Former Hockey India coach Sjoerd Marijne, in an interview with Firstpost, spoke about the contrast in training between the Netherlands and India. He said: “We’re trained more tactically, while here they train more technically. Sometimes, for me it’s difficult to understand why they take certain decisions. To unlearn what they have learnt growing up is really difficult.”
The difference between coaching structures in both countries is clear. In the Netherlands, coaches follow a set philosophy and receive structured training. While in India, most coaches build their own philosophy, often based on personal playing experiences rather than a unified national approach.
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That’s why Stick2Hockey’s K Arumugam’s tweet about eight Indian coaches shadowing Craig Fulton and Harendra Singh during national camps feels like a shift. For the first time in years, Indian coaching may align with the demands of modern hockey.
India has long depended on foreign coaches. Apart from Harendra Singh and a few interim appointments, no Indian has held a full-time senior coaching role in over a decade. Joaquim Carvalho led the men’s team in 2008. CR Kumar coached the women’s team in 2011. Since then, coaching at the top level has mostly come from outside.
However, during this time, the sport of hockey has evolved. It became faster, more tactical, and more physically demanding. But coaching at the domestic level often lagged behind. This mentorship initiative could begin to change that. Let us take a look at how some ways this initiative will help Indian hockey
Learning from the Top
Marijne pointed out that coaching styles influence how players make decisions. By spending time with the senior team coaches, these eight Indian coaches will observe the daily drills, tactical planning, player management, and game preparation. They’ll see how to shift from a rigid playing style to a more fluid, position-flexible system.
Fitness is now a cornerstone of international hockey. These coaches will learn how top teams monitor fitness, conduct conditioning sessions, and build match readiness. This knowledge will trickle down to their teams and training environments.
A Network Effect
Each of these eight coaches holds an FIH Level 3 certification. One of the key aspects of this level is the ability to mentor other coaches. So, this program won’t just benefit eight people. It can create a cascading effect across Indian hockey, building a coaching network that shares common values, methods, and goals.
Smarter Player Integration
Currently, national team coaches often spend precious time helping new players unlearn outdated habits. With this program, coaches across levels can begin teaching the same systems early. As a result, players entering the camp will already understand what’s expected. National coaches can spend more time refining skills instead of rebuilding the basics.
Bridging the Domestic Gap
We’ve previously highlighted the wide skill gap between top and bottom teams in Indian domestic hockey. Poor coaching infrastructure is one reason this gap persists. Better-trained coaches at the grassroots can improve player development and make domestic competitions more competitive. In turn, this strengthens the talent pool available to the national teams.
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India never lacked players. It lacked a system that trains them the right way from the beginning. If Hockey India continues this coaching mentorship program and expands it to more regions, it could finally reduce its dependence on foreign coaches. It could develop Indian coaches who understand the demands of modern hockey and can teach them consistently across the country.
This initiative won’t solve all problems overnight. But it does start to fix one of Indian hockey’s biggest blind spots- the lack of a national coaching philosophy. This initiative may just be the foundation Indian hockey needs to build a consistent, long-term coaching system.
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