THE Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) is gradually turning professional, and the first step towards this is hiring a fulltime paid development officer.
MHF deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra said yesterday that the game
has become too big to be handled on a volunteer basis alone, and that the
MHF needs fulltime staff to monitor development programmes.
"So much more could be done with a fulltime development officer so we
will be seeking the help of the National Sports Council to appoint someone for the post.
"This is a practice at the FIH and Asian Hockey Federation level where
there is a `Development of Coaching Committee'.
"This seems to work well at the above two levels and maybe it is time
that MHF thinks along this line," said Alagendra.
A proposal has been submitted for the next council meeting to endorse
the position. MHF has drawn up mega development plans and it would be "meaningless if they are not implemented."
"Our previous development plans will expire at the end of the year so
the existing plans must be reviewed and new ones put in place. We are
looking at a five-year plan which will take us right up to 2007," said
Alagendra.
Areas that have been neglected in the past three years will receive
special attention and this means the Schools Committee will benefit
greatly.
"We plan to include again schools, colleges, universities, State HAs and
districts in our nationwide development plans. In the early days, special
emphasis was placed on the development of hockey in these areas but most links were broken in the past three years.
"To bridge the gap again and see that plans materialise into results, a
fulltime development officer, like what Yang Siow Ming did previously, is
a must," said Alagendra.
Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) will be roped back into
the MHF plan and "if need be, we will change the name of the Schools
Committee".
"If MASUM feels left out because the MHF bridge is named Schools
Committee, we are willing to change it as long as hockey is played on a
more regular basis at universities.
"We have had numerous national players studying in universities but they
still did not field a team for the Malaysian Hockey League. These are some of the grey areas that need to be adressed in the next two years."
MHF has been talking about indoor hockey for years but it never got past
the planning stage.
"Among the items on the `must do' list is Indoor Hockey. And with the
help of the Malaysian Schools Sports Council, under-11 and under-14
tournaments will be organised to improve the basics of the game among our youth."
(END)
MHF deputy president Tan Sri P. Alagendra said yesterday that the game
has become too big to be handled on a volunteer basis alone, and that the
MHF needs fulltime staff to monitor development programmes.
"So much more could be done with a fulltime development officer so we
will be seeking the help of the National Sports Council to appoint someone for the post.
"This is a practice at the FIH and Asian Hockey Federation level where
there is a `Development of Coaching Committee'.
"This seems to work well at the above two levels and maybe it is time
that MHF thinks along this line," said Alagendra.
A proposal has been submitted for the next council meeting to endorse
the position. MHF has drawn up mega development plans and it would be "meaningless if they are not implemented."
"Our previous development plans will expire at the end of the year so
the existing plans must be reviewed and new ones put in place. We are
looking at a five-year plan which will take us right up to 2007," said
Alagendra.
Areas that have been neglected in the past three years will receive
special attention and this means the Schools Committee will benefit
greatly.
"We plan to include again schools, colleges, universities, State HAs and
districts in our nationwide development plans. In the early days, special
emphasis was placed on the development of hockey in these areas but most links were broken in the past three years.
"To bridge the gap again and see that plans materialise into results, a
fulltime development officer, like what Yang Siow Ming did previously, is
a must," said Alagendra.
Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) will be roped back into
the MHF plan and "if need be, we will change the name of the Schools
Committee".
"If MASUM feels left out because the MHF bridge is named Schools
Committee, we are willing to change it as long as hockey is played on a
more regular basis at universities.
"We have had numerous national players studying in universities but they
still did not field a team for the Malaysian Hockey League. These are some of the grey areas that need to be adressed in the next two years."
MHF has been talking about indoor hockey for years but it never got past
the planning stage.
"Among the items on the `must do' list is Indoor Hockey. And with the
help of the Malaysian Schools Sports Council, under-11 and under-14
tournaments will be organised to improve the basics of the game among our youth."
(END)
