Is Total Hockey the answer?
The ruins and rummages of Sydney 2000 and Santiago 2008 are ever fresh in the unhealed souls of Indian field hockey faithful. Yes, we all have plaintive, unwanted, and unwished recent pasts. Tokyo 2020, however, heralded a momentary glimmer of hope, seemingly promising a prospective conclusion to the perceived ‘Pandemic in Indian Hockey.’ A semblance of normalcy returned to the lives of hockey enthusiasts, allowing for a rediscovery of the sport’s erstwhile meaning and allure. However, the unforeseen impact of Ranchi and Perth 2024 descended upon the hockey landscape like a celestial meteor. Does this signify a convergence, an intricate interweaving, of a pandemic, an epidemic, and an endemic within Indian Hockey?
The enigma remains: what intricate tapestry lies ahead for the future trajectory of Indian Hockey onto Olympic Podiums?
Amidst a flurry of phone calls, emails, frustrations, anger, and tempers, I found expression. When the dust settled, discussions shifted towards the future of Indian Hockey. Contemplations arose regarding the potential reinstatement of the conventional 5-3-2-1 system or experimental forays into formations such as 3-3-3-1-1 or 3-3-4-1. A novel consideration emerged in the form of ‘Total Hockey.’ However, the enigma persists: what precisely encapsulates the essence of Total Hockey?
Total Hockey is a strategic paradigm steeped in the annals of history. It represents a tactical approach where each outfield player seamlessly transitions into the role of another, akin to a symphony where every instrument melds into harmonious unity. To truly grasp the essence of this concept, one must journey into its analogical counterpart—total football.
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff, the manager of Barcelona during the 1990s, is credited with pioneering the revolutionary concept of ‘Total Football.’ The team’s style of play was aesthetically pleasing and highly effective, with a fluid and attacking approach. However, it is worth mentioning that the concept of ‘total football’ can be attributed to the managerial philosophy of Rinus Michels, who served as a mentor to Cruyff. This approach aimed to dominate ball possession, manipulate space across the entire pitch, and cultivate players’ versatility in various positions. It emerged as a counter to the defensive strategy of Italian football, Catenaccio, which primarily focused on deep defending and preventing goals.
Similarly, Total Hockey challenges players’ physical capabilities, an aspect many Indian players may be less proficient in. In this style of play, every player is both an attacker and a defender, bereft of clinched positions once seen in conventional roles like a centre forward, right inner, left inner, right outer, left outer, full back, and goalkeeper. As the ball plots across the pitch, defenders, wingers, injectors, and sweepers move fluidly in tandem. This engaged movement makes it challenging for the opposition to target a specific player. Players near-perfectly transition to defensive roles when the opposition resists a forward push.
Total Hockey is a dynamic concept that empowers young players to showcase their adaptability and versatility, motivating them to excel in various positions on the field. This innovative approach is based on the belief that every player should have the potential to shine in any role. Bringing this approach to Indian Hockey could be a game-changer, revolutionizing the sport’s tactical approach. Its potential success within the Indian hockey landscape is a topic of great interest and anticipation within the field hockey community, with several factors to consider.
Firstly, Total Hockey’s efficacy depends on players’ adaptability and versatility, with traditional positions and roles giving way to a more dynamic and interchangeable system.
Coaching strategies and player development programs must transform significantly to ensure alignment with Total Hockey’s core values. Coaches must embrace a holistic approach that fosters technical proficiency, tactical acumen, and mental fortitude. This shift in coaching methodologies is not a mere recommendation but a pressing imperative that mandates a thorough and expeditious overhaul of current systems. The gravity and urgency of this change emphasize the critical need for prompt implementation.
Ashok Kumar (vintage photo courtesy JungleKey.in)
Ashok Kumar, an Olympic bronze medallist, and World Cup winner, reminisced his days playing traditional two-half grass hockey. He remarked on the stark differences when asked about his thoughts on the modern “total hockey” style. He said, “Players utilized their wrists to maneuver the ball, whereas today’s players predominantly rely on their shoulders.” He emphasized the shift in playing conditions from natural grounds to contemporary synthetic turfs, accompanied by numerous changes in rules and regulations.” He referred to the old style of Hockey as “Takati hockey” or “Kandhiki hockey,” where players were limited to certain field areas. He highlighted the game’s evolution, citing play style alterations, rules, and regulations. The transformation from playing on natural grounds to artificial turfs has brought about significant changes in the game, affecting the style of play and the dynamics of hockey matches.
Mukul Pandey, former coach of the Junior India Hockey Team and Maratha Warriors in the Professional Hockey League (Currently, Hockey India League), has a different opinion on “Total Hockey.” He says, “I don’t subscribe to the notion of “total hockey.” I understand Hockey is a sport where players typically specialize in skills such as defending, midfield play, or attacking. For example, players like Amit Rohidas or Jarmanpreet might excel in defensive abilities, while others like Lalit or Sukhjit might showcase exceptional dribbling skills. This specialization is a fundamental aspect of the game, distinguishing players based on their strengths and roles within the team. Contrary to the concept of “total football” in soccer, which originated in Europe and emphasized a fluid style of play with players capable of performing various roles interchangeably, Hockey doesn’t seem to follow a similar approach. European soccer’s focus on physicality and speed contrasted with the South American emphasis on skill and ball control, leading to the development of the “total football” concept.”
Cover photo courtesy Tribune India
Sundeep Misra, India’s greatest-ever field hockey columnist, discussed this approach to the game in detail. He said, “Total Hockey (TH) is primarily a mindset that any team can adopt, alongside the flexibility to transition into a 4-4-2-1 system. However, Balkrishan Singh’s unsuccessful attempt in 1992 highlights the necessity of commitment to this approach. Success in Total Hockey hinges on adherence to a structured game plan, emphasizing individual brill,iance particularly in midfield and forward positions. Without both commitment and structured play, victory is elusive unless a team possesses exceptional penalty corner (PC) creators and flickers. Pakistan’s 1994 Sydney World Cup victory without employing TH underscores the diversity of winning strategies. Similarly, the Netherlands’ triumph in the 1998 Utrecht World Cup relied heavily on the individual brilliance of players like Stephen Veen and Lomans rather than a strict TH approach. While defence remains integral to Total Hockey, historical successes reveal a reliance on attacking prowess or defensive compactness, as demonstrated by the 2018 and 2020 Belgium sides. Total Hockey alone cannot guarantee victory in Hockey’s ever-evolving landscape.”
Leo Devadoss, a seasoned hockey coach and administrator, sees Total Hockey as a format very unique to Indian Hockey and says, “This format is unique for our Indian style of attacking play as our forward line would play with four specialized forwards, not midfielders doubling up as attackers. 3 in the midfield will play traditional Left, right and centre halves. We will have two fullbacks for the left and right flank attacks. The free man above the defence and behind the midfield will double up as required in defence or midfield. He is a defender who will allow the midfield to climb and take their position. This structure ensures a balanced approach to defence and attack, a hallmark of modern Hockey. While contemporary trends often emphasize the versatility of players, our approach maintains distinct roles. Specifically, two forwards will remain positioned above the centreline to disrupt opponents attempting entire press tactics, a strategy observed during a recent test series in Perth, Australia. Furthermore, implementing rolling substitutions will effectively manage player fatigue, ensuring that those pushing the limits on the field can recuperate within a short timeframe of 120 to 300 seconds.”
To put it briefly, imagine the compass in the context of field hockey as a reliable guide that helps your team navigate the twists and turns of the match, much like a ship navigating the open sea. Just as sailors depend on their compass to stay on course amidst turbulent waters, field hockey players rely on their skills and strategy to navigate the field. The compass needle, pointing north, represents the team’s shared vision and determination to reach their goal—the Olympic podium.
Personally, in the fast-paced world of field hockey, where every match is a battle against formidable opponents, one thing is for sure. ‘Total Hockey’ isn’t the ‘North Star’ that will guide Indian Hockey towards Olympic glory.
The only valid point of Total Hockey is that all players are attackers when in possession of the ball and defenders when not in position. But then this was a concept practiced even before the term total hockey was coined. We need specialist’s in any game format. Just like we need an injector, stopper or drag flicker we need specialist forwards. Total hockey as I understand is the adaptability to play on any wing and change flanks / positions in an area of expertise. For example a full back cannot be a good forward but can play on any side of the defence. Total hockey is of no relevance in the rolling substitution situation.