Dominique Ruaux : « We will present two youth teams for 2022 »

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The underwater hockey season is starting again, and so are the questions that go with it. We contacted Dominique Ruaux, President of the French National Underwater Hockey Commission (CNHS), to talk about the start of the season and the projects that will be carried out this year.

What are the goals of the French National Underwater Hockey Commission this season ?

« The goal is to get the regional and regional championships back on track. We have prepared well for the first round of the French championships in Sarcelles. Everything is ready. A meeting of the French National Underwater Hockey Commission is scheduled for the beginning of October to take a look at the situation with the regional presidents, who will all have to be physically present, as this is important for finalising our national calendar. We will also review the traditional tournaments that have been organised by some clubs or regions during the summer. Finally, we will update our regulations for young players. »

Has a « back on track plan » for hockey been planned to compensate for a potential loss of members ?

« The approach is being taken at club level via the forums, but we have asked for a maximum of publicity for the start of the new season. Each region will have to take stock of what is happening at club level in terms of communication to revitalise the sport. We want to promote the Pass’Sport to attract members. I have personally been asked about this. »

It’s also the start of the new season for the French teams with four new youth coaches, how were they chosen ?

« A call for tender was made to each regional president for the posts to be filled. Each of them had to give us feedback on the candidates. It wasn’t easy because there wasn’t a lot of applicants. »

What about the Elite Men’s coaches as the French training camp approaches ?

« The Elite pairing has not yet been chosen. We have applicants but there has to be the creation of a pairing. The aim is to have it settled by the time of the course. In any case, the manager of the French teams will be present. »

At the last France camp, the U19F team was only made up of eight players, does that bother you ?

« Absolutely. This will be one of the issues to be discussed at the French National Underwater Hockey Commission (CNHS). It is absolutely necessary that the regions can develop this category and that we have applicants. That will be the job of canvassing regional coaches. »

We are soon approaching the CMAS election period, what will change for France?

« There is a good chance that Thomas de Trebons will remain our national representative. At the moment, we don’t have a representative with an international network or a candidate for this task. »

The first international competition will take place in 2022, if we believe what is written on the CMAS documentation, France will only send the Elites, is this the case?

« We will also present two youth teams, which will probably be the U24. Concerning the Masters, their participation is still to be determined. »