Ramesh Parameswaran, Field Hockey Master

Ramesh Parameswaran is a teacher’s trainer and one of India’s most highly reputed field hockey coaches.

Ramesh Parameswaran began playing hockey in the 1969 Junior National Championship and represented Mysore in fine form. In his first year in international hockey (1978), he played his part in India, winning the silver medal at the Asian Games. He also won silver in the 1979 Pre-Olympics in Moscow.

In 1985, Ramesh started his career as a coach with Karnataka for the Senior National Championships. A decade later, in 1995, he took over as the assistant coach of the Indian team and remained in that position till 2009.

Ramesh Parameswaran as a coach

As a coach, he believes in ‘positional play’ or ‘zonal play’ and stresses that “attack is the best form of defence.” On coaching strategies and formations, he told me that “to counter the effective attacking system of Asians, European teams and other hockey-playing nations adopted a defense-based formation emphasizing on close defence giving very little or no space for the Attacker to maneuver.”

When asked about his preferred style of play, Ramesh said, “I feel that India should compulsorily play with two wings + two attackers along with four midfield players, i.e., Two wing halves + two midfielders one doubling as an attacker as with two defenders and a goalkeeper (4-4-2-1). However, all this exercise of playing different formations can be effective only if you have the right players in your team. So, my preference is 4-4-2-1 to gain more space for maneuverability.”

As the coach of Indian Oil Corporation from 1999 to 2005, Ramesh’s teams played 48 finals across competitions. On that experience, he said, “it was, indeed, a memorable experience. Aga Khan was never held during that time. But playing Nehru Hockey, Beighton Cup, Bangalore League, MCC at Chennai, Surjit Hockey, Bhopal CM Cup, and many other tournaments all over India was a great experience and learning for the team and me. Players like Mr. Deepak Thakur & Mr. Prabjoth Singh would never be dropped irrespective of their form because they could score in the 69th or 70th minute and turn the result of the match.”

Former state-level video analyst coach and Dhanraj Ballal Hockey Academy administrator, Mr. Leo Devadoss, holds Ramesh Parameswaran at a high level. He told me, “I have had the opportunity to interact and be a part of Coach Ramesh Parameshwaran’s coaching style and seen his work from close quarters. He is a thinking man and has a solution within seconds for situations on the field. A very Jovial and happy-go-lucky personality, Coach Ramesh is a great brain that Indian Hockey should tap into. He can be a wonderful Analyst supporting the Head Coach if not the Head Coach himself. A no-nonsense person who will call a spade a spade, I consider him a Dronacharya in his own right.”

I had the pleasure of interviewing a versatile coach, Ramesh Parameswaran, and here are excerpts from our talk.

Coach today.

Ravi: I always feel Indian Hockey (men and women) needs Indian coaches and a bit against foreign coaches. Please share your opinions and views on this. 

Ramesh: When we are moving with the concept of globalization in all fields, the best should be on the job, and why not an Indian coach? I am for it with equal remuneration and time frame. You see Mr. C. R. Kumar doing well with the Junior team and so many Indian Assistant Coaches, with both Men and Women’s teams contributing quite effectively. Please put them in the next level after scrutiny. That’s my opinion.

Ravi: Unfortunately, many Indian players hide/fake injuries, ruin their careers, or bring detrimental names to the federation. Can you tell us your views on this and how you see it in present-day hockey culture? 

Ramesh: Yes. Fortunately or unfortunately, many athletes have hidden/faked injuries at various levels (college, state, national, and department). It’s only because the rider tagged along with all levels. If you play for college, you will get extra marks. If you play for the State, you will get a job. If you play for the national, you will get a promotion, etc. Also, financial background, education, and ignorance of the injury are important reasons. Just before the 1997 Jr World Cup, Shri Baljit Singh Saini had an ankle injury. He yielded to the advice of Shri V Baskaran and myself and came to Bangalore, got treated by Dr. Chandy and Dr. Srinivasan, the Ortho specialists, and went on to play two Olympics. On the other hand, the late Shri Rajiv Mishra did not treat his injury correctly, irrespective of our repeated appeals. He was a classic example of how unattended minor injuries can ruin one’s career. Today, I see total awareness among players at all levels, and the fitness and rehabilitation programs are appropriately taken care of and monitored nationally.

Ravi: When you started playing hockey, hockey was played on grass in two halves. Today, it has become a four-quarter game on AstroTurf. How tough was adapting to turf as a player and a coach? What changes did you bring in your coaching style as hockey became fast-paced? 

Ramesh: One had to be highly skillful to trap the ball in gravel, grass, or ground. Skill was paramount, and fitness was secondary during our days. It was easy to play two halves without even substitution. Playing in Astro Turf is taxing, and one needs to be fit through the entire period of play. Playing four halves allows the coaches and players to perform according to their plan. However, all the players should understand their role in the team for better execution and result. The accountability criteria need to be included in this four-half concept somewhere. Earlier, some national players used to get a chance to play in the AstroTurf only during the National Camps. But it has changed, with every State boasting one or two Astro Turfs. My coaching was simple: keep it simple and commit fewer mistakes in a match. Refrain from repeating the same error.

Photo courtesy The Bridge

Ravi: The newly proposed penalty corner rule by the FIH says, “During a penalty corner, all attackers except the pusher at the backline must start at least 5 meters outside the striking circle – called the ‘D.’ The ball must travel outside the 5m dotted line — beyond the ‘D’ — before it can be played back into the ‘D’ for a shot on goal, giving defenders more time to react to situations.” What is your take on this?

Ramesh: No attacking team would risk having more players in this drill because there are more chances for a counterattack with six defense players close to the center line. One can see more deflection goals than clear strikes at the destination. I will not say that the rule is against Asian teams. Practice hard and be equipped to play the change of rule. My take is to select tall attackers for better reach for deflection.

Ravi: Please discuss your book Hockey Players Bible. 

Ramesh: I am grateful to my parents, god, and, of course, my players, who have bestowed the small knowledge in me to share my input with hockey coaches and players. It’s my experience, which I have translated into straightforward, understandable English for our Indian coaches and players. One is free to add on their innovative ideas for betterment. In short, the Hockey Bible is for everyone who takes up the game starting from age nine as a guide for you to do (train) and achieve. It is a small test for young hockey players to read and play toward achieving national and international success.