Friday, June 13, 2008:
Main stress in the two-week hockey clinic organised by the Punjab Sports Department in Jalandhar was to strengthen the basics at the tender age, provide systematic and scientific training, upgrading knowledge of coaches and preparing uniform coaching schedule.

“Physical fitness, sports psychology and hockey were the three main parts of the well-attended clinic. The physical fitness aspect was handled by physical trainer Mohinder Singh Dhillon of Sports Authority of India and Dr Jyoti Kantikar of Pune dealt on psychology. International Hockey Federation (FIH) Grade I coach Canadian Shiv Jagdey’s focus was on technical and tactical aspects of hockey,” said Sports Director Padam Shree Pargat Singh.

Former coach of the Indian team Jagmohan Singh worked on the specific exercises required for a hockey player. Dhillon taught complete warm-up exercise, ABC speed, core strength development, basic and advance strength, endurance, speed, aerobics, explosive strength and agility. The Sports Department has documented the practical sessions and DVDs will be distributed among coaches.

Three-time Olympian Pargat Singh said that Australian legendary hockey coach and Indian hockey technical consultant Richard Charlesworth also educated the coaches and the players for two days. Charlesworth noted lack of mobility among the players; not creating space and running without scanning the field. These are the three main drawbacks in the Indian players though they are talented.

More than 250 hockey trainees from all coaching centres of Punjab, and hockey academies of Spring Dales, Amritsar, Khalsa College, Amritsar, Surjit Hockey Academy of Jalandhar, Malwa Khalsa School, Ludhiana and Anne’s Academy, Sector 69 Mohali and 55 coaches, including nine from the Sports Department and police officials on deputation to the Punjab Sports Department, were benefited from the clinic.

Olympians Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh, internationals Jagdeep Singh Gill, Ripudaman and Davinder Kumar also attended the clinic. Cricket coach Arun Tuli showed his interest in physical fitness part of the clinic.

Replying to a question as how coaches responded in the clinic, chief coordinator Sukhvir Singh Grewal said that Shiv Jagday gave overall rating to 7 out of ten. Grewal has rated five out of ten. However, response from the boys was noteworthy. The rating Grewal gave was 7.5 out of 10.

The technical and tactical aspects was conducted by Shiv Jagdey. Former coach of the Canadian and USA national hockey teams, Jagdey taught coaches and budding players about the latest techniques of hockey used in and abroad with the help of theory, visual aids and practically in the field also. He dealt with basics, stances, receiving, hitting, tackling, dodging, creating space, counter attacks and press. Sukhbir Grewal worked meticulously to make the clinic a success.

Speaking on the concluding function, Pargat Singh stressed on discipline and dedication. He thanked Mr. Jagdey, S. Jagmohan Singh, Dr. Jyoti Kanitkar, Mr. Dhillon and especially Mr. Sukhbir Grewal who spared time for the good cause. He also praised the efforts of S. Hardev Singh, District Sports Officer Jalandhar.

Article by: Senior Journalist Balbir Singh