France
A club president calls on his federation
For almost a year, French underwater hockey has been at a standstill. Yes, it’s been almost a year that the clubs have been living in slow motion. No more competitions, almost no more training. Players, coaches, club presidents, everyone is fed up. Simon Gramoullé, president of the Morlaix underwater hockey club, put words on his anger. More than a call for help, it is the will to know that animates him. A quest for answers sent by email to several club presidents in which Simon questions his federation (FFESSM). An email that Simon has authorized us to share.
« Hello and happy new year 2021 to everyone,
I sincerely wish everyone joy, laughter and life. Two years as president and barely six months of underwater hockey, I am disgusted. To be honest, I have had a lot of energy, ideas and a great desire to get involved and now I’m wading. Today, I am angry against a society that is losing all the values that are important to the emancipation of mankind. For the past year, we have been developing a sense of enclosure, isolation, denunciation and fear of others. We repress all forms of life in our towns and villages.
A year ago, healthy people were mostly practicing sports weekly … Today look around you, even sportsmen and women suffer from overweight, respiratory difficulties and various rheumatisms. What a hygiene ! Let’s come back to our area, sport. For the past year, not a single sports federation has dared to speak publicly about the importance of sport in our country.
Our federation, the FFESSM is no exception.
For a year now, we have been receiving only e-mails with health protocols and other fashionable slogans. Never a word on the values of sport, the importance of daily physical exercise, on the need for our children to have physical efforts.
You talk to us about video meetings, national commissions, elections, virtual exhibition or conference of the actors of performance! And what about sports performance ?
Without members, without training, without competitions, why have national leaders? What the sportsman wants today is to practice, to play underwater hockey or to do apnea.
Most underwater hockey clubs have refunded a part of their members’ fees, it is obvious : our goal is not to make money. Why doesn’t our federation reimburse a part of the fees to the clubs for their members ? What about the insurance part? Where does this money go?
While our Minister of Sports has asked each federation for a navigation plan to return as soon as possible to the practice of our sports where is our federation? No practical information is circulating on this subject. Maybe we are developing a new underwater hockey video game for Playstation ? Will we be able to play it 6 on 6 on a network ? What about sudden death ?
It is time for the FFESSM to be accountable to our regions and our underwater hockey clubs. It’s been a year since we stopped practicing our water sports. Chances are that we won’t have any competitions or training this year, so in which direction is our sport going ? As a club president, what do we need to tell our members ?
After a year of immobility that questions the willingness to support the practice and values of the sport, it is time to give us clear and precise answers. Do not hesitate to circulate this email in your clubs and others.
Let’s open the debate !
Simon Gramoullé,
President of the Underwater Hockey Club of the Pays de Morlaix ».