Former Perth Thundersticks coach Alistair Park reflects on "fascinating" Hockey5s experience

While we saw plenty of exciting Hockey5s action on the field, a former Perth Thunderstick and Burras squad member steered the Men's team through previously unchartered territory.

Alistair Park guided the Australian Hockey5s Men’s team through their first World Cup event at the FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Oman in late January.

Since joining the national Hockey5s program as Men’s Head Coach in April last year, Park said he was excited to lead the team in Oman.

“I feel very fortunate to have done a lot of coaching in a variety of different environments and I guess the thing that appealed to me was that [Hockey5s] was another environment to test your skills and hone your craft,” he said.

“Anytime you go to an international event, it’s a fantastic experience.

“It was a fascinating tournament because it was in a country that is probably not known as a hockey stronghold, and it was a format that is not that well known yet.”

While Australia finished in 11^th place across both the Women’s and Men’s competitions, Park said he “couldn’t be prouder” of his playing group.

“It was an exciting, once in a lifetime adventure for the group and it will be something they will remember and feel lucky to have been part of,” he said.

Park said he was also keen to see Hockey5s continue to develop even further.

“It’s an incredibly pure form of the game – at training, you would have played small-sided games because it’s a great chance for you to develop your skills and your craft in a really compressed amount of time,” he said.

“Everyone’s always involved, everyone is no more than one pass away from the ball, and it’s exciting to play and watch.

“I think there was a bit of scepticism at the beginning of the women’s program but by the time the men’s program finished up, there were so many people who really impressed with the game they were seeing.

“It was fascinating in terms of a world-class event but equally it was changing perceptions of the game across those 10 days.

“Hockey finds itself in a situation right now trying to figure out where the Hockey5s concept is placed in international developments and in local competitions.”