Hockey: Important decisions for Sticks

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A fissure over the requirements of New Zealand's international men's hockey players and the development of the Indian and Dutch professional ranks could place the country's 2016 Olympic chances in jeopardy.

The men's Black Sticks finished seventh at June's World Cup in the Netherlands so don't qualify for High Performance Sport New Zealand's annual performance enhancement grants (PEGs). The women guaranteed funding by finishing fifth.

New Zealand's top players are expected to sign annual contracts next month but negotiations may be stymied if compromise isn't reached.

The Herald on Sunday understands demands for attendance at Auckland training camps have resulted in several players moving to the city to pursue part-time or heavily-negotiable full-time jobs to meet team commitments. Suggestions are that living outside Auckland and holding down a full-time job is becoming untenable.

At the other end of the scale, New Zealand's best men want to play at lucrative tournaments such as the Hockey India League and the Dutch Hoofdklasse where, in general, players earn a combined $50,000- $100,000.

The Dutch league has 12 teams and the Indian is forecast to expand from six to 10 in the next four years.

Hockey New Zealand are in an awkward position. If they're too draconian in demanding international availability, they risk players abandoning the sport because of uncertainty over their futures.

"It's a delicate balance," Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris said. "Players need to be able to pursue livelihoods whether it's professional hockey or a job but it's tricky to be competitive if you don't play regular international fixtures together."

Hockey New Zealand have been given $4.4 million in high-performance funding for the first two years of this Olympic cycle. In addition, HPSNZ could help through their multi-year PEGS clause.

Neither Black Sticks side qualifies because, according to the December 2012 guidelines: "Only athletes with a history of medal-winning success on the world stage" qualify.

"We've been talking to a number of players about the uncertainty," Hockey Players' Association executive manager Glen Sulzberger said. "It's important people understand the hockey environment is changing globally through these franchise leagues. That's going to have a significant impact on local players and traditional programmes in New Zealand. Players would be better able to commit if they had a four-year plan."

Another means of giving players financial certainty might come from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) who reportedly signed a US$250 million, eight-year broadcasting deal with Indian television company Star Sports this year.

It is still uncertain how much, if any, of that money will filter from the FIH to national governing bodies.