Indian Hockey & Sansarpur Hockey

Sl.No			Sub  Factors	Agree		%	Disagree		%	Undecided		%
	13.1	Lack of quality games teachers in schools			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.2	Lack of quality coaches			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.3	Lack of media support ( Television, News, Radio, Magazines )			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.4	Unfairmeans at junior level competitions			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.5	Lack of special incentives ( jobs, educational advancement, scholarships, awards etc. )			48	96 %		02	04 %		-	-
	13.6	Lack of International level standard facilities			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.7	Lack of nutritional support			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.8	Lack of psychological preparation (dedication, devotion, killing instinct, determination )			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.9	Less interest in game at team and more interest in tours and shopping etc.			49	98 %		-	-		01	02 %
	13.10	Lack of discipline among sports community (drinking, smoking, team commitment lacking)			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.11	Unfairmeans in selection of players at every level			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.12	No technical / tactical improvement against the standard game of world ( selfish game pattern, lack of team combination )			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.13	Lack of physical fitness			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.14	Lack of astro-turf hockey grounds			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.15	Lack of short term / long term planning			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.16	Lack of funds and incentives on the areas where traditionally hockey players have been produced			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.17	Unfavorable modification of hockey rules at International level			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.18	Low allocation of funds to sports			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.19	Misutilization of funds			50	100 %		-	-		-	-
	13.20	Any other causes				`

      In this item a list of 19 probable causes of the downfall of Indian hockey was provided to the respondents and they were asked to give their opinion about each of the listed causes, i.e., whether they consider it a real cause of downfall of Indian hockey or not by putting a tick in the column: agree, undecided or disagree.

      All the respondents agree with 11 of the 13 listed entries, i.e. they considered them real causes of downfall of Indian hockey, 1 ( 2% ) respondent was undecided about the cause 13.9 i.e. less interest in game at team and more interest in tours and shopping etc., where as all other agreed with this too.  2 ( 4% ) respondents did not consider entry no. 13.5 i.e. lack of special incentives, a real cause for the downfall of Indian hockey, where as all others 48 ( 96% ) respondents were of the opinion that this too is one of the actual causes. Thus, we find that in the overwhelming opinion of the respondents all the causes listed in this item are in fact the reasons for downfall of Indian hockey.

      Some of other causes mentioned by the respondents are given below:

      About the chief causes for decline of Indian hockey Darshan Singh Kullar says: over the years success in hockey has become more dependent on fitness as compared to skills and hockey has also become more expensive.  Both these factors have gone in favour of European teams who are in a position to change the rules of the game according to their liking due to their overwhelming majority in World Hockey Federation.  These changes have killed the hockey of the sub-continent.  But as one could do little in this regard, we have adopt overselves to the new game.  But adaptation does not mean copying Europeans, feels Darshan Singh Kullar.  According to Darshan Singh Kullar, there should be utmost emphasis on physical fitness and stamina of a hockey player but we should retain our artistry of the game, and must impress up on our budding hockey players the need to master basic skills.

      Darshan Singh Kullar is also in favour of taking advantage of modern electronic media.  He feels that video films of opponents as well as of our own teams should be shown, in as large a number as possible, to our players, coaches and administrators to help them analyse their own game as well as the game of other teams.

      Darshan Singh Kullar feels that there is no substitute to hardwork and no shortcuts to success.  Recent story of Indian hockey is a tale of missed chances, according to Darshan Singh Kullar.  He says that during his days, hardly ever a chance went a begging in a match of importance.  They could utilize maximum of their chances because they were practicising hard and modern players should also not neglect hard practice without which they cannot succeed.

      According to Balbir Singh Kullar ( services ), among the chief causes responsible for the downfall of standards in hockey, Balbir Singh Kullar  mentioned lack of discipline among Indian hockey players and officials and coaches as well dearth of capable coaches.  In this regards he mentioned that coaches produced by NIS are not upto the mark.  They neither have will nor capability to produce results , feels Balbir Singh Kullar.  He further remarked that hockey being a difficult game requires hard work and training and playing life of a hockey player is not only short but risk of injuries is also great and the returns which a hockey player gets a tear of recognition and other  rewards do not match.  The efforts, a hockey  had to put into success secured a higher level.  Thus talented younger sportsman for other games like cricket and tennis whose returns are higher and risk involved not more even of equal.

      According to Rajinder Singh, World Hockey Federation. is dominated by western countries and they keep on changing the rules according to their own convince.  India and Pakistan do not have any effective say in W.H.F. and present rules have been Sohal modified that we are at a disadvantage. The new rules have changed the game Sohal much that if players of youngsters see the game today, they would not be able recognise the game.

      Astro-turf takes a great toll of players body and drastically reduces his playing age.  Now a player can almost play upto the age of 30.

      According to Jarnail Singh Kullar:

( a ) Hockey is not the game of elite class.  It is basically a game patronised by middle classes.  Now middle classes have also started sending their children to Public schools which basically cater to the needs and interests of elite class and thus do not encourage the game.  As a result middle class children are not getting the opportunity of playing hockey at school level.  Lower middle class and lower class children who form the bulk of school children in Govt. Schools are unable to afford the game at higher level even if they get some chance to play the game at school level.  As a result our “ catch them young” policy is not bearing any fruits.

( b) Now-a-days our ladies do not do as much physical work as the ladies of elder generation used to do.  As a result they are no more physically fit and strong and thus are unable to give birth to healthy children.  Most of the children who are now born suffer from some or the other deficiency.  Thus, their level of fitness, even after growing up, do not come at par with foreign players.  As modern hockey relies more and more on physical fitness, we have to take steps to improve, not only physical  fitness of the players but also health of our expectant mothers.

( c ) Parents attitude has also changed over the time.  Now parents do not give as much encouragement to their children as our parents used to provide us.  Now children’s leisure time is spent in watching TV or going to Cinema.  Parents also encourage them to adopt these pastimes by themselves sitting with them in front of TV or taking them along to Cinema Houses.  They no longer take them to the hockey fields to play or watch the game as our parents used to do.

( d ) Hockey has also become costlier over the years and lower middle class or poor families can not afford the game.  Those who can afford the game prefer cricket and other such games over hockey.  They do not mind buying a costly ticket to watch a cricket match but do not go to a hockey match of the same standard even if there is no gate fee.  Similarly this class of people buy expensive cricket gear for their children but do not buy them a hockey stick.

( d ) Parents attitude towards sport is not positive.  They do not mind buying their son a scooter or any other automobile or other expensive items but are hesitant to spend their many on sport goods for their children.  Even if they do spend some money on sport gear, they buy gear for cricket or other elite games but hardly ever on hockey.

( e ) Coaches themselves are not physically fit.  They are unable to run with the players and thus are not able to guide the players properly.  A coach has not only to look after the game skills of his wards but also has to provide them moral training.  A coach  who himself indulges in smoking and drinking with the players, how can he be a moral guide for the players.  Unfortunately most of our coaches are not free of these vices and therefore are unable to inculcate discipline among the players. 

( f ) Selection of players at any level of the game is not based on merit solely.  Many considerations including satisfying whims and fancies of selectors and those who matters play a crucial role in the matter of selection of a player.

( g ) Now competition even at highest level has decline.  In our days, there used to be 6 or 7 players of almost equal quality for each position.  Now, the things have come to such a passe that when an Indian player even in international games, gets injured, it becomes difficult to find a suitable substitute.

In the words of Mohinder Singh Padani, we always used to play for a win and were not afraid of losing.  We used to play attacking game as attack is the best defence. If attack is strong, deficiencies of defence can be overcome but if attack is weak, no matter how strong is defence, one can not win.  Now-a -days Indian players have become defensive, they do not take chances as they are afraid of losing and by playing a defensive game give chance to the opponent to dominate.  But in order to successfully attack, players should have mastery over game skills.  At present, our players are lacking in basic skills, and thus common Indian failing is that we fail to score by jumbling at the last moment.

      Lal Singh Sohal feels that modern players lack commitment to the game and nation.  Their aim is to get Indian Colour for personal benefits.  Modern players lack fighting spirit.  He feels that Punjabi’s by nature possess this quality and this is evident in Pakistan team also.

      According to Pritpal Singh Aassi, the lack of practice among Indian players is the most important reason for downfall of Indian hockey.  He says that while other teams practice hard for penalty corner, penalty strokes etc. and master the art of scoring, we generally are not able to convert goal scoring opportunities into goals, as we do not practice so hard.  Indian teams also lack in confidence and do not play with the determination to win the game.

      Jaswinder Singh Kullar adds that the competition in hockey has become very tough as other countries have also improved a lot.  He laments the lack of quality coaches for hockey in India and puts responsibility on the shoulders of N.I.S., Patiala who were supposed to provide quality coaches.  He feels that N.I.S. should revise its admission policy and give admission in coaching courses only to those who themselves are good players.  N.I.S. curriculai also needs revision according to Jaswinder Singh Kullar as they are more theoretical in nature. Jaswinder Singh Kullar feels that NIS should lay greater emphasis on practical aspects of the game.  He feels that a good player, if he has a flair for coaching, could become a successful coach even if he has not passed a course from institutions like NIS.

      Now a days, more money is being invested in hockey.  No. of tournaments has increased.  More prizes are being awarded and quality of kit has improved greatly, making the kit costlier. But still the final outcome is not satisfactory.  As our planning is faulty and players also are not sufficiently motivated.  In our time, we had much less facilities.  WE had greater determination and used to take the game more seriously.  Junior level tournaments, the way they are organised are mostly waste of time and energy as many players do not graduate from junior level to senior level and those who do succeed are mostly found wanting at senior level.

Filed under: Factors