Hockey India’s High-Performance Director, Herman Kruis, conducted a workshop focusing on modern coaching techniques and grassroots hockey development. The workshop was held on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2024 in Pune.
Herman Kruis conducts workshop for Hockey India’s domestic coaches
The primary objective of the workshop was to equip domestic coaches with the skills necessary to enhance the learning journey of young hockey players from the onset of their careers. This initiative is part of Hockey India’s ongoing commitment to elevating coaching standards at the grassroots level.
During the workshop, Kruis highlighted the significance of instilling a sense of ownership in young athletes and stressed the value of active learning as opposed to passive learning. He underscored the importance of promoting broad motor development, advocating for exposing players to diverse play styles and sports to establish a solid foundation of fundamental skills during their developmental stages.
The workshop was attended by coaches from various hockey associations across India, including Goa, Manipur, Odisha, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Diu & Daman, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Also in attendance virtually were Hockey India President Dr Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh, and Hockey India Treasurer Sekar J Manoharan.
Hockey India's High Performance Director, Herman Kruis, led a workshop during the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2024 in Pune, emphasizing contemporary coaching techniques and the advancement of grassroots hockey development.
Coaches from different states… pic.twitter.com/Hoi6AkIhCz
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Kruis emphasized the key points covered in the workshop, stating, “We delved into effective coaching strategies that prioritize interactive learning. Encouraging players to take ownership and articulate concepts themselves fosters a culture of learning from mistakes and boosts confidence. This approach cultivates a supportive learning environment, moving away from mere competition where players seek to outshine each other”.
He further highlighted the rationale behind organizing the workshop, stating, “The importance of empowering grassroots coaches to provide top-quality coaching cannot be overstated. It is essential for athletes to establish strong fundamentals early on. This ensures a smoother transition for players entering the national setup”.
