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11. 6. 2024 - Pavol Humeník
Swiss Vice-President: We Want the Championship to be Unforgettable for Players!
Even though the leadership of the Swiss team does not see their team among the front runners, they are going to the championship with enthusiasm to fight for the best result in every game. Patricia De Luca, Vice-President and Executive Director of the Swiss Ball Hockey Federation, revealed how they are preparing.
In what phase of preparation for Žilina is your national team currently?
We are in the middle of the preparation phase and have three intense training weekends ahead of us before heading to the World Championship.
How difficult is it to put a junior national team together for the World Championships?
Assembling a junior national team for the World Championships is challenging, but it’s also an exciting process for us. Here are some key points we work on:
Talent Identification: Identifying talented young players is crucial. Coaches in their home clubs play a vital role in spotting potential.
Player Availability: Coordinating schedules and ensuring players are available for training weekends, matches, and tournaments can be complex. Balancing academic commitments; additionally, there is also a financial aspect that each player must consider. It is a passionate and intense hobby that our players pursue.
Team Chemistry: Building team cohesion is essential. Players from different clubs and backgrounds need to gel together. Team-building activities and shared experiences help foster unity.
Logistics: Organizing travel, accommodation, and facilities for training weekends requires meticulous planning. Logistics can be demanding, especially for international events.
Competition: Junior national teams face tough opponents. Coaches must strategize, analyse opponents, and adapt tactics during matches.
Psychological Support: Young players need emotional support. Dealing with pressure, expectations, and setbacks is part of the journey.
We from the coaching staff are happy to take on this challenges and representing our country with a motivated and talented team at a World Championship.
Was there enough interest from players to travel to Slovakia for a World Championship?
Yes, absolutely, we are fortunate to have many motivated and talented players born in 2005 and 2006 in our junior league.
Is your roster finalized?
Yes, our roster has been finalized for a few weeks now and published on our website (Swiss Streethockey Association) www.swiss-streethockey.ch and social media.
What do you focus on in your preparations for the tournament – tactics, team connection, speed, stamina?
In tournament preparation, a balanced approach is crucial.
Tactics: Developing effective strategies, understanding the opponents, and adapting strategies during matches.
Team Connection: Building trust, communication, and cohesion among players.
Speed: Enhancing agility, quick decision-making, and reaction time.
Stamina: Improving endurance through fitness training and recovery. What, of course, should not be missing, is the fun.
What style of play would you like to apply at the championships?
We want to play exciting, offensive hockey and impose our tactics and style of play on the other teams. The other teams has to adapt to us and not the other way around.
Did you change anything in your preparations compared to last year?
We certainly started earlier with the players selection and have optimised internal processes. We also gathered the experience and knowledge from last year and incorporated it into the preparations for these World Championships.
Do you plan to play any preparation games before the World Championships?
There will certainly be some preparation games.
Have you planned any other activities to ball hockey while in Slovakia? Perhaps visit some of the interesting natural sights?
Absolutely, if time permits, we will explore the city of Žilina during the championship and see the landmarks. For us, it's important to broaden our horizons outside of hockey and with such excursions you make friends and strengthen the team spirit and you can also relax and recharge your batteries after a game. We want to make it a memorable experience for our team, something they will remember!
What ambitions are you going to go into the World Championships with?
We're going into these World Championships as outsiders and that's a fact we do accept. But we aren‘t going into these games without fight and spirit. The players and the team will give their best in every game. We are convinced that as a team we make dangerous to the other teams due to our underdog standing - the aim is not to finish last but also to have fun and enjoy the sport and the World Championship. With every championship, we learn something new and that makes us stronger for future World Championships.
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