Jean Relou, Switzerland, Hockey Developer - FIH; Coach Certification A/B/C - USA Baseball; Youth Development Certified - USA Basketball; Elite Sport Performance; Psychological Perspectives - ASPASP; Champion Performance Specialist - Reinold; Certified Gait Analyst: Level 2 - RunDNA; https://learn.fieldhockeycoachingcurriculum.com/pages/jean-relous https://www.delaroullou.com/

Please read Jean Relou's insights and views.

In the autumn of 2020, I was looking at what was available regarding a field hockey curriculum for youth players. That was when I came across this curriculum for the first time. Back then, it was a full list of well produced skills videos (I think about a hundred) in the sequence that they should be taught which had been created for internal use at a club, the Toronto Field Hockey Club. 

I am the person who wrote these words at the end of November 2020:

“Several weeks ago, you granted me access to your videos as given in your TFHC Field Hockey Curriculum. This is an unbelievable resource, I haven't seen one like this in my 24 years of coaching in The Netherlands, England, Germany and now in Switzerland.”

It is hard to believe what Peter and his team have accomplished since I asked him if I could have permission to use the curriculum at my club and local schools.

The Field Hockey Curriculum for Players & Coaches mirrors Peter’s clear vision and passion regarding hockey. Peter brought all his knowledge together to develop an easy-to-use platform, which is beneficial for players and coaches at the same time. 

By using youth players in the video lessons, the FHCPC has provided the right example for the beginning player, young and adult. Yes, it is great to see a professional performing a skill, but we all know how long it can take to master and execute skills at the top level. Looking at their peers shows the beginning players that you don't have to be perfect in having fun and learning to play hockey.  

For instance, during a physical education lesson in basketball, you can directly spot those that are copying their moves from YouTube. However, they have no knowledge of the basic skills or the essential parts of playing in a team sport. They skip those steps. I believe this is where the FHCPC provides a clear step by step progressive approach keeping within the guidelines of a Long-Term Athlete Development plan. 

The FHCPC is easy to use for players, teachers, and coaches to support their training sessions and for away from the field learning. Players can practice their skills on their own with the lessons continuing to instruct them to do all the skill points correctly and therefore not develop poor skill habits which all of us coaches know is very hard to correct later on.

The FHCPC will give Physical Education teachers the opportunity to introduce a new sport into their lesson plan which I expect will be a huge benefit for clubs and associations around the world to help them introduce hockey into schools.

The FHCPC will create a greater involvement from players, parents and volunteer coaches in clubs and after school sports.  

I am looking forward to seeing where the Field Hockey Curriculum for Players & Coaches will be implemented and how much interest it will generate in having many more players, youth and adult, become actively involved in our wonderful sport of hockey.


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