Inside Pakistan’s Hockey Camps - Training, Trials & Tough Love in 2025

Pakistan once ruled the world of hockey. With Olympic golds, World Cup titles, and legends like Shahbaz Ahmed and Hassan Sardar, hockey was more than just a sport in Pakistan—it was a symbol of national pride. But over the past two decades, the country’s hockey fortunes have declined sharply. Now in 2025, Pakistan is on a mission to rebuild its hockey empire from the ground up. And that journey begins inside the intense and challenging environment of Pakistan’s hockey training camps.

In this article, we’ll take you inside these camps. We’ll look at how players are trained, how selection trials are held, and how tough love is being used to reshape the mindset of a new generation of hockey players.

A Nation’s Forgotten Glory

Before diving into the camps, it’s important to understand why they matter so much. Pakistan has won three Olympic gold medals in hockey (1960, 1968, and 1984) and four World Cups (1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994). No other country has won more World Cups. But since the mid-1990s, things started going downhill. Poor management, lack of funds, and a changing global game left Pakistan behind.

By 2020, Pakistan had failed to qualify for back-to-back Olympics and World Cups. It was clear: if Pakistan wanted to return to the top, it had to change everything—starting with how players are selected and trained.

The Modern Hockey Camp: A Glimpse into 2025

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), with help from foreign coaches and former legends, has transformed the training camp system in 2025. These camps are now designed to find talent, develop skills, and build a winning mentality.

1. Location and Setup

Most of the national-level training camps are held in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and sometimes Faisalabad. The National Hockey Stadium in Lahore remains the central hub. It has been upgraded with artificial turf (AstroTurf), modern gym facilities, video analysis rooms, and medical support units.

These camps usually last 3 to 6 weeks. Some are for young under-18 or under-21 players, while others are for senior national team hopefuls.

Training Schedule: A Day in the Life of a Player

Life in a hockey camp is tough. Let’s break down a typical day for a player in the 2025 camp:

·       Early Morning – Fitness and Stamina

Players wake up at 5:30 AM. By 6:00 AM, they are on the ground for physical training. This includes long-distance running, sprint drills, circuit training, and strength building.

The goal is simple: make players fit enough to last 60 minutes of high-intensity hockey. Modern hockey is fast, and fitness is non-negotiable.

·       Breakfast and Recovery

After morning training, players get a protein-rich breakfast: eggs, parathas, fruit, and sometimes supplements. Nutritionists in the camp now ensure that each player gets a personalized meal plan based on their weight and stamina needs.

Players also go through ice baths or massage therapy to recover quickly for the next session.

·       Midday – Skills and Techniques

From 11 AM to 1 PM, it’s time to focus on skills: dribbling, short passing, long hits, drag flicks, penalty corners, and goalkeeping drills. Modern coaches use video playback to show players their mistakes and help them improve.

Foreign trainers are now part of the coaching team. In 2025, Pakistan has brought in coaches from the Netherlands and Australia to teach players the latest techniques in ball control, positioning, and defensive structure.

·       Lunch and Rest

After an intense skills session, players have lunch and are allowed 2-3 hours of rest. This rest is crucial to avoid injuries and manage exhaustion.

·       Evening – Match Practice

At 5 PM, players return to the field for game practice. Here, different match situations are recreated. Players are tested on how well they can apply what they learned during the day.

Senior players sometimes join these sessions to guide the younger ones. Matches are often recorded and analyzed later.

·       Night – Team Meetings and Psychology

The day ends with team discussions, motivational talks, and sometimes psychological counseling. Sports psychologists are now part of the coaching team. They help players deal with pressure, self-doubt, and mental blocks.

The Trials: Where Dreams are Made or Broken

Selection trials are the most stressful part of the entire process. These trials are not just about scoring goals or saving shots—they test attitude, discipline, and mental strength.

Selection Committee

The selection panel usually includes former hockey legends, national coaches, and federation officials. In 2025, the process is much more transparent. Every match in the trials is recorded. Each player's performance is scored based on a points system that includes:

o   Speed and stamina

o   Passing accuracy

o   Goal conversion

o   Defense

o   Teamwork and discipline

·       No Favoritism Rule

To fight corruption and favoritism, the PHF has introduced a strict “no favoritism” rule. Players can now report unfair treatment anonymously. This has increased the trust in the system and encouraged more young talent to come forward.

Tough Love: The New Coaching Style

In 2025, coaching in Pakistan’s camps is not about shouting and punishing—it’s about pushing players to their limits while guiding them with honesty. Coaches are now trained in emotional intelligence, but they don’t go easy on players.

·       Strict Discipline

Being late, missing practice, or ignoring instructions leads to immediate warnings or suspension from the camp. Coaches believe that if a player cannot be disciplined in camp, they cannot represent the country under pressure.

·       Focus on Mental Strength

Players are taught how to handle criticism, bounce back from failure, and maintain focus. One famous example is of a young midfielder from Sindh who was cut from the camp in 2023 for poor attitude. In 2025, after working on his mindset, he is now in the national team’s main squad.

·       Peer Competition

Players are encouraged to challenge each other. However, respect is strictly enforced. Fighting or misbehavior can lead to permanent bans. This healthy competition helps players give their best every single day.

Grassroots to Glory: How Young Talent Is Found

The PHF now works with schools and colleges through talent hunt programs. Regional camps are held in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, interior Sindh, and rural Punjab. Scouts travel to local tournaments and pick the best players to send to national camps.

·       Scholarships and Support

In 2025, financial issues are no longer a barrier. Talented but poor players are offered scholarships, accommodation, and even school or college admission support. Many players now come from humble backgrounds but are treated equally in camp.

Technology and Innovation

Pakistan's hockey camps now use technology like never before.

·       GPS Trackers

Each player wears a GPS vest that tracks their movement, speed, and distance covered. Coaches use this data to decide if a player is fit enough or needs improvement.

·       Video Analysis

Sessions are recorded, and every player is shown clips of their performance. Mistakes are pointed out and corrected in detail. This helps players understand their weak points more clearly.

·       Fitness Apps

Players use mobile apps to log their diet, water intake, sleep hours, and workouts. Trainers keep track of this data to maintain consistency.

Challenges That Still Exist

While there has been great progress, Pakistan’s hockey system is still not perfect. In fact, it has lots of flaws which is why Pakistan is so behind in the leagues.

·       Funding Issues

The biggest issue remains funding. Though some private sponsors have joined hands in 2025, the federation still struggles to fully support long camps, foreign tours, and advanced medical facilities.

·       Lack of International Exposure

Compared to India, Belgium, or the Netherlands, Pakistani players get far fewer chances to play abroad. This limits their exposure to high-pressure situations and new playing styles.

·       Politics in Sports

Politics within the federation can sometimes slow progress. Changes in leadership or interference from outside officials hurt planning and camp organization.

The Road Ahead: Hope for the Future

Despite the challenges, there is growing optimism. Pakistan recently won a bronze medal in the Asian Champions Trophy 2025, and their under-21 team reached the finals of the Junior Asia Cup.

Several new stars have emerged from the camp system. Players like:

Faizan Janjua, a goalkeeper from Gujar Khan, who was recognized as a standout performer in the 2024 Men's Junior Asia Hockey Cup. His impressive performances have positioned him as a promising talent for the national team.

Additionally, players like Sufyan Khan and Hannan Shahid have been highlighted for their significant contributions to Pakistan's junior hockey team, indicating their potential as future mainstays in the senior national squad.

Final Thoughts

Inside Pakistan’s hockey camps in 2025, a quiet revolution is taking place. The training is intense, the trials are demanding, and the coaching is tough—but all of it has one goal: to bring back the lost glory of Pakistani hockey.

While results may take time, the foundations being built today are strong. And if these camps continue with the same energy and honesty, there’s no reason why Pakistan cannot return to the world stage as a hockey powerhouse once again.

One thing is clear—hockey is not dead in Pakistan. It’s fighting, sweating, and rising again—one camp, one player, and one goal at a time.