Analytic Hockey Camp To Weed Out Players Weaknesses: Junaid

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st july,2016) : The head coach of Pakistan hockey team, former Olympian Khawaja Muhammad Junaid said on Thursday the analytic hockey camp will help the players to overcome their individual weaknesses with a detailed analysis comparing their past and present playing acts and actions in crunch situations during the matches. "It is like studying hockey by judging the past and present performance with a thorough analytic view with the help of audio video methods and special lectures," he told APP here after a training session on the third day of the week long camp at the national hockey stadium. The former Pakistan captain said such an initiative has been taken first time in Pak hockey history by the present regime of the Pakistan hockey federation in order to rectify the gray areas of the players, setting aside traditional methods of physical training while switching to modern techniques to develop physical endurance with the help of aerobics and other techniques to add to their mental toughness. He said the 42 camp probables attending the camp are taking keen interest to adapt the new methods of training which is a positive sign. "We are imparting training to our players which is already in practice by the Holland Football team and I am in touch with the technical staff associated with the Dutch team and getting their feed back by sharing my own players performance .

I am optimistic that through this type of training we would be able to lift the level of our players besides seeing a visible improvement in their physical fitness and mental toughness," he asserted.

The head coach of the team said the two and a half hour long aerobics strength training focuses on enhancing physical fitness and muscle endurance as the traditional methods of physical fitness cause a lot of fatigue to the players. "In the afternoon session we have match practice in which we try to correct the individual mistakes of the players noticed during the previous matches and during the camp", he said. Junaid said in between the morning and afternoon training there are two exclusive sessions to analyze the performance of the players with the help of audio visual methods and lectures. "We are trying to develop a culture of harmony when the players are in action to act accordingly during a crucial situation to utilize maximum number of the scoring chances which come across their way in a match besides beefing up the defence in case of a counter attack", he said adding, We are teaching them hockey to create a new spirit among them so that they put in more hard work and show commitment and promise not to repeat their mistakes of previous matches in the coming games during the camp training. The head coach said the strength of the camp includes the members of the senior team, stand byes players and a group of young emerging players who are also following a special diet plan in order to ensure their top physical fitness. It is a good experience that we are training with new concepts and we are updating the PHF authorities on its daily outcome and if necessary the PHF will extend the duration of the camp", said the former Olympian.