destined to lose
Over the past few years there has been a systematic dismantling of the women’s national field hockey team. This unfortunate destruction has been overseen by the current Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) with little to no remorse. We believe there is a succinct amount of evidence to blame the majority of the issues on poor administration and a lack of professionalism.
How much more talent, time and careers will continue to be thrust into unprepared hands? We expect compliance and performance of our athletes despite the conflicting, unsettling message that standards and requirements set for them can be blatantly ignored or customized as the powers that be ‘otherwise’ see fit.
The current states of both the women’s national and local teams are in such disarray that this new dispute between the players and coach comes as no surprise to most. Ask any member of the hockey fraternity and without a doubt they would share our opinion that the state of women’s hockey in the country is, tragically, at an all-time low. Members of the public can show up to women’s games at the National Hockey Centre and be greeted with teams playing short or games being forfeited due to a lack of players.
The recent incident supported by the TTHB and orchestrated by Head Coach, Brian Garcia, involved the axing of two players from the final team after merely inquiring about specific selection criteria. The decision to divulge team matters less than a month before the team is expected to compete in the World League in Mexico highlights the absence of concern for our national ladies. Two players, Samantha Olton and Alanna Lewis, have now been ostracized from a team which they have unquestionably supported for years, in particularly Ms. Lewis who is reputed as a hardworking and honest player and has acquired a national career which speaks for itself.
The recounting of the matter at hand by Mr. Garcia is, to put it lightly, a farce. The plot outlined in the article is a biased account which has caused unrest amongst the team, with many members contemplating to walk away from the programme but consider it punishing to abandon an already depleted team, especially after devoting hours to training and preparation. So far, one senior player did take the decision to leave the team and has left the team with yet another deficiency.
Generally every coach exercises his/her authority in determining the requirements that players are expected to meet in order to be selected. It therefore follows that for a balanced team dynamic, players should also be able to hold themselves, their peers and their coaching staff accountable for upholding these same requirements. However, teams have experienced consistent trouble as criteria have never been clearly defined and players are not selected for teams based on reasons unknown to them, “tactically or otherwise” as Coach Garcia stated in the article. What is otherwise? Athletes’ attempts to convey productive feelings and thoughts are often stifled under the disguise of insubordination and opposition. Can players question what is otherwise without jeopardizing their chances of being selected?
The TTHB has already dealt with a similar issue regarding the women’s team. However, the previous incident did not involve just two players who inquired about the biased and unfair selection process, but in fact seven senior starters. Though it appears to be a contentious issue within the hockey circle, the TTHB continues to exhibit an alarming lack of empathy. Instead, they consistently display an extraordinary level of mismanagement by still refusing to formulate a transparent selection process that players and coaches can reference.
These incidents are not limited to T&T hockey as we recently experienced the ruins of a poorly managed matter by the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation, involving gymnasts Thema Williams and Marissa Dick. Again, we witnessed athletes battling to represent their country amidst confusion over selection processes. The recurring theme needs to be examined immediately as athletes and coaches should be privy to, and feel secure to trust in guidelines provided by the powers that be. We must create a safe space for our athletes to be able to voice their concerns and query their uncertainties and we therefore urge the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to intervene and explore the circumstances surrounding the dismissals as well as the operations of the TTHB.
These stories illuminate the true state of sport in T&T. Dedicated but misguided athletes keep showing up and trying despite the odds. Of these athletes, the exemplars that strive to “raise the bar and improve standards” should not be punished, but encouraged. Their questions posed should not be considered indiscipline, but reframed as an invitation for some needed self-reflection. If their questions are addressed, perhaps it may lead to the eventual transcendence of sport in T&T, where a professional mindset produces successful results, all the while still embedded in a volunteer framework.
Transparency issues run rampant throughout the hockey fraternity as coaches are also chosen without set criteria. Currently, “the best man for the job” represents the only man willing to do the job as qualifications have become significantly less important over the years due to volume issues. In the interest of balance, we implore Mr. Walter Alibey to acquire and review the coaching credentials of Mr. Garcia, credentials not based on experience. The majority of sport in T&T is populated by amateurs; fans, family, friends and temporary visitors to the different disciplines. It is all too common a story that administrative posts are handed out or achieved through no real effort and requirement, sometimes simply just being the last man standing and able is a fit. Perhaps our frustration with the different sporting administrations across T&T is a testament to the demand for a more elite citizenry. However, while this is our reality, it does not have to be our undoing.
We are almost positive the lack of transparency and imbalanced selection process will continue to remain unaddressed by the TTHB unless the team speaks out. They must disregard the obvious threat of being callously dismissed from the team and reflect on the loftier issues which need to be confronted. If you felt your teammates have been treated unfairly, follow your personal convictions. Does making this team hold any merit if it was made under these circumstances? If you feel you have been silenced and ignored, why maintain this illusion of team unity? How can a team move forward in any way under these conditions?
We implore the TTHB, at the very least, to create a standardized document similar to ones produced by many of the top field hockey teams around the world which clearly define selection criteria that athletes and coaches are expected to follow, with emphasis on a legitimate selection panel and process of appeal for players. See link for example. http://www.hockey.org.au/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=_hdK-4BktlI%3d&portalid=2
We encourage the women within the fraternity to take back our sport from the TTHB, which continues to mistreat them. In addition we encourage the hockey community as a whole to demand that our sporting body take better care of our members and teams and implement the measures necessary to ensure that we excel at competitions while maintaining our integrity, but mostly to ensure the survival of hockey in Trinidad and Tobago.