TOMLINSON... local hockey boss

A fresh air is blowing through Jamaica's hockey, fanned by development programmes and international competition.

The sport's world governing body, FIH, has also extended its hand, perking up hard-working president of the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) Victor Tomlinson.

The recent visit of Jorge Querejeta, regional development officer of FIH, has given the local sport a boost with hopes of renewing and launching tournaments and getting funding for projects.

"He was in the island to get a feel of hockey in the English-speaking region, having visited Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad," Tomlinson told the Observer by e-mail.
"He announced that the annual regional tournament among English-speaking nations will restart this year after many years of absence and after lobbying by region.

"Trophies will be donated by FIH and the tournament is tentatively set for August 26 in Trinidad," he said.
The tournament, for senior men and women, will come to Jamaica next year and Bermuda may be included. This competition will replace the Caribbean tournament held some 20 years ago, noted the president.

"FIH is looking at growth potential in the region and thinking of a World Indoor competition in the Caribbean soon," noted Tomlinson, who added that the development officer "left feeling pleased, and encouraged us to do the development plan according to FIH guidelines, which will help in getting funding from FIH easier".

Tomlinson, a Munro College old boy and former national player, noted that international funding from the FIH is available for projects of national associations "usually for coaching and umpire development".

"Jamaica got umpire development training from Roger St Rose last September and umpires were sent to Trinidad for training in November 2006," he said.

Last year, he added, a local coach was sent to Argentina for high-performance coaching.

Tomlinson also pointed out that local clubs have got much- needed help from Anna Vinue de Romanelli of Argentina, an FIH rep, "to help clubs organise themselves in funding, marketing, getting volunteers, etc".

Topics for the club development workshop included creating a better club (planning recruitment and retention etc), club management (roles and responsibility, fund-raising and sponsorship marketing and promotion), junior development (junior recruitment, parent orientation, etc), and putting it into practice (games and club event management).

"All clubs were represented, and many participants were the younger set. It was organised by the JHF in recognition that the federation depends on the club system for the strength of hockey and that the clubs needed this sort of workshop to improve," he stated.

The FIH is expected to dispatch a technical expert "to examine the astro-turf and make recommendations".
According to Tomlinson, the turf was laid in 1998, but the stitches are coming apart, so the expert will help to address the problem.

Meanwhile, Jamaica's men finished fourth at the recently concluded ALBA Games in Venezuela, behind winners Cuba, Guyana and Puerto Rico. Uruguay placed fifth and Venezuela sixth.

The hockey boss credited Cuban Leonardo Martinez for the team's improvement.

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