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Fixing fitness
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The IHF lends a scientific touch to coaching by hiring the services of Dr. Saju Joseph
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PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR
Training well Dr. Saju Joseph (left) keeps track of our hockey team's fitness levels
Lending a scientific touch to the gamut of coaching! That is what the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) aims to accomplish by hiring the services of physical trainer Dr. Saju Joseph who is now involved with the preparation of the Indian team for the next edition of Junior World Cup.
Even as the players are fine-tuning their skills, this doctor armed with his equipment, stands behind the goalpost recording the movements of all the players during the camp at Gachibowli Complex. Realising that the tag of `defending champions' carries big expectations, the IHF is taking all steps to retain the title.
Dr. Joseph records the fitness levels of the players — in simulated match conditions and also after their daily training schedules. He feels that the key area is the recovery phase. He is armed with the player profiles, vis-à-vis fitness standards. This should help the coaches and the selectors to make the correct decision in selecting the players. Dr. Joseph was with the Indian team before it left for Australia to win the Junior World Cup the last time in 2001.
"My job includes doing video analysis by recording the boys at play. Then I may suggest changes in the training programme if needed," says the trainer. One of the key areas will be to study the endurance workout on the heartbeat. Dr. Joseph was in Chennai during the MCC-Murugappa tournament to conduct the tests on some of the players before coming to Hyderabad.
He feels that the presence of a psychologist could be worth trying out. But he also asserts that the coach could be the best psychologist in the given circumstances for he knows the players closely and also under what conditions each player can give his best. "There is a need for better man-management in our future campaigns," he adds.
That Dr. Joseph was on the job even before the full panel of coaches has arrived for the preparatory camp is proof of his commitment. His plus point is that he regularly conducts classes for coaches too, in the Bangalore SAI Southern Centre, on different aspects of sport with emphasis on physical conditioning.
It may be recalled that the Junior India team trained in Hyderabad under Rajinder Singh (Sr.) before going on to win the Cup on the last occasion. The big question is will luck smile on them again?
V.V.S.
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