Continuing with its work for expansion of hockey in the Americas, the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF) recently undertook a number of initiatives with excellent results.
In a new development phase, PAHF carefully planned different ways to approach countries to help the growth of hockey according to their particular needs.
During the last 2 years , Alberto “Coco” Budeisky, PAHF President, and Leandro Negre, FIH President, visited Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana, holding meetings with the Executive Boards of the Federations, the athletes and national entities, as well as PASO to obtain assistance for the construction of hockey pitches.
Initiatives such as the lunch offered by the FIH in collaboration with the PAHF during the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing to gather representatives from National Olympic Committees of our continent helped to further improve the ties carefully weaved since the beginnings of the PAHF.
In regards to the activities planned in the countries identified as potential members of the PAHF, the work undertaken in Bolivia has to be highlighted. In just one year, coaches have been trained and the Bolivian Hockey Federation was founded (April 1, 20015). The first Men’s and Women’s National Tournament was run only one month later. Bolivia is working very hard towards the 2018 Games of Cochabamba.
In the case of Nicaragua, the federation was already created but with very little sport action. Laura Macchiotti´s visit last helped reactivate the Federation and the Board immediately organized meetings with the National Olympic Committee to seek assistance for their activities.
The President of the Nicaraguan Olympic Committee Mr. Emmett Lang was pleased with the results of the meetings and looked favorably on the inclusion of hockey for the Games in Managua in 2017. The National Hockey Federation, under the leadership of Dr. Alejandro Romero and Mr. Emerson Velazquez, President and Vice-President respectively, made an agreement with the National University (UNAN) of Managua facilitated by the Director of Sports of UNAM Managua, Lic. Wilber Altamirano Martinez, to develop hockey across the different venues of the University in Nicaragua.
Bolivia and Nicaragua will become provisional members of the PAHF during the Congress in Toronto 2015 until the FIH grants them full acceptance at its Congress in 2016.
Haiti, last nation of the Americas accepted for membership by the FIH during its Congress in 2014, will become a member of the PAHF at the Toronto Congress 2015. Canadian FIH Coach, Shiv Jagday arrived in Haiti in January 2015. His course trained more than 40 local coaches. In the next phase, actions will be programmed to help this young federation to achieve sustainability and development of sport.
Colombia is still in the process of finalizing internal formalities, but is inching closer to obtaining PAHF membership. Different areas where hockey is played are growing with great enthusiasm and are longing for the formal creation of a Federation to begin with local competition. Julio Neves visited them in August 2014 and participated in meetings where the important support program by the German Embassy to help train coaches is being consolidated.
Hockey is also on the right track in Central America. In September the 2nd Central American Indoor Cup will be played in Honduras with the participation of the men´s and women´s teams from host Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the men´s team from Ecuador. Both, the President of the Federation, Norin Palencia, and the President of the Olympic Committee, Mr. Salvador Jiménez Cáceres, joined Laura Macchiotti during the first days of June for some meetings to plan tournament operations as well as the development of hockey in Honduras.
Technical, coaching and umpiring courses with good participation were also organized. The PAHF worked jointly with the organizers of the prestigious Cal Cup in the USA and were able to offer for the first time two technical courses of different levels with great success. The 2nd Final PAHF Coaching Seminar will take place during the Pan American Games in Toronto. Coaches from the Pan American Nations will be assessed and obtain the PAHF Badge.
The FIH Training Program was also of great benefit to the PAHF since three coaches were invited to the Academy Course in Scotland in 2014. They were Chiche Mendoza (ARG), Ernesto Lucero (ARG), Lucho Pacheco (PER) as well as Shiaz Virjee (CAN). David Ruiz from Peru was selected for the Post Graduated Certification in Sports Management in London.
Taking advantage of the Pan American Games the FIH will conduct an invitational Coaching Course during the event.
Number of teams is growing, National teams climb up the World Rankings and PAHF Officials are getting important assignments, all signs that the PAHF is keeping the pace !
