PHF launches National Women’s Development Program

ISLAMABAD, Aug 09 (APP): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has launched the ‘National Women’s Hockey High-Performance and Coaching Development Program’, marking a historic step toward the revival and development of women’s hockey in Pakistan.

As part of the initiative, the first 10-day national training camp will commence in Islamabad on October 7, said a press release.

The camp will bring together top players from across the country in the Under-15, Under-18, Under-21 and senior categories, along with selected coaches and support staff. The technical leadership of the program will be headed by renowned Dutch hockey coach Richard Snaijer.

He will work alongside national players and local coaches to build a modern, high-performance framework for women’s hockey in Pakistan.

During the camp, Snaijer will conduct technical and physical assessments of players across all four categories. He will also implement uniform standards for modern techniques, tactics and fitness, and lead intensive training sessions aimed at enhancing player skills.

Separate training schedules will be designed for each age group according to their specific needs. The program will also focus on identifying emerging talent and creating a structured pathway to the national team. In addition, Pakistani coaches will receive hands-on training to ensure the program can be sustained in the long term.

PHF officials clarified that the October camp is not a standalone event, but the foundation of a comprehensive, year-long national development program.

Snaijer will make periodic visits to Pakistan throughout the year to monitor player progress. During his absence, trained Pakistani coaches will continue delivering training across all categories in line with the established framework to maintain consistent standards at every level.

A key focus of the program is the development of local women coaches. Female coaches will work directly with the international expert during the camp to learn modern coaching methodologies and will remain part of the national coaching setup for the rest of the year.

To ensure development of players, the camp will also include the services of female sports psychologists, female fitness and strength & conditioning trainers, expert female hockey coaches, and other performance support staff. The aim is to equip athletes not only with technical skills, but also with the mental preparation, fitness and recovery systems required to meet international standards.

In the second major phase of the program, PHF plans to send senior and junior women’s teams to the Netherlands in March for a three-week tour. During the visit, the teams will train with leading Dutch women’s hockey clubs and play competitive matches. The exposure will give players first-hand experience of one of the world’s strongest hockey systems and help them adapt to modern fitness and precision-based hockey. The tour will also be conducted under the direct supervision of Richard Snaijer.

PHF said its ultimate objective is to establish a sustainable and self-reliant system from the U-15 level to the senior team, built on a combination of international coaching, local talent, sports science and global exposure.

The camp starting October 7 in Islamabad will serve as the first major milestone in making Pakistan’s women’s hockey internationally competitive.