KL Hockey Association takes a leaf from country’s kids hockey training programme

What say you on the issue below?

THE Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA), with the increasing number of trainees in the Pearl Kids hockey programme, will not be short of new talents.

The programme was initiated last year and catered for children aged between three and 11.

There are about 100 children from Kuala Lumpur who attend the weekend training sessions at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium.

The sessions are held from 4pm to 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

This is how you hold the stick: Coach R. Hariharan is seen giving instruction to a young trainee.

Head coach R. Vivekanandan said the programme was similar to the one in Holland.

“Holland has an excellent development at grassroots. It is through this programme that they have managed to groom players for the country.

“The KLHA also felt that it would be good to start this programme in KL. The ‘start them young’ programme is basically making playing hockey a fun affair.

“Our aim is to make the training sessions enjoyable and encourage the players to continue playing hockey,” said Vivekanandan.

The focus is on multi-lateral drills. The participants are beginners and Vivekanandan’s has two assistants — R. Hariharan and P. Deva.

Both had attended a Level One coaching course and had volunteered to be part of the programme. Parents of the participants also come forward to share their experience. The equipment, including hockey sticks, are provided by the KLHA.

The coaches can be proud of the programme as three players, all Year Six pupils, had played for Kuala Lumpur in the Milo-Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Under-12 hockey competition this year.

Vivekanandan said the children had to attend training regularly to progress in the game.

Full concentration: One of the trainees getting ready for a skills training.

“As most of them are beginners, we cannot rush them. We have to give them proper guidance as well as make the training sessions fun and enjoyable.

“We don’t want the trainees to drop out midway. We hope the parents understand the training programme. Without the parents’ support, it will be not possible for us to make the programme a success,” said Vivekanandan.

A parent, G.S. Gill, praised the KLHA for initiating the programme.

“We don’t have proper facilities in our neighbourhood. Now we can send our children to this training programme which had qualified coaches to guide the children,” said Gill.

Vivekanandan said they would be organising a carnival to gauge the trainees’ progress.

“It will not be a competition but a skills test drill,” he added.