Hockey is India’s National Sport, and credit should be given to all stakeholders who have worked hard behind the scenes to make this entity extremely popular.
Credit should be given where it is due, Orissa Government back then under Naveen Patnaik leadership, sponsored Indian team when Indian team contract with Sahara expired.
Also SAI and Hockey India Federation should be credited for implementing robust policies where steps could be taken to strengthen Male and Female Counterpart in times to come.
Indian Men’s Hockey team back to back Bronze Medals in Tokyo 2020 and 2024 Olympics have brought this sport on right track.
Hockey India would be restarting their own league, unlike IPL and PKL but the biggest question that they need to answer is related to sustainability.
Here in this article, we will reveal 10 Reasons on how we can make Hockey India League grow stronger in times to come to be shared in the below format:
- Strengthening Financial Model Aspect for Sustained Approach: The Hockey India League, should focus on adopting sustaining approach, where financial models should be laid out in place so that we can make this league stronger.
The league is coming after 7 year hitaus period and the biggest reason is lack of adapting financial models in place, otherwise it would have happened on regular basis unlike IPL and PKL.
They can experiment with purse value, and ways and policies should be build in favor of all stakeholders who are acquiring teams, to make profit based on distinct ways.
2. Focusing on Enhancing Market and Increase Fan Engagement:
The focus should be to laid out on Exploring the hidden terrain in Marketing where the leagues could be marketed at substantial level.
The best ways all stakeholders can leverage Marketing and Increase Fan Engagement should be done based on exploring social media all platforms, AI tools which are future and developing plans in place to engage fans outside and on side on the ground.
The marketing aspect is extremely important as it brings game closer to people all over India especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where they could make name for themselves.
3. Improving Standards in Broadcasting Quality:
When it comes to Improving Standards in Broadcasting Quality, it is a must considering thing as we have seen many cricket matches especially Test Cricket shown in India as well as in Australia and England the broadcasting quality at the other two locations is great as compare to the one we see in India be it camera angles, broadcasting patterns, graphics, commentary and decoding game could be done in better way which we are missing.
If the league involves having good Broadcasting team on the board where they can brilliantly showcase these games in such a way even laymen can understand the game brilliantly.
Engaging partnerships with OTT platforms can in minute ways shape, the way Hockey India League could be showcased to diverse and new audience who spent lot of time in watching OTT(Over the Top Content) which could possibly pave way in their marketing strategies too.
4. Add More Aspects in the League:
The league will grow sustainably when it grows faster diverse around various aspects which include- Refereeing Training and Evaluation, adding more technology in broadcasting quality in the game.
They could focus on adding more venues and the league could be played based on Home and away format where franchise could possibly play against each other which makes it more interesting and exciting in its own ways.
The league should be organized for both Men and Women so that we have talents coming up the ranks at the highest level.
Based on our Current Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, verdict he stated “India is keenly looking to organize more than 13 Sports leagues starting from 2026 onwards for both Men and Women where all stakeholders will be involved and the league will be organized on regular basis so that sustainably it keeps on growing unlike IPL and PKL.
5. Attracting Purse to Attract Good Talent:
The League should have higher purse value so that world class talent in the world could come and participate in the league unlike IPL where world class players due to high purse amount comes in huge numbers to participate in the league.
The effort should be made by Stakeholders in order to attract more Purse Value so that best talent could come from the world and teach nuances to young Indian Players where they can learn the nuances of the game to great extent.
6. Innovations especially for fans when it comes to watching game Live:
The innovations is extremely important otherwise we would fail to attract fans from all over the world to come in huge numbers, to witness the match live.
If the experience is not good, no one is willing to come and support their favorite team especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities so that Hockey India League can propel to next level.
7. Interactive Technology and Building a Strong Brand Value:
When it comes to providing experience to fans interactive technology comes as a key so AR/VR systems could be deployed in better way.
Modern AI tools could help them to engage fans in those technological experience which could hold key for them.
The message will only go through when they build a strong Brand Value, where league unique stories, rivalries, players journeys and women empowerment stories could be talked about.
From Logos to Anthems, Mascot and Graphics could be designed in unique ways so that Brand preposition of Hockey India League could be substantiated further.
8. Including Diversity:
You know the best thing about Sport, there is a clear cut indication, about including people of all age groups, culture and diverse ethnics backgrounds, caste and creed can play sport based on talent.
Sports doesn’t judge you at all, if you are good you will certainly get a chance to represent yourself at the highest level.
The diversity is hallmark of any sport so Hockey India league stakeholders should focus on working hard behind the scene to make sure more diverse people and culture should be allowed to participate in Sport and make name for themselves.
Diversity as topic could be celebrated to the core in Hockey India League where best of the talents could come up the ranks irrespective of where you come from.
9. Allow Transparency to Prevail in Hockey India League:
Any system will grow if you allow Transparency to prevail that could go at distinct levels which include- Rules and Regulations, Purse Value, Dates, Fan Engagement, Technological advancements and AI usage will allow Hockey India league to sustain and survive for longer run with perfect transparency and values they would carry on the table.
Hockey India League needs a sustainable and transparent pathway, so that league could prolong for longer duration of time.
Hockey India league will be bigger and better this time around where foreign and Indian players could come up the ranks and play this sport at highest level.
10. Focus on Global Integration:
When you focus on Global Integration be it exchange in technology, ideas and collaborations of some of the best talents in the world, it will take Hockey India league towards another level.
They can certainly partner with other top most Hockey leagues in the world- Dutch Hoofdklasse and Australian Hockey league where they can exchange ideas, exchanges, coaching cleaning and training.
A Three Year Growth plan should be built in such a place, stable operations could be build so that we can make this league extremely beneficial and sustainable in longer run.
The issues could be iron out to become India’s most successful Leagues.
We have seen in the past Hockey India league have successfully, generated viewership in the past seasons all stakeholders need to do is to align policies so that leagues one of its kind could be developed.
The scaling of these leagues is required all you need is professional management, and relentless focus on and off the field should be established.
By addressing financial, societal and logistical challenge on the board it could be solved for sure if all these challenges could be overcome, Hockey India League could possibly regarded as one of the best league in India.
Hockey India League could become successful in its own ways, considering the raw talent on offer if the proper pathways and platform like HIL could be bring in place in order to make this entity grow larger in value and propositions in times to come.
The time for all stakeholders is to grow their attention and figure out the challenges persist in that ecosystem, so that leagues could possibly excel at the highest level.
The Men’s Hockey Team have grown under brilliant coaching of Craig Fulton they have done exceptionally well.
Even our Women’s Hockey team is also doing well more vocal approach and stakeholders should come in place to ensure Women’s Hockey grow at the highest pedestal and earn the name for themselves.
In order for them to excel all they need to do is start winning in biggest of the stages.
Hockey India as Federation deserve all the credits for uplifting this sport to next level, and all the policies established in the federation could be more robust so that best players could be identified so that it can prosper at the highest level.
They have closely worked with SAI stakeholders in order to make sure training camps are organized for players at regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q-1: What is full form of HIL?
Answer: Hockey India League
Q-2: After how many years Hockey India League is restarting?
Answer: 7 Years
Q-3: Who is currently coach of Indian Men’s Hockey Team?
Answer: Craig Fulton
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