September 1, 2008

The Pan American Hockey Federation, at its Board Meeting in Panama City in June 2008, discussed the important role of coaching in the development of hockey throughout the continent. In order to inform its Strategic Plan, the PAHF has established a special Task Force on Coaching to be lead by FIH Master Coach, Rodolfo (Chiche) Mendoza from Argentina.

The Task force has the following objectives:

1. To establish a plan for a database of existing FIH Coaches, National Team Coaches, National Certification Programs in the Americas; and coaches who have attended PAHF Coaching courses over the last five years
2. Recommend a plan for coaching in the Americas over the next four years which will include:
   • key measurable objectives for coaching in the Americas;
   • actions to increase the number of PAHF and FIH trained coaches of both genders;
   • specific measures for new countries to ensure that their coaches and players are trained;
   • a realistic budget to ensure implementation of the plan.

The Task Force will present a preliminary report to the PAHF Planning Meeting in November 2008 and a final report to the Board in March 2009.

Participating with Coach Mendoza on the Task Force are:

• Peter Chase from Barbados
• Eiko Eby from Canada
• David Francois from Trinidad and Tobago
• Pam Hixon from USA
• Carlos Badano, PAHF Project Co-ordinator

PAHF President Tony Von Ondarza stated " I am very pleased that we have established this Task Force and that we have such competent people willing to contribute to it. I am looking forward to receiving the results of this work so that we can direct our energies in a positive way to the improvement of hockey coaching in the Americas."