Finding the Right Candidates for the World Championship is in the Final Phase

In what stage is the U18 team’s preparation?

The U18 team has had two camps this year where we wanted to see the candidates for the national team together. Of course, for various reasons, not all players who could play at the World Championships were present. Currently, competitions are culminating, and we are still trying to find the right candidates for Žilina.

What is the primary focus of your preparation for the World Championship – tactics, teamwork, speed, or fitness?

We need to get to know the players from all aspects. Fitness is, of course, fundamental. We know the field in Žilina will be large. A player without good fitness has no chance. We are certainly looking for comprehensive players who will have something extra. Our fitness coach, Denis Bučko, prepared physical tests for the candidates to see their current physical condition.

Is the final nomination for the World Championship in Žilina clear?

Certainly not yet. Currently, we have about 40 players we will monitor until the end of the season and who we also want to see at the camps. The core could be players who played at the U18 World Championships last year, but nothing is guaranteed. Everything depends on health, effort, current performance, and game discipline.

How many more national camps will you have?

We plan three one-day camps and one three-day camp where we would like to play two matches.

When is the next national camp and what will it focus on?

We had a national camp on May 1, and the next one is planned for Sunday, May 19, 2024. We want to see players in balanced situations, how they play under pressure, and how they handle situations in the goal area. We will also focus on details, details that can decide close matches. A top-level player must maintain concentration throughout the game, encourage teammates, and not shy away from any shot.

Will you have any preparatory matches before the championship?

We would like to play two preparatory matches during the three-day camp in June. We want to test a few things from previous training sessions in real matches. We would like to fine-tune the gameplay and find the optimal composition of attacks or entire lines.

What style of play would you like to present at the championship?

Ball hockey at the highest level in this age category is certainly about movement. We believe that with my colleague Tomáš Hirkala, we will assemble a team whose playing style will be at least as good as last year in Liberec. Whether it’s an active approach to the opponent's players in defense, quick passing, smooth transition over the blue line, and of course, quick finishing.

What is the goal for the Slovak U18 national team at the home championship?

Slovakia can only aim for the highest goals in ball hockey. The championship will undoubtedly be challenging, and the final will be our primary goal.