Irish U18 coach Andy Smyth and manager Christopher McCandless have resigned following a stand-off with the Irish Hockey Association (IHA) over the implementation of a pay-to-play funding system.
A €275,00 cut in funding from the Irish Sports Council — plus the body’s desire to see a greater focus on elite sport — has seen new structures put in place, where every international from U16 to senior pay a contribution every year regardless of their upcoming programme.
But the administration of the new structure has left Smyth and McCandless at an impasse they feel cannot be bridged.
They fear the manner in which the levy has been administered could make the sport increasingly “elitist” and unavailable to more people in society.
“I have witnessed many decisions taken which were based on what was best for the players, the parents, supporters of Irish hockey and also the sport itself in order that we move forward and develop,” said Smyth.
“Recently, I have serious doubts over whether this is still the case.
“Figures supplied to me from the IHA for this season are requiring a player contribution of €425 (to include a target of local lotto sales of €175) to play. When we received our budget for the year, myself and Christopher sat down and tried to come up with cost cutting measures to keep these costs down to a minimum. All of these were rejected.”
Smyth contends that in a non-European championship year, that his U18 side did not need a large programme, but says his pleas fell on deaf ears.
He does believe a player contribution is a necessary evil in the current financial climate, but how it has been conducted has made his position untenable.
“I am not opposed to pay to play. I feel it is necessary in order to secure Junior Age Group hockey in Ireland. What I am opposed to is the blanket charging for every squad regardless of what phase of competition we are in.”
Smyth says he unsuccessfully lobbied for pro-rata player contributions, and asked they be shared between 24 players rather than 18.
“I am not adverse to charging players if I felt that everything and every avenue had been exhausted with regards keeping the costs down,” he added. “In my opinion this has not been the case.”
For his part, McCandless added that the decision to levy “may cause hardship and embarrassment to certain players and their parents and contribute to our sport becoming elitist in the future”.
“This is not a policy supported by the vast majority of the hockey public and I believe it could cause long term damage at grass roots level at a time when we should be encouraging youth into our sport as one open and accessible to all.”
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This people leaving the Irish coaching system is getting quite worrying, Eddie Gash, John Hobbs and Mark and Suzanne Evans all left beforte Andy and Chis took over U18s. What is going wrong?
AS ever the short sighted I.H.A. management have not seen what the ‘Muller’ program would lead to. The rich playing for Ireland and the poor going to play another game.
At the moment we spend far to much on the elite squads who are not progressing and not enough on the young developing players, especially the men.
To Anon, 9.39pm
I agree with this point about the men. There was a huge amount of back-slapping at the Awards dinner about how great hockey was in terms of women’s sport from Mary Hanafin and the ESB lady but there was not one mention from any of the speakers about the men’s game which was pretty galling – especially as I belive the men have a slightly better chance of qualifying in the next five years. From the comments on this site, that would seem to be the majority opinion but I may be wrong.
What worries me, though, is that we have not been producing at either top level for a number of years, no matter what the emphasis. Therefore, I think we need to take a wholescale shift of attitude toward youth hockey like Belgium did around 1995 to make sure those structures are right before even dreaming of competing on the Euro and world level with all the cash that entails. Servign the top will continue to see this drain on good Irish coaches as worried mentions.
I thought the boys have been doing well in the last few years? Did we not win some tournaments? Surely if the boys have been winning, then there is plenty of focus on the underage.
As for the men’s side of the sport, the ESB fund the women’s programme and do not sponsor the men. A lack of funding for the men has nothing to do with the women’s programmes. The 16s girls played last weekend and are playing again this weekend, winning all their games and the 18s were in Holland over Easter. Surely this would not be possible if the ‘Muller’ programme was taking up all of the funding.
I guess the men need a sponsor?
Those on Irish squads from outside Dublin, have the burden of paying to play for their country now,
on top of the burden of travelling expenses for nine months and staying in hotels each time they stay in Dublin, as training is usually sat night and sunday, it does look like only those with money will be able to play soon.
Fair play to Andy and Chris. Finally someone has the balls to stand up to the foolish antics of the IHA. What a ridiculous suggestion to charge these kids to play. Everyone understands there is a shortage of cash but look at the suggestions before alienating players according to their pocket!!!!
Anon June 1, remember all these trips to holland by the 16’s and 18’s, they had to contribute towards all this themselves,
Again this is about funding and the proposed redistribution of funds to the Senior ladies to the DETRIMENT of the rest of the squads in the Irish set up.
Players have always paid to play as far as I can remember at underage level. But it has always been set at a level that all can afford so that you avoid the possibility of players having to withdraw on financial grounds.
Personally I am sure that nearly every player would be delighted to pay an reasonable amount, an amount that they could afford, not an amount set by the I.H.A..
In reality we should be spending the most of our money on the Junior sides they are the future. Our spending pyramid should be turned on the head for the next 4-5 years and produce a group of players that will qualify for major championships or at least get promotion and be able to sustain their place in the elite group.
Going as we are will kill the sport at junior level, seriously hinder the mens side completly and probably not qualify a team.
The funding issue is having an effect at the Senior mens level, I have heard that some players are struggling to attend sessions as they can just about afford the travel costs as it is. That players are having to do overtime to raise funds, this reduces their leisure time and increases the mental pressure which will if it is sustained result in players pulling out of the international arena.
It would not surprise me if this is not the first of many management resignations on the mens side.
The I.H.A. cannot choose one sex or one squad over another, it is sad that discrimination is seemingly being openly proposed.
As mentioned previously, losing a John Hobbs, Eddie Gash, Andy Smyth or a Chris McCandless is a disaster for the hockey in Ireland. These are the unsung heroes of Irish hockey. These are the people we need in the game.
Who are the losers in all this?
The kids.
Andy & Chris made a brave decision.
They have to be respected for that.
Are there no other good coaches in the country? Are they the only ones who can work with these kids? What is to say that someone else would not do a better job, or at least as good a job?
Anon June 3 at 12.18pm Please by all means start a list here! maybe you should put yourself forward!
You are talking about funding – well last year the U16’s played again England in UCD, the guys stayed in the montrose – but they had to bring there breakfast with them, bowl, ceral and a spoon, – really great honour to play for your country