Home / Sports / Black Sticks' Global Game: Travel Costs Ground Hockey Dreams
Black Sticks' Global Game: Travel Costs Ground Hockey Dreams
6 Jan
Summary
- New Zealand hockey team cited travel costs as reason for skipping Pro League.
- Players must fund camps and practice games out of their own pockets.
- The team finished last at the Paris Olympics, its worst performance since 1964.
The New Zealand men's hockey team, known as the Black Sticks, faces significant challenges in competing at the elite level due to their inability to participate in the FIH Pro League. Hockey New Zealand has cited prohibitive travel costs for their withdrawal from the league, deeming it economically unfeasible to send the team across continents for fixtures. This decision, announced in July of this year, prioritizes a sustainable, athlete-first program but comes at the cost of regular exposure to top-tier competition.
Without the Pro League, Black Sticks players are improvising to maintain their skill levels. Captain Nic Woods highlighted the financial impossibility of competing in a league requiring travel to multiple continents. Despite winning the FIH Nations Cup for two consecutive years, the team has rejected the resulting promotion to the Pro League, opting instead for a more localized competition. This strategy, while addressing immediate financial concerns, has contributed to a growing quality gap with world hockey's elite.
The consequences are evident in recent results, including a last-place finish at the Paris Olympics, the team's worst performance since 1964. Players like Kane Russell and Nic Woods acknowledge the disadvantage of not playing higher-ranked teams regularly. Furthermore, the team lacks a centralized training program, with players often funding their own camps and practice games, a stark contrast to the structured environments of rival nations.
