these top teams, by learning the children from an early age the
recent years but remains in essence a very technical sport where
right and essential technical skills, combined with a physical
it’s important that the children learn all the techniques at a young
program, the connection to these top-teams will become
age.
smaller. On a regular basis players of the age U16 are involved in the trainings of the first team in order to stimulate them in their
David : The youth academy has been professionalized over
hockey development.
the last years. Was there a need to do so, because of the overall rise in the hockey level?
David : What’s the biggest challenge when educating these kids?
Kevan : The first step towards the professionalization of the club and the youth was to define development goals for each player,
Kevan: Personally, that would definitely be the language barrier.
regardless of age, from U6 to U19, and build trainings around
Hockey-wise, the biggest challenge remains for us to develop
these targets. The club is surrounded by a number of consultants
all the children at their own speed and this in a fun and playful
who give us a better understanding of all aspects of the sport,
environment. Hockey has undergone a great development in
both from a technical and physical perspective. David : You have lived in the very center of Gantoise for several years now. What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed lately? Kevan : When I arrived here, there was no link at all between the first teams and the youth hockey. Now these links are established all through the club. It’s no longer a matter of paying foreigners to play, but really about getting our own youth to the highest possible level. David : Hockey players have Panini stickers nowadays. Are players in Eredivisie really idols for the kids? Do they replicate their moves at training?
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