Hockey India on Tuesday unveiled their ambitious new grassroots development programme, which aims to find young talent and increase the depth of the men’s and women’s national senior and junior teams.
Under this initiative, the governing body for hockey in the country will conduct zonal championships at the sub-junior (U-16) and junior (U-19) levels. The programme aims to find the most talented players in each of the four zones: north, south, east, and west. The first inter-zonal tournaments will begin on 19 March with an expected 30 state teams participating.
To promote the identification of talented athletes, each zone will be equipped with selection committees, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said. “Each of the zones will have its own selection panel. Each selection committee will have a minimum of three members. The selectors and coaches of the zonal teams will be responsible for monitoring and keeping us updated on the further development of all the players.”
The Grassroots Development Committee will identify locations for the players’ training and adequate facilities will be provided for conducting specialized coaching camps with the support of Hockey India. The program aims to track the development of players from the age of U16 and monitor their progress throughout their career. This will enable Hockey India to identify the current skill set of each player and focus on honing and polishing their skills.
Hockey India officials are also looking to create U17 and U19 Indian teams and send them for domestic and foreign exposure. This will help players gain experience and draw in more fans, generating interest in the sport.
As a result, the future bench strength of the main Junior and Senior Indian teams is expected to become stronger. Finally, U-23 National development squad will also be integrated into the ecosystem to serve as a feeder for the Indian team.
To supplement their vision, Hockey India further identified two crucial components. A special coach’s panel is being formed for the Inter-Zonal Championship, which will consist of coaches who hold a minimum FIH Level 1 Certificate. This panel will not only coach the teams participating in the championship but also ensure the development of their fellow domestic coaches.
With a strong focus on the development of players in junior and sub-junior teams, the program will help enhance aspiring players and generate more interest
in the sport.