Paddy Upton: ‘Teamwork in the hockey is collective, the Crick is more individual’ | Hockey news

The renowned mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton has worked in several sports during an illustrious career, but insists that the basic principles of his work remain unchanged: understanding the demands of the game and his players. Upton, who was part of Gary Kirsten’s support personnel during the Cricket World Cup 2011 in India, is currently associated with the male hockey team in the current Asia Cup.He was also involved in the winning race of the Bronze Medal of the Indian Hockey team at the Paris Olympic Games, along with his triumphs in the Asian Champions trophy last year and the Asian Games 2022.“The principles of teamwork remain the same. There is a different type of teamwork in hockey, multiple players must connect, while Crick is also a team job but more individual.But the principles of staying focused, the principles of distractions management, such as the score, such as fans, such as opposition, how to make mistakes, all remain the same, “said Upton, 55, to PTI in an interview.Although Upton’s career has largely revolved around the Cricket, including seasons with South Africa and several T20 franchises such as Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Rugby has also explored and, more recently, hockey.“Working in Hockey, I don’t know much about the game and I’m not from India. I am still a visitor here, so my approach is really listening to, paying attention to understanding the environment, understanding the game, understanding each individual.Only when I understand, I can intervene and offer help, ”he said.Explaining his methodology with the side of the Indian hockey, Upton said: “They are one by one and team. We do workshops with the team and also make individual sessions. In the end, it depends on the coach and the captain, what they want. ”Looking towards the future, Upton stressed that the current approach of the Indian team is to build towards the World Cup next year, the Asian Games and the Olympic Games of 2028.“My previous experience was the year in the period prior to the Olympic Games, so they were definitely in a construction phase and had a very clear strategy to build towards the Olympic Games from the perspective of the physical state, the perspective of the strategy and the perspective of the mental guide.And now this is phase two to build towards the World Cup, the Asian Games and the general panorama: the Olympic Games. Then the equipment is in a construction phase. They have very good leadership, particularly in coach Craig Fulton and Harmanpreet. They are only building the base without anticipating ourselves, ”he added.