Socio-economic changes in society have transformed the dynamics of every walk of life be it education, family life, our living style or sports. Playing games used to be part of life, culture; a technique for personality building and pastime with an ultimate goal of achieving personal and national honour. Now economics has taken-over all sociological calls; young or old, poor or wealthy, everyone is focused on rapidly earning the maximum.

Hockey was the game of streets, schools, family and society; making plenty of qualitative and quantitative talent available, contributing to the regional, departmental and national needs. Selfless coaches and game managers (with no financial inclination) were available to almost every district / club. Then materialism and sports economics came into play at local, national and international levels, preventing level-playing. It could have been off-set by efficient management of available human and material resources, BUT ...!

We have dozens of hockey heroes of different era with a lot of playing experience and techniques to their credit. Hockey legends are like fathers and grandfathers of the game who have played active, effective and advisory roles over the decades. Since the turf, techniques, strategies have changed and the commercial aspect has overpowered all aforesaid goals, we need to tailor ourselves to be in competition with the rest of the world. Seeking advice from everyone would amount to "analysis into paralysis". Grouping them regionally would still make "dozens of warring factions (a reality on ground)" and would contribute nothing to the national cause. In modern times, playing hockey on the field and managing a sport, that too a national game, are two different things. Our sports management policy/strategy in the recent past has been counterproductive and self-defeating against the modern nations.

In the current competitive environment we are compelled to take it up as business and not a cup of tea. How many former hockey players have been senior corporate managers or local successful business tycoons?

What is the average education level of our current and former players? Kerry Packer who brought a paradigm change in cricket was a media tycoon, not a cricketer. English premier league club owners are successful businessmen not footballers. Salman Iqbal, Nadeem Umar, Rana Brothers, Javaid Afridi, Priety Zenta, Shahrukh Khan, there are so many examples in support of the argument that non-players are managing the business with the help of specialists / professionals better than former players. Most facets of the game are orchestrated off-the-field for successful application on-the-field. Stalwarts with credible all-round credentials and background would certainly be better choice BUT if available?

May I be granted permission to suggest:

Government/Government-nominated think tank(s) should announce a sports policy outsourcing the sports, especially hockey, with "regional and national cause" clauses included. Sports boards, federations and associations seem to be a case of too many cooks.

Hockey and other games should be de-politicised. Off-the-field game should be assigned to businessmen or senior corporate managers at regional and national levels as administrators.

Let the young, honest and dedicated blood come forward managing on-the-field game at district, divisional and national levels.

Legends and heroes should be requested to serve one club each as a mentor.

tsuri.794@gmail.com