At WHIL, Indian women coaches learn on the job

That Indian players will benefit from the Women’s Hockey India League is no secret. What might not be too evident however, is that Indian women coaches are quietly proving amongst the biggest beneficiaries of the tournament, currently on in Ranchi. Rani Rampal, interim coach of the JSW Soorma Hockey Club, spoke about this facet on the tournament’s sidelines after the team won 3-2 against finalists Shrachi Bengal Tigers on Wednesday.“Those who have played before come with a lot of experience. Importantly, women coaches can contribute a lot to women’s sport. It is also necessary to pass on that experience so that the next generation can be inspired and this platform is a good place where they get a chance to coach,” said the former India captain.Of the most significant aspects, is the chance for Indian coaches to work with overseas players and some of sport’s best coaches, an important value addition in the overall hockey ecosystem.SG Pipers goalkeeping coach Helen Mary, for example, has been working closely with head coach Sophie Gierts, one of the few women coaches in the world to coach both men’s and women’s teams.“It’s a great experience. Overseas and Indian players are vastly different, not only in their playing style, but also in how they behave off the field and their discipline. It’s good to see how Sophie gets all of them to work together,” said Mary, who had earlier worked with the Indian women’s team.Rampal, who took over Soorma reins after coach Jude Menezes departed, feels coaching in these tournaments comes with unique challenges. “It’s less about coaching and more about working on team bonding and communication, so that overseas players and Indians are able to mix well off the field. When you are more connected with each other, it helps a lot on the field,” she added.Former India captain Asunta Lakra, assistant coach of Ranchi Royals, feels Indian coaches get a chance to learn about nuances of discipline from the foreign coaches.At Royals, Asunta worked with Jun Kentwell, a longtime US hockey coach and who even worked with former India coach Janneke Schopman.“Sometimes, since they’re operating in home conditions, Indian players or coaches can be a bit casual, but the foreigners are not like that. For them, time means being present exactly at the given time, whether it’s on the ground, in meetings, or even a social ceremony. I observed this, and it rubs off on the team, the idea of discipline is instilled,” said the Railways coach.While Soorma and Royals couldn’t make the cut for the final this year, their players and coaches will certainly be pleased with the experience and look to take it forward and make a difference in the overall Indian hockey ecosystem.