File picture of former Indian goal-keeper and India junior hockey staff coach P.R. Sreejesh.
| Photograph Credit score: The Hindu
Having earned his maiden call-up to the nationwide camp in 2004 for the Junior Asia Cup, India’s latest triumph on the event with him as coach holds particular worth for PR Sreejesh. That it’s his maiden title in his new position made it extra particular.
“This event was my entry to the nationwide set-up so sure it’s particular to win it as my maiden title. However for the staff, it’s a huge milestone. It was a dream they usually achieved it however extra importantly, will probably be the beginning of larger desires — Asian Video games, Asia Cup, World Cup, Olympics — and the boldness that they’ll do properly on greater levels.
“But it surely was additionally a platform for them to grasp that the Junior World Cup subsequent 12 months received’t be simple. We scored loads of objectives however to be sincere, this was not a simple event. Video games towards Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan informed us that, at this stage, all groups are equal, there aren’t any favourites,” Sreejesh informed The Hindu a day after the staff returned from Oman.
Having completed third on the Sultan of Johor Cup, the 2 outings have given Sreejesh sufficient insights right into a coach’s job. They’ve additionally given him a possibility to elucidate the distinction in significance of varied competitions.
“Johor for me was a welcome event, an opportunity to know and analyse my gamers — the place they stand below stress, what they do towards huge opposition groups. We completed third and missed the ultimate on purpose distinction however actually, for me, being within the top-four was ok at the moment.
However JAC could be very completely different — it comes with stress and a JWC quota. It will likely be the identical scenario in a few years for the boys once they play the Asia Cup or Asian Video games with direct qualification at stake.
“It was additionally essential for us as a result of we didn’t need to go into JWC as a quota staff (as host) however declare our place on advantage as a matter of proper. Alternatively, we beat New Zealand and England at Johor and that robotically translated into higher confidence towards Asian groups. However the boys now know themselves that when it comes to hockey, we now have to get higher in each division – health, fundamentals, PC variations — and that would be the focus for the subsequent one 12 months. They know that in the event that they play on the identical stage in JWC, will probably be troublesome to complete amongst medals,” he admitted. The Indian males have completed fourth within the final two editions of JWC after successful the title in 2016 at house.
He’s studying his personal classes as properly, a very powerful being to cease pondering like a participant. “Your pondering sample has to vary. I’ve at all times been aggressive whereas enjoying so now I write down in my pocket book that remind me that I’m not a participant any extra and wish to manage my aggression. Secondly, the significance of planning, doing issues in coaching that may occur throughout video games. Third, extra concentrate on the fundamentals — stuff like ball pace and management, passing — slightly than system, technique and so forth.
“4, I understand how psychology works with gamers however now I have to discover ways to apply that to those guys, know what works and what doesn’t with them. Lastly, get to know extra on power and conditioning — as a goalkeeper, my coaching schedule was completely different from others. Now I have to learn up, speak to overseas coaches and keep up to date on the most recent. It’s child steps for me and I’m studying my approach round and intend to maintain doing it to construct staff for JWC,” he signed off.
Revealed – December 06, 2024 05:49 pm IST
