We speak with Herman Kruis, the High-Performance Director of Hockey India, who until 2023 served as the manager of the Johan Cruyff College Roosendaal, about the essence of coaching and creating an environment where elite athletes can develop their full potential
In the world of coaching, where creating an optimal environment for athletes is paramount, Herman Kruis is an icon. His impressive track record in hockey, from winning championships to leading various international teams, speaks volumes about his vast expertise and dedication to the development of athletes on both professional and personal levels. But Herman Kruis is more than just a successful coach; he is a visionary and a strong advocate for dual careers. He embodies the essence of coaching by pushing boundaries and creating opportunities for athletes to develop both athletically and academically.
As the former manager of the Johan Cruyff College Roosendaal, where athletes combine vocational education with their sporting ambitions, he has demonstrated that individual guidance and dedication are key to success in this complex balance between sports and education. His approach is one of customization, where each student is responsible for their own learning process, in an environment designed to optimize their performance, both in their sport and in their studies. His coaching philosophy transcends the realm of sports; he believes in the importance of a stimulating environment where athletes can thrive and reach their full potential.
During a training camp in Bengaluru, Herman Kruis draws a situation and asks the U21 players of Hockey India how they will solve it on the field.
Now, as the High-Performance Director of Hockey India, he brings his passion for dual careers to an international context once again. Under his leadership, he is committed to the development of both the under-21 and senior hockey programs, laying the groundwork for a new generation of athletes striving to reach the top, not only on the field where they aim to realize their biggest dreams but also beyond. His appointment to this role speaks to his reputation as an innovator and visionary, and his ability to bring about change in complex and diverse sporting environments.
In our conversation with Herman Kruis, we explore not only his philosophy on coaching and talent development but also how he applies these principles in diverse and challenging international contexts. We delve into how he navigates complex situations to support athletes’ dual careers and the strategies he employs to achieve these ambitious goals. With his rich experience and dedication, Herman Kruis offers inspiring insights into the power of coaching and leadership in today’s sports industry.
“I mainly want to focus on reducing the hierarchical difference between coaches and athletes, by teaching them positive coaching; coaching should be about helping people grow and improve”
India is a country with immense diversity. How is the sports culture in India challenging for a European like yourself?
I have to be particularly careful that players don’t say ‘yes’ out of politeness when sometimes they may not actually be capable. And it’s considered inappropriate here to publicly tell a player they’re not doing something well, so I provide my feedback more cautiously. But what I mainly want to focus on is reducing the hierarchical difference between coaches and athletes, by teaching them positive coaching. They are mostly accustomed to focusing on what goes wrong, whereas I believe coaching should be about helping people grow and improve. If you want athletes to get better and develop, I believe you should choose to make an athlete better throughout the process, rather than just aiming to win that one game. If this talent development process goes well, then the whole team process improves along with it.
Working with other cultures, is it mostly enjoyable or mostly challenging?
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Getting to know another culture is very enjoyable, but working in a multi-culture environment can be quite challenging. In India, I encounter cultural differences and situations that are not easily changed. Recently, I spoke with Rani Rampal, a top player and a true icon here. I knew her from 2007, and we talked about the slow but positive changes in India’s attitude towards women. Accepting and respecting a culture is essential, as well as understanding that cultural change is a slow process. Therefore, I think it’s important not to try to change everything but to contribute within existing relationships. This also applied to my time in Belarus, where I focused on coaching the player and stayed away from political issues, even though sometimes that was not appreciated. Working in another culture, for me, is a matter of respect, seeking small adjustments, and maintaining an open mind.
“Working in another culture, for me, is a matter of respect, seeking small adjustments, and maintaining an open mind”
That’s why I also believe that as a technical director, you should be close to the teams because that’s where it all happens. Here, at the sports campus in Bangaluru, the hockey epicenter of India, I have my own apartment, and from my office, I overlook the field. All the hockey teams under my responsibility train here, including the under-21 boys and girls teams and the national men’s and women’s selections.
What challenges do you face in developing ‘your’ elite athletes in India?
There are many, but one of the challenges is promoting education alongside athletic development. Healthy nutrition is important and receives good attention here, but furthering the education of athletes is still in its infancy. It requires financial investments, but there is certainly support because a good education not only increases the chances of success in sports and beyond, but also opens doors for sponsorship, like Indian Air, which is committed to sports sponsorship.
“A good education not only increases the chances of success in sports and beyond, it also opens doors for sponsorships”
In my opinion, it is especially important for all elite athletes to learn English, not only because it is the language here on the sports campus, but mainly for the professional profiling of the athletes. Additionally, I believe they should gain more knowledge about finances, insurance, and lifestyle so they can manage their finances and learn to combine the elite sports life with other aspects they value, such as leisure time and religion.
Herman Kruis working with U21 players of the Women Team of Hockey India in Bengaluru.
Building trust is key. Recently, we had an inspiring session with the U21 women field hockey players about their goals and challenges. The diversity among them is enormous, with different religions, social backgrounds, and language barriers. It is crucial that they feel free to speak, and for this, respect for each other and a safe environment are essential. Slowly, they began to share their dreams and obstacles. I then encourage them to make small adjustments in their lifestyles, such as the importance of getting enough sleep after intense training sessions.
“Building trust is key. It starts with listening to the athletes carefully, and then identifying how they can create a self-improvement plan”
It starts with listening to them carefully, and then identifying how they can create a self-improvement plan. Through such conversations, not only their understanding of themselves grows but also the cohesion as a team. And that, for me, is the essence of coaching: creating an environment where everyone can flourish, regardless of background or language.
How did you come to the conviction that a dual career is important?
That arose during my time as coach of the Dutch women hockey team between 2006 and 2010. I noticed that many athletes dropped out of studying prematurely. At that time, the results of a study by Marije Elferink Gemser of the University of Groningen were also published, clearly showing that a combination of study and sports increases the chance of success, both within and outside of sports.
“An elite sports career is vulnerable, and alternative options are invaluable”
But it was mainly the many practical examples that made a big impression on me, such as footballer Britt Hentenaar, a student-athlete of our Johan Cruyff College, who was about to join a top club but was confronted with heart failure, forcing her to abruptly end her elite sports career. Britt could develop another career. An elite sports career is vulnerable, and alternative options are invaluable.
“Dual career development is about maintaining autonomy over your own decisions by keeping more options open”
For me personally, it was mainly about avoiding tunnel vision. I want to maintain autonomy over my own decisions and chart my own course, independent of governance structures. This pursuit has also strengthened my conviction that keeping options open is the best.
What role does networking play in this?
Athletes, sports, and education, everyone benefits from a strong network. In Southwest Netherlands, the region where Johan Cruyff College Roosendaal is located, we have established “Deltalent” to enable talented athletes to do more than just train; it’s also about teachability and motivation. These collaborations between various institutions have led to the success of Johan Cruyff College Roosendaal, thanks to the successful progression of students through individual support. The collaboration with football club Sparta in Rotterdam is also a good example, where footballers are completely free to choose which education they want to pursue. By investing in facilities and academic programs tailored to the needs of top athletes, we prioritize fostering contact with them and ensuring their guidance. That’s what it’s all about.
“The success of such networks depends heavily on the commitment of key figures, such as passionate directors, coaches, and teachers, who understand that investing in talent and development is necessary for growth”
The success of such networks depends heavily on the commitment of key figures, such as passionate directors, coaches, and teachers, who understand that investing in talent and development is necessary for the growth of both the athletes themselves and the sports clubs and educational institutions. It’s not a nine-to-five job! It requires a lot of perseverance, building mutual trust, and investing in and maintaining relationships within the education and sports community.
In part II of this interview with Herman Kruis, we delve further into the complex universe of coaching and talent development.Header photo: Herman Kruis working with U21 field hockey players of Hockey India
