Hockey India plans to introduce zonal system tournaments in U-17, U-19 levels
Tirkey, a veteran of 400 international matches, reiterated the importance of national championships and said a zonal system needs to be introduced at the grassroots level to give more game time to budding players.
In its bid to develop the game at the grassroots level, Hockey India is planning to introduce zonal system tournaments in the sub-junior (U-17) and junior (U-19) categories across the country, said sports body’s president Dilip Tirkey.
Tirkey, a veteran of 400 international matches, reiterated the importance of national championships and said a zonal system needs to be introduced at the grassroots level to give more game time to budding players.
“For any sport to thrive, grassroots development is vital. A strong foundation results in good players and a strong senior and junior national teams,” the former India captain said in Hockey Te Charcha, a podcast series of Hockey India.
“In the past, athletes in the sub-junior (U-17) and junior (U-19) categories haven’t had enough game time. We are going to rectify that by introducing a zonal system, where they play will intra-zone and inter-zone competitions,” he added.
“Pragmatically, not everybody will play for India, but this set up will at least allow players to take pride in representing their respective zones and give them a feel of a competitive atmosphere at an early age,” Tirkey added.
He feels the new system will also help selectors and the administration immensely in creating a vast pool of players.
Tirkey, a veteran of 400 international matches, reiterated the importance of national championships and said a zonal system needs to be introduced at the grassroots level to give more game time to budding players.
“For any sport to thrive, grassroots development is vital. A strong foundation results in good players and a strong senior and junior national teams,” the former India captain said in Hockey Te Charcha, a podcast series of Hockey India.
“In the past, athletes in the sub-junior (U-17) and junior (U-19) categories haven’t had enough game time. We are going to rectify that by introducing a zonal system, where they play will intra-zone and inter-zone competitions,” he added.
“Pragmatically, not everybody will play for India, but this set up will at least allow players to take pride in representing their respective zones and give them a feel of a competitive atmosphere at an early age,” Tirkey added.
He feels the new system will also help selectors and the administration immensely in creating a vast pool of players.
