25. 4. 2023 - Editorial Staff
U-23 Great Britain: What did coaches Luke Browne and Tom Cole reveal?
How challenging was it for you and your colleagues to put together the final roster for the 2023 Junior World Championship in Liberec?
It was a challenge but for no other reason than positive ones. After the pandemic, many players missed the opportunity to play in the postponed 2020 tournament. With the announcement of the return of the Junior World Championship, we were immediately impressed with the level of skill of the players who were brought to the table, despite the setbacks of the pandemic. We believe that we have put together one of the most cohesive and competitive teams that Great Britain has sent to the Junior World Championship.
How did you and your colleagues select the right players for your team? Were you looking for players with certain skills, or are you focusing on team cohesion? Or do you rely on the individual abilities of your players?
Before selecting the final roster, the coaching staff sat down to discuss what kind of team we want to build, what ethos we will adhere to as a collective, and the overall expectations for the tournament. After this discussion, the main thing we looked at was assembling a team dedicated to the same goals and ambitions. We were looking for a group of guys who are hungry for victory, a group of guys who are willing to sacrifice their bodies for the team and their teammates. Having individual abilities is great, but it's not helpful if you can't play as part of a team, and that's something that I and the coaches emphasize in preparing the team.
How is the preparation of your team going so far? What are you focusing on? Is it about tactics or building the athletic abilities of your players, such as speed and endurance? What are the strengths of your team?
We are very pleased with the progress that we have made as a new coaching staff in this short time. As we have approached the championship, the level of expectations from the coaching staff has risen. So far, we are very happy with the players and their rise to meet our demands.
In this age group, it will always be challenging with other sporting commitments and with most of them trying to finance themselves to attend the tournament. Would we like more joint training camps? Yes, but again, I know the situations that the guys have found themselves in when I was there before.
There will be no easy opponents at the tournament. What do you expect from the other participants?
From my first experience with the Junior World Championship in 2012, I have been amazed at how high the level of competition is at this tournament. We expect tough games against skilled opponents from other countries. We know that every team will bring their best, and we are prepared to compete at the highest level. We are looking forward to the challenge and will give our all to represent Great Britain proudly on the international stage.
What are your ambitions for the tournament? Would you like to win a medal? What are you willing to sacrifice for a medal?
Of course, we would love to come away from the tournament with a medal, and I personally believe that the whole team deserves it for all the hard work they have put in over the years. But we will take it one game at a time, with the goal of securing Great Britain's first win in any junior age group.
How are you looking forward to the tournament overall? What is the mood like in your team?
The team is very excited! For many of these guys, it will be their last chance at a junior medal, and I know they are hungry for it. The national team program here in Britain has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade... We are all thrilled to be part of the next step in the journey of our national ball hockey.
At the end of the day, all these players will be representing their country in the Czech Republic, and that doesn't happen every day. Regardless of how the games turn out, I want them to enjoy this trip and create memories that will last.
What sets this team apart from the last team your nation sent to the 2018 World Junior Championships in St. Johns?
As a new coaching team, we have been able to approach the tournament with fresh ideas and plans that will help us continue pushing the program forward. There will be some returning faces in the team, but also a lot of hungry new additions, all fighting for the same goal. We truly believe that this is the best representation of domestic talent that Ball Hockey UK can offer, and we are really excited for the world to see them in action against their peers at the World Juniors 2023!