New Delhi, 13 May (H.S.):

Hockey India has announced a new schedule for its “Hockey India Coaching Education Pathway — Level‑1” coaching course, expanding the programme to additional cities in a bid to strengthen grassroots technical development and raise coaching standards nationwide. The federation said the broadened outreach will increase the course’s reach and impact across the country.

According to Hockey India, the Level‑1 course will be held in multiple batches during May and June 2026 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and Haridwar, Uttarakhand, with registrations open from 13 May through 17 May. Since the inception of the Coaching Education Pathway in 2019, more than 600 coaches across India have been formally certified, the federation noted—an indicator of its efforts to build a robust domestic coaching structure.

The programme is designed to develop coaches from grassroots to high‑performance and international levels, combining online modules with in‑person training sessions to ensure participants gain a sound understanding of modern coaching methods.

Former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team Rani, herself a participant in the programme and an FIH Academy Level‑3 certified coach, praised the initiative.

She said the course plays a crucial role in the transition from player to coach, enhancing comprehension of contemporary coaching techniques, strategic planning and player management. She added that the programme is proving to be a “game‑changer” for domestic hockey by enabling coaches nationwide to operate with a common technical language and approach.

Certified coaches to date:

Hockey India Level‑1 certified coaches: 337

Hockey India Level‑2 certified coaches: 54

FIH Academy Level‑1 certified coaches: 80

FIH Academy Level‑2 certified coaches: 57

FIH Academy Level‑3 certified coaches: 74

FIH Academy High‑Performance (Level‑4) certified coaches: 4

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said that a strong domestic coaching framework is essential to becoming a world‑class sporting nation, and surpassing the 600‑coach mark reflects the federation’s vision. He added that preparing coaches equipped with modern techniques ensures young players receive high‑quality guidance from the outset.

Secretary‑General Bhola Nath Singh emphasized that extending the programme to states such as Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand demonstrates a commitment to widening access across all regions. He also highlighted a special focus on encouraging female candidates and former internationals to enter the coaching profession.

Course structure and training process

The Coaching Education Pathway comprises seven levels:

HI Level Basic

HI Level‑1

HI Level‑2

FIH Level‑1

FIH Level‑2

FIH Level‑3

FIH Academy High‑Performance

During the Level‑1 course, participants will be assessed on their ability to coach a team through eight hours of practical training. Successful completion of all online modules, assignments and in‑person training will result in the award of the final certificate.

Upcoming course schedule

Batch 1: 27–29 May 2026 — Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Batch 2: 29–31 May 2026 — Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Batch 3: 4–6 June 2026 — Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Batch 4: 6–8 June 2026 — Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Eligibility and selection

Candidates must have passed the Hockey India Level Basic course to be eligible for enrollment and should be able to understand and communicate in English. Participants are required to bring a laptop, iPad or personal computer. Selection will be on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with priority given to players and coaches who have participated in Olympic, Senior World Cup, Junior World Cup and AHF/FIH‑recognised competitions. Female applicants will be given special consideration to promote gender parity in the technical domain.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar