(Photo: FIH -YAPASPHOTO)
There are two significant recent news events that are worth bringing to the attention of Go Hockey News readers. The first is the FIH international Congress which established directional outcomes for advancing hockey as a global sport. The second is an interview that was conducted with Cam Vale, Hockey Australia CEO, who is responsible for guiding hockey development in Australia.
Overall it is heartening to hold a ‘fresh manner’ hope that hockey as a sport is moving out of it’s long time ‘amateur tag’ status and looking towards embracing hockey as a potential professional global sport that can rival other well know traditional sports who attract financial support and have become self funding in terms of its development as a sport, e.g., cricket.
So what does the future hold?
The FIH concluded its 2014 Ordinary Congress today in Marrakesh in November. The well-attended two day event was titled the ‘Hockey Revolution Congress’ and delegates learnt about the Hockey Revolution – FIH’s new ten year strategy set to deliver a global sport, inspiring the next generation.
The FIH laid out ambitious goals for the next ten years for hockey around entertainment, professionalism, image and following. A clear strategy was outlined for hockey focusing on five key initiatives; fan-focused entertainment portfolio; world-class content creation and distribution; joined-up global marketing; commercial partners who share our vision and educate and empower programmes.
The 44th Congress welcomed five new National Associations from three continents. From Africa – Burundi, Cameroon and Sierra Leone all become Sole Governing Member National Associations. Vietnam join from Asia and Haïti join from Pan-America, meaning FIH now has 132 National Associations.
FIH President, Leandro Negre said, “I am delighted that we have welcomed new National Associations to the FIH family. The addition of these new members from all over the world, supports our new ambition, goals and strategy and ultimately, will help to raise the global status and popularity of hockey. I am looking forward to the next two years of my tenure as FIH President, as we create a Hockey Revolution.”
The FIH team introducing the Hockey Revolution – FIH’s new ten year strategy (Photo FIH News)
So what can we hope to expect? This is not clear yet but a Go Hockey News response is;
- Effective communication /marketing of the Hockey Revolution so that all levels of the hockey community know and can embrace the ‘Hockey Revolution’, e.g., use of social media campaigns that reach the face book pages of club websites and hockey players alike.
- Hockey Revolution ambassadors who ‘sell’ the Hockey Revolution goals and initiatives to the media, business, hockey community, sporting public, schools etc
- Game changes. If the Hockey Revolution is to highlighting making hockey fan focused entertainment which goes hand in hand with commercial inspired professionalism then we will expect the game format to be adapted for this purpose. In the same way World Series 1 day cricket, and 20/20 cricket changed the face of cricket so hockey needs a facelift. Traditional hockey will always have a place but the introduction of Hockey 5’s and other initiatives is opening the way for entertainment initiatives and improving entry level hockey participation.
INTERVIEW WITH CAM VALE
The interview was based on questions that hockey players and supporters put forward. It is an interesting interview with Cam acknowledging a lot that needs to be looked at and done but not with too many clear policy and strategy ‘action based’ implementations that you can ‘pin your hat on’ that we can ‘touch and feel’ in the short term.
However full accolades should extended to Cam Vale for his initiative in coming forward to speak to the Australian hockey community and his desire to continue this initiative. Sure beats those sporting CEO’s of the past who have failed to embrace the hockey community at a community level. Keep rolling your sleeves up Cam and get amongst the Saturday only hockey players who love their sport and value communication.
May every hockey player reply when asked who is the CEO of Hockey Australia – be answered with Mr Cam Vale.
Source: FIH News / Hockey Australia News
