TN coach Murray wants the players to develop a cohesive style of play

William Murray, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu’s (HUTN) high-performance coach, wants the State team to be more than just a winning unit. The Englishman, who joined the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) in May on a two-year contract, wants his players to develop an exciting, cohesive style of hockey that draws crowds.

An FIH coach educator, Murray first came to India this year to conduct Level 3 coaching courses for Hockey India (HI) in Rourkela and Hyderabad before taking up the role of coaching the Tamil Nadu men’s team. He has worked in Hong Kong and Belgium, and coached England’s u-18 and Scotland’s u-21 teams.

Murray believes the lack of early exposure to artificial turf has influenced Indian players’ technical and tactical development.

“Too often, it’s very individualised here. Even things like pushing (push pass), since it’s not done in the same way on gravel, grass, or dirt pitches, there’s a desire to get the ball off the floor as much as possible. Whereas on astro, you want the ball on the floor, where it moves quickly but smoothly. That allows the whole team to stay connected up the pitch and work together.

“I’m trying to implement some quite rigorous tactical concepts, which will take time. I want us to be exciting - to play fast, with style and swagger, but also in a connected way,” he said.

The coach is also keen to strengthen the State’s hockey pipeline.

“More than just focusing on one team, for me it’s about making sure the whole ecosystem is rich, so that any young player, whatever their background, if they’re good enough, gets the opportunity and understanding to be nurtured and grow to their potential,” he said.