MIke: FIH ranking and quota system lopsided

By Maninderjit Singh (Mike)
Former Malaysian Hockey International
(1990 to 2002)

I received an e-mail from former international Mike, and felt that he was spot on. Great job in research, and his 'thesis' has been sent to the FIH, and hopefully they reply.

FIH WORLD RANKING AND QUOTA SYSTEM FOR QUALIFICATION

“Benefit and Burden Rule is Not Equitable” - FOR ASIAN TEAMS INCLUDING MALAYSIAN HOCKEY TEAM

My view is that FIH system is not equitable to the five Continental Federations that are affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH); the world governing body for hockey. The impact of this system has reflected in the reducing number of Asian teams participating in the major events such as Olympics, World Cup and Champions Trophy. Firstly, in the early 1970’s, the transformation of field hockey to artificial turf was introduced. This has permitted new rules to be developed in order to suit the new playing surface conditions. On top of that, the artificial pitches were too expensive for Asian in comparison to the wealthier European countries. All such issues have hindered the growth of Asian hockey standards in international arena. As of today, most of the European nations have dominated the game of hockey and we only have two teams from Asia in the top ten world ranking. Secondly, after 30 years from the transformation of surface, the introduction of World ranking system in the 2003 by the FIH Executive Board has created major obstacles for Asian teams including Malaysian Hockey Team to qualify for World Cup and Olympics. This is because the current world ranking system is further used to determine quotas and reserve countries for major events such as Olympics, World Cup and etc. The keynote facts of the current World Ranking system are as follows:

• Only five tournaments are taken into account.
  § Olympics (including qualifier)
  § World Cup (including qualifier)
  § Champions Trophy
  § Champions Challenge 1 & 2
  § Continental Federation Championships including qualifier.


• Ranking system taken over a 4-year cycle on teams performance with progressively less weighted year by year (25% discount per year over a 4-year until they are deleted).


• Champions Trophy is played on annual basis whereas the Champion Challenge1 & 2 is played once in every two years.

Based on the current FIH system, I have observed 3 main prevailing issues that hinder the growth of Asian Teams including Malaysian Hockey Team. They are as follows:

1. The 4-year cycle system creates a great discrepancy between the top 6, top 12 and top 18 in the world ranking. By participating in World Cup and Olympics would provide them to sustain their ranking throughout the 4 years. They are entitled to collect a maximum of 250% of the points earned throughout the 4-year cycle i.e. 100% for first year, 75% for second year, 50% for third year and 25% for the fourth year.


2. More often than not, the top 6 teams who plays in Champion Trophy on annual basis permits them to improve their ranking annually, whereas the teams rank from 7th to 18th plays once in every two years in the Champion Challenge 1 & 2. The team ranked above 18th has only their Continental Federation Championship to improve their ranking.


3. Continental Federation Championship points are allocated and adjusted based on the Europe Hockey Federation points. For an example, a number 7 ranked team in Europe gets 450 points whereas in Asia is 182.3 points, Africa is 36 points, Oceania is 24.8 and Pan America is 166.5. Over and above this has an impact over the 4-year cycle system. The reason provided was the different standard and quality of playing nations among the Continents.

The following quotas were allocated to the five (5) Continents for the FIH 2010 World Cup based on the current World ranking:

To have an equitable system for World Ranking system and Quotas for World Cup and Olympics, I would like to recommend five strategies. They are as follows:

1. Reduce to 2-years cycle instead of 4-years cycle. The World Cup and Olympic events are separated by two years. For an example, the next 2010 World Cup and 2012 London Olympics and in which every two years, the qualified teams either in Olympics or World Cup could only collect a maximum of 150% of points earned i.e.100% of points for the first year and 50% deduction for the second year.

2. Total of 16 teams for the World Cup and 12 teams for Olympics. As for the World Cup which is under the jurisdiction of FIH, shall permit more teams to qualify and indirectly has a greater chance to improve their world ranking.

3. Champions Trophy and Champions Challenge 1 & 2 to be played once in every two years. This tournament shall be held once between the 2-years cycle. For an example: after 2010 World Cup, the Champions Trophy and Champions Challenge 1 & 2 shall be organize in the year 2011. The next competition for both events shall be held in the year 2013 after the 2012 London Olympics. Therefore, it permits new qualified teams to participate and redeem points.

4. Organize a Mini World Cup for the teams ranked from number 17 to 32. With this additional tournament, the under ranked teams has a chance to reduce the discrepancy gap between the rich and the poor. A separate ranking point system shall be formulated for the purpose of this tournament.

5. The Quotas for the Qualifying Round for the World Cup and Olympics shall be based on the individual Continental Federations ranking and not based on World Ranking system. With this, the old fashioned Inter-Continental Championship shall make his return to justifiable the quota system based on the five (5) Continental Federations. This shall also ensure a great equality among the world playing nations.

By understanding the system and looking at the allocation of quotas, the future for Asian team including Malaysian Hockey Team has an uphill battle to qualify for the coming World Cup and Olympics. This is due to the “Benefit and Burden Rule is Not Equitable” in the FIH World Ranking System. Therefore, it is my fervent hope that all the five (5) Continental Federations and the Executive Board of FIH to revisit and review the system for the betterment and equality of all playing nations.

It is strange to note that only three (3) members out of twenty four (24) members are from Asia in the FIH Executive Board. It only denotes 12.5% of the decision making. Therefore, it is going to be difficult to convince the FIH Executive Board unless the relevant Continental Federations intend to work hand in hand to remedy and push the changes accordingly within their means.

All the Best…

Maninderjit Singh (Mike)
Former Malaysian Hockey International
(1990 to 2002)

Opposition to Hockey India

''Headed by A.K. Mattoo, Treasurer, IOA, the new body, named Hockey India, was registered on May 20, within the 15-day deadline given by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the formation of a unified Indian federation. The FIH wrote on May 5 to the IOA threatening India’s debarment from international hockey.

“We reiterate that in case no positive concrete action is taken, the participation of the Indian teams in all international hockey events, under the aegis of FIH, will not be permitted,” a letter from the FIH President stated. ''

THE hastily formed Hockey India hit troubled waters even before it could learn to swim, and is expected to sink after a heavy load of litigation is placed on its back.

NEW DELHI (AP) — An attempt to form a new national field hockey organization in India was opposed Thursday by state officials, who termed the move illegal.
The Indian Olympic Association announced the formation of a unified body — Hockey India — on Wednesday after the International Hockey Federation threatened to take the World Cup away from New Delhi if the country did not have a single national association governing both the men’s and women’s game.
The IOA said it had given provisional affiliation to Hockey India, while disaffiliating the two associations separately running men’s and women’s hockey.
J.B. Roy, president of the Bengal Hockey Association, a state unit affiliated to the men’s Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), said the IOA’s act was “illegal” and did not have the backing of existing bodies.
“How can the IOA unilaterally decide to form a body without any representation from the stake holders?” Roy said.
He said only the men’s and women’s national associations had the right to form a unified body, not an outside agency, even if it happened to be the national Olympic committee.
“The new association is completely unconstitutional. We have already sent a legal representation to the country’s Sports Minister,” Roy said.

By Dan Guen Chin
(Bernama)

JOHOR BAHARU, June 4 (Bernama)-- Though Malaysia co-host the Junior World Cup hockey tournament, the junior squad''s quest to book a place in the last eight, may not be an easy journey but coach K. Rajan remains optimistic.
He added that though the squad was familiar with the Taman Daya Hockey stadium here and can expect a strong support from home fans, the players have to be at their very best and cannot expect any favours.
"We have worked very hard and for the past eight months since I took over, we have played many warm-up matches, mostly in Europe and elsewhere. Results achieved thus far certainly gives me confidence.
"We are not inferior to some of the strong Europeans team we have played on our tour. But we face a different test now. A test of playing in front of our own fans and I believe with the familiarity of the weather and home ground advantage we can rise to the occasion," said Rajan.
The Malaysian team will be captained by Bukit Mertajam born Ahmad Kazamirul Naasruddin, a defender, and ably supported by midfielder Harvinder Singh and hard running forward Faizal Saari.
"It''s a team with a bit of everything. We have some talented midfielders and solid defenders. And we have teamwork and great spirit. That''s is most important," added Rajan.
Malaysia open their campaign against England in their opening Pool C match on Sunday knowing that the outcome of the match could go a long way in deciding their fate in the 20-team tournament, which is co-hosted by Malaysia and Singapore.
England like Malaysia also need a win to boost their morale for the tough journey ahead which includes matches against Spain, the European champion, South Korea, the rising Asian power and the United States of America.
"We are very much like Malaysia. To be drawn against each other in the opening match means there is so much to play for. We are chasing the same target and it could end up breaking each others hearts," said England team manager Dan Halliday.
The English team, coached by David Ralph, is built around a core of eight players drawn from their National Training Centre based in Nottinghamshire.
"The training centre is something like the Australian Institute of Sports where talented sportsmen and women are being housed and kept in training with an eye towards excellence. And the eight I am talking about will form the backbone of the squad.
"We are optimistic that we can match the best in our group but I must admit that Spain and the South Koreans are the favourites. Malaysia by virtue of being host cannot be ruled out either," added Halliday.

Belgium husband and wife team

JOHOR BAHRU( Thursday 4th June 2009): Belgium have a husband and wife team as manager and assistant manager -probably a first in the world of hockey
The Belgium team manager is Phil Rooseleer while his wife Leona is the assistant manager. The presence of the fatherly and motherly figures in the Belgium team to this year's Junior World Cup is a boost to the young players.
"All the players are like our children. We give them all the attention they need, especially when they are far from their family," said Rooseleer.
"But we don't have much problem with them (the players). We keep a close eye on them...after all they are young and need guidance, both on and off the field."
Yesterday morning, the husband and wife team was seen going about doing the chores at Belgium's two-hour training session under scorching heat, which was dedicated to penalty corner set pieces.
Rooseleer said the heat is really a big bother for his team and the other European teams. One way of checking the heat and humidity at the venue is to let the players cool in an "ice tub" after every training session.
Yesterday, the Belgium players, who trained at the Johor Bahru Hockey Stadium in Taman Daya were seen enjoying one of their "cooling sessions" after training with Rooseleer and Leona adding extra fun with some splashes of water here and there.
"The effect of the heat is still there but the players are getting used to it slowly. We should be able to handle this heaty problem by the time the tournament gets underway," said Rosseleer.
Belgium are drawn in Group A together with defending champions Argentina, Egypt, Pakistan and Russia. Their first match is against Egypt this Sunday which will be followed by a match against Argentina on Tuesday.
Their other matches are against Russia (June 11) and Pakistan on June 12.

SMILE BEFORE THE STORM...

MALAYSIA'S National Juniors in a happy mood. They will play England on Sunday in Group C of the Junior World Cup.

GROUPINGS:
Group A: Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, Pakistan, Russia.
Group B: Australia, Chile, Germany, Japan, South Africa.
Group C: Malaysia, South Korea, USA, Spain, England.
Group D: India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sin gapore.

FIXTURES: Sunday -- Group A: Belgium v Egypt (5pm, Johor), Pakistan v Russia (5.30pm, Johor); Group B: Japan v South Africa (5pm, Singapore), Germany v Chile (7.30pm, Singapore); Group C: South Korea v USA (7pm, Johor), England v Malaysia (7.30pm, Johor); Group D: Netherlands v Singapore (5.30pm, Singapore), New Zealand v Poland (7pm, Singapore).
MONDAY: Group A: Russia v Argentina (7pm, Johor); Group B: Chile v Australia (5.30pm, Singapore), Poland v Netherlands (5pm, Singapore); Group C: Egypt v Pakistan (5.30pm, Johor), Malaysia v South Korea (7.30pm, Johor); Group D: South Africa v Germany (7pm, Singapore), Singapore v India (7.30pm, Singapore).