Czech U18 National Team Completed the Penultimate Camp Before the Championship

Mr. Coach, you continued the preparations for the World Championships with the wider selection of the U18 national team. How do you evaluate the progress so far?

I evaluate the preparation for the World Championships positively. The preparation is progressing well, and I feel that we are improving with each training session. I am satisfied with the players' approach to training, their dedication, concentration, and willingness to improve. They come to every camp fully prepared and in a good mood. We had excellent conditions at all camps. I am very satisfied and always look forward to the players and the coaching team.

You had your second two-day camp, this time in Most. You had five training sessions on the program there. What did they show you?

They showed that the boys who were nominated deserved their nomination. They worked hard, especially on the first day, which was very demanding in terms of training. It’s evident that they came prepared from their clubs, and since they are already in the game rhythm, the training sessions were at a high level. The boys deserve praise for their approach, but after all, they are fighting for a national team jersey.

Part of the camp was also a team-building tournament in bowling. How was this activity to diversify the camp and get to know each other better off the field?

Sometimes fun and team-building are better than the best training. The boys enjoyed it and encouraged each other. A new team is being formed, so these activities are also important for creating a good group and for relaxation.

Three goalkeepers and twenty-six players were nominated for this camp. How was the nomination process, and do you have a clearer idea of its final form?

We are still in the phase of a wider selection and narrowing down the U18 team. We continuously discuss the names and nominations with Vít Čapek, Kuba Třináctý, and Roman Konop. It’s about monitoring players, communicating, evaluating their club-level performance, and their previous camps. Some players are closer to the final nomination due to their performances, while others still have to fight for it. The advantage is that Vít Čapek and Kuba Třináctý have an excellent overview of the players they had in previous national selections.

Now, the competitions are slowly reaching the playoff stages. Are you monitoring the players in their clubs, and do you plan to visit some games at the end of the season during the playoffs?

I can say that I have the advantage that the junior team from Kladno is playing in the extraleague's top section. I have already seen a few matches and specifically monitor certain players. Vít Čapek does the same in Plzeň, and Kuba Třináctý in Pardubice. Additionally, some players already play in the men's extraleague. Naturally, as the competitions reach their final matches, I will go to see some games because it is my first experience with this age category. I need to have an overview of the players. No training at the camp can show a player’s performance as well as a tough match. Another plus is the game recordings from the World Championships in Liberec.

The World Championships in Žilina are approaching. The next camp is planned for the end of June. What is the program for the final preparations?

In June, it will be about finding and synchronizing the lines. We will work on the system we want to present at the World Championships in Žilina. We will focus on power plays, penalty kills, face-offs, and everything that belongs to the game. And, of course, we will continue to build the team spirit.

In conclusion, I would like to wish the boys success at the club level and hope they avoid health problems.

Source: hokejbal.cz Markéta Peclová, April 10, 2024, Photo: Markéta Křížová|eSport.cz

Original article: https://www.hokejbal.cz/clanek/5421-nekdo-je-k-nominaci-na-mistrovstvi-bliz-a-nekdo-bude-jeste-muset-zabojovat-prozrazuje-jaroslav-prochazka