Unearthing the gems of the future

The fight for the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s sports stars is not a task for those who like 9-5 days behind a desk – just ask Munster’s newest hockey development officer, David Egner. Convincing youngsters that a sport with a small media profile, that requires a specialist surface to play on, is for them provides a constant challenge for hockey’s powers-that-be. To that end, the Irish Hockey Association recently appointed two new licensed development officers (LDOs), one in Munster and another in Leinster, with Cork Harlequins man Egner taking up the role here.

He is helping Phil Oakley (the IHA’s western regional development officer) deliver IHA courses and programmes, given the geographical issues that prevent Oakley from being everywhere at once in his dual provincial brief of Munster and Connacht. It’s a part-time position, but one that requires a fair whack of mileage, as Egner explains: “As it stands I am in Waterford on a Tuesday and Fermoy on a Friday delivering the Tricks 4 Sticks programme, with 9 sessions being delivered to 6 different schools. “We’ve completed the first Transition Year program of the year in Bandon Grammar with more to come in Waterford, Limerick and Cork, and have also organised taster sessions in primary schools set up by Ashton and Harlequins in order to increase the boys’ numbers in their clubs.” While admitting that the introduction of the LDO role is something of an experiment, Egner reckons it’s a case of the more the merrier in terms of exposing more children to hockey, with a range of courses, programmes, clinics and taster sessions planned. “The role is chiefly to introduce kids to the sport and to keep those involved already with hockey,” he explains. “The new taster sessions are designed for the boys mainly, in conjunction with the local clubs, with the hope that new players will be exposed to sport, like it and join their local club then. “Tricks 4 Sticks this year has focused on areas that can take new girls. I’ve just completed a five-week programme and blitz in Clonmel, in which 112 girls and 57 new boys were introduced to the sport, and have started in Waterford and Fermoy also. “The Transition Year and Youth Leader programmes are aimed at increasing the number and quality of volunteers in the sport, whether it be through coaching, team management or umpiring.” Which brings us to the issue that, these days, is more ‘King Kong among the skyscrapers’ than ‘elephant in the room’ – how to keep boys’ and men’s hockey afloat in Munster. The most recent public figures showed numbers have declined at senior, U10, U12 and U14 level in the past three seasons, with less than 700 male players in the province, roughly split half-and-half between senior and underage. “(The decline in male numbers)  is a big reason why the taster sessions have been implemented and I feel that these can aid us in attracting new boys to the sport,” offers Egner. “Every school that I have delivered to in the past few years, through the T4S sessions, has had really enthusiastic players, both boys and girls, and once the boys see that sport can be played fast and with both skill and flair their eyes light up. “The main obstacle myself and Phil have is getting the clubs on board to work with us and come out to aid in the sessions. This way, the kids can see their local players and have a point of contact should they decide to join a club.

“Phil ran these sessions last March/April with Ashton and helped to increase their numbers by 15 boys. In October, these sessions were run with Catholic Institute and 13 boys joined the club. We have just finished running tasters with Limerick HC and Ashton, and as already mentioned we are running one with Quins in the coming weeks.” Naturally, plans for development and progress aren’t limited to the playing side of things. Egner himself coaches at almost every level of the game, at either end of the school and club spectrum as well as with the Munster U18 girls – he is in his sixth year at the helm –  and Munster Junior women. He also coached CIT men to a maiden intervarsity success in 2010, a year in which he also claimed the IHA’s U18 coach of the year award, and is keen to root out people to follow in his footsteps. “The IHA has numerous different programs on offer for young coaches to get involved in the game. The TY and YL are directly focused at teenagers and young adults whilst the Introduction and Level 1 courses will give them that extra bit of quality coaching to drive them forwards. “Also, the Munster branch coaching committee are actively looking now for coaches to help out in the Junior Age Groups [JAG]  whether it be as head coach, assistant coach, GK assistants or video technicians. “All these positions will aid in the development of coaches, who may just be looking for a bit of guidance and/or exposure to quality coaches and players. This is how I started my coaching career off with the Munster U18 Girls and I can say it benifited me no end.” For more information on the IHA’s LDOs, click here.