While the major nations such as
The British game is far from a major player in the world game. David Phillips’ success in the AHL has at least stirred the pot a little in recent months and let people know Britain not only has a small but passionate hockey community, but also that there is the potential for British players to play at a higher level with the right help.
Phillips success has been applauded by everyone involved in the British game, and rightly so. Sadly, like NHL draft picks Colin Shields and Tony Hand before him, the success of the one has not yet inspired the many and
One possible ‘downfall’ for the British game is the apparent lack of players with top level experience moving in to coaching junior hockey and passing on their skills to the next generation.
PHN columnist Dave Carr reported the sad passing of former Sunderland Chiefs D man Rob Gilroy a few weeks ago. Whilst it served as a timely reminder that there is life away from the rink, it also highlighted the game had lost one of its unsung heroes and how few people of Rob’s ilk are involved with junior hockey now.
Despite numerous drives by the EIHA to entice both current and retired players in to coaching, Rob’s example is one few follow and there are still relatively few coaches with competitive playing experience involved in junior hockey around the
For
The Nottingham Panthers star has run successful summer hockey schools in his home town of Peterborough for the past two years, and was quick to point out it’s not wholesale changes to the current setup that are needed, but making the most of the experience he and his peers can offer:
“I’m definitely not being disrespectful to all the people up and down the country who put in so many hours to help junior hockey. They show tremendous commitment, something that my team mates and I simply cannot match right now because of our own playing careers. That kind of input is vital to the process”
“But I also feel it is very important that experienced players are getting involved and helping show young players ‘the next level’, to take it beyond the ‘basics’ and really help them take the next steps forward as hockey players”
Despite admitting he had always hoped to move in to coaching at some point, the reasons behind David’s decision to start being more involved with junior hockey will be a familiar one to coaches both here and abroad:
“The reason I got more involved was my son. He’s 10 now and he’s really taken to the sport and is doing well. When I was a kid we had hockey camps in
Not everyone has the same family ties in the game however, and increasing numbers of players drift away from the sport once their own playing days are over.
“It can be difficult if you don’t have a motivation to really get involved with coaching junior hockey. If you don’t have a child or younger sibling playing the game” says Clarke “It is a fairly big commitment to put the hours in and go out and gain your coaching qualifications and attend the associated courses. And obviously there are the fees to pay for these courses!”
“I think those are pretty big issue for a lot of folks – money and time. The ‘way of life’ has changed a bit. It’s not necessarily ‘cheap’ to live in general these days, and even as a top level hockey player in the
It certainly a sentiment Dave Carr can relate too. The well travelled and experienced D man now calls Streatham his home rink, but fully understands the difficulties facing any prospective coaches across the
“A large number of players have given up a lot of time in their teens and twenties to play hockey. So by the time they hang up their skates thoughts turn to family commitments or to finding a ‘proper’ job”
Carr continued “A move in to coaching tends to come about if people have kids that play. ‘Independent’ coaches in junior hockey seem few and far between and I’ll admit coaching junior hockey is not for me right now, but that might change if I have kids of my own some day”
While it is perhaps difficult to overcome the ‘family ties’ issue, the potential financial barriers are ones Clarke hopes the British game can find a way to work around:
“There are guys out there who have played the game for a long time and have good hockey résumés – it would be nice to think that maybe the local clubs, or even the EIHA, could think about putting a few of these veteran players through at least their level 1 coaching course. Take the financial onus off them to try and encourage them to get out there and start helping the kids, and give a little back to the sport”
One group of players Clarke feels could be ‘tapped in to’ are his Great Britain team mates: “I’d love to think that maybe the EIHA and Paul Thompson (Head of the Great Britain national team) could work together, find 3 or 4 guys each year who want to move in to coaching and then get them qualified”
“In the space of three or four years, simple by putting a couple of the national team players through the relevant courses each year, you then have a dozen players with international experience who are fully qualified coaches! Once they are qualified they can then go to their local rinks, work with kids and pass on their knowledge. There are no worries about insurance, paying for course or anything like that – they can just get out there and coach. Let guys like Dave Phillips come back from the AHL and help the local kids through the summer!”
“I don’t think it would cost too much and ultimately the aim is to get pro players in to coaching our junior players and helping their development, to make them better players”
Coaching in the
Thanks to both David Clarke and Dave Carr for their time.
Contact the author: rob.mcgregor@prohockeynews.com
