologist.”
When asked if would recommend food supplements considering the doping issue, John said his focus will be on increasing the ability of the players. “Most of the supplements that may be prescribed is to help their oxygen delivery that will help their aerobic capacity and ensure their muscles are replenished with enough oxygen in quick time. It’s nothing to do with boosting strength and power where a lot of the doping controversy is about.”
John also downplayed any concern with spice-rich Indian food. “I don’t think the spice content in Indian food is a problem. It’s the amount of carbohydrates. It’s very important what they eat during a tournament, because once you are in it you play a match almost every day. I will be working on that as well.”
John also had huge praise for the Australian hockey team, who have enjoyed great success over the years. “It’s not just hockey. They plan really well and concentrate a lot on sports science. Those people within each sporting team plan very meticulously for their sides over a longer period of time.”