Knowles: Hockey’s elite pathways heading in right direction

One only needs to hear Mark Knowles speak for a second to pick up on his passion and commitment to the cause of Australian hockey’s pathway programs.

The Kookaburras legend has been going full steam ahead since being appointed the Technical Lead for Hockey Australia’s Men’s National Athlete Pathway Program in November 2020.

With his role significantly hindered by COVID forcing him to become an expert in holding online training and education sessions with coaches and athletes across the country, the haze is finally clearing.

Knowles approaches his job like he did his playing days for the Kookaburras, with absolutely everything, and the coming months bring an excitement of making up for lost time.

With former Kookaburra Jay Stacy just announced as Australia’s National Junior (U21) Men’s Coach, Knowles provided an update on the current state of the Men’s Pathways Program and the determination to nurture and support the country’s best up and coming talent.

Thanks for some time out of your busy schedule Mark. Exciting news with the appointment of Jay Stacy as National Men’s Junior Coach. What strengths does he bring to the role?

MK: “For someone like Jay, he has the experience of showcasing how he did it. He competed at the Junior World Cup in the late 1980’s. He has coached, been to Johor and all the tournaments that are important for the junior men’s program. Jay is in a really good space in his coaching. He has been leading the VIS for a long time and is definitely ready for this challenge.”

When will Jay start in the role and what are the most immediate focuses for him?

MK: “He will be introduced to the group on Monday. The big couple of targets for Jay are the Domestic Series on the Gold Coast in March where he will get to put his stamp on his first squad selection as we reduce the national junior squad from 40 players down to 27.

The Domestic Series is also the final selection event for the National Development Squad, which is the first event of this nature since 2019 for these players. Jay will also get to see the junior talent that he might not have had the chance to have a really good look at. A number of our national Futures (U18) players who are eligible for the Junior World Cup in 2023 will also be at the Domestic Series, so Jay gets an opportunity to see them as well. Then the next big ticket item is the Australian Under 21 Championships in Perth where he will select the squad for 2022/23.”

Considering Australia did not attend the last Junior Men’s World Cup, how crucial is this period leading up to the 2023 edition coupled with a home Olympics on the horizon in 2032?

MK: “If you are an 18-21 year old at the moment, you are going to be 28-31 years of age and in your absolute prime for the Kookaburras in 2032. This is so important for me in my role…that you can’t just talk about having a good pathway, you actually have to do it.

That’s probably why I am so passionate about it at the moment because you need to provide good resources, good people and good opportunities to have any chance for future success. Appointments such as Jay’s are what will hopefully put us in the right direction.”

Are you buoyed by the progress and direction pathways of hockey in Australia is heading?

MK: “Definitely. I think there is a lot to be excited about. We have lost a group of athletes because of COVID and the lack of opportunity which is disappointing. But the players who are still around now after not playing in any national championships since 2019, they are so keen.

Mark Hager and I have been running Futures mini camps around Australia and to hear the players saying that they can’t wait to be involved in this, they can’t wait to take part in a section event, they can’t wait for some more national uniform, they cannot wait for some different coaching is so exciting. This year we are finally going to be able to do something. If these players are still around now and they have talent, we feel we can really help them.”

COVID has obviously had a huge impact on the progression of athletes over the past two years?

MK: “I think the sporting world needs to be aware that we are going to feel the impacts of COVID not in June or July this year, but in two to three years when our best 20-year-old kids haven’t had the opportunity to play for the Kookaburras yet or haven’t progressed.

Our key role is to shorten that lag time. If other countries are going to struggle for two years, we only want that to be six months for us. If we can upskill our people quickly, we’re a better chance of success.”

Australian hockey is blessed to have several former national players and talented coaches involved in the National Athlete Pathways Programs and National Institute Network. How crucial is their input?

MK: “The interesting part with these roles is to realise that just because you are a good player, it doesn’t mean you will always be a good coach. But what I think it does help is the understanding of the pathway and the requirements of what it takes to get to the highest level.

Now our challenge to all the coaches is how progressive can you be? Where can you take your program that you didn’t take it last year or in 2020 due to COVID and the restrictions? If we don’t use this wealth of experience and knowledge of quality people in the coaching network in Australia and allow them to work and assist the players, we are not going to benefit like we should. Our role in pathways is to provide a vision and that’s why these people are so important because they are the ones carrying that vision out.”