2024-11-13 11:03:00
“I mark it as a plus for a player who had a really good tournament. The equal sign then belongs to those whose performance was not bad, but could have been better. A minus is intended for those who did not succeed in the tournament. But I don’t tell anyone about this assessment, not even the players themselves know about it,” smiled Rulík.
But for the coach, this is a look at how the representatives fulfilled the expectations. “But not for me to hand out grades or black dots for mistakes. Mistakes happen in hockey. If we were to beat the players for a good idea that didn’t work out on the ice, we would take away their confidence,” he said. “I speak towards the forwards, Marek Židlický towards the backs and Ondra Pavelec towards the goalkeepers. According to opinions, I can correct my view, but we agree in 99 percent,” added the coach of the national team.
He was very pleased that the spirit of the World Cup winners remained in the national team. “I call it the right chemistry and I value it a lot. I select players to fit into the system and fulfill their roles. What the boys say to each other in the cabin comes from golden Prague,” added the coach, who has a verbal assessment prepared for each of his charges. “We’ll call each other and I’ll give them feedback on how I saw their performance in our game system and what they need to work on,” the coach noted.
He already has a certain idea about the nomination for the Swiss Games in December. “The priority will be the form and health of the players. I would also like to have some kind of sequence, we are preparing a similar mix as in Karjale, i.e. again with several world champions,” he indicated.
“Perhaps we would like to take Dominik Kubalík, as well as the guys who have now dropped out of the nomination due to injuries, such as David Tomášek or Matěj Stránský. But no one has the door to the national team closed. It is highly likely that we will invite players with whom I have a plus after Karjale, but those with a minus may also get a chance, I will not hide that,” revealed Rulík.
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**Interview with National Hockey Team Coach Radim Rulík**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Coach Rulík. After a commendable tournament, you mentioned that you have a unique way of assessing player performance. Can you elaborate on your evaluation system?
**Rulík:** Absolutely! I categorize player performances into three simple grades: a plus for those who really stood out, an equal sign for those who did “okay” but had the potential to do better, and a minus for those who struggled. It’s a private assessment that no one else, not even the players, knows about.
**Editor:** That’s an interesting approach! How do you ensure that these assessments contribute to the team’s development without affecting the players’ confidence?
**Rulík:** It’s crucial! I don’t use these assessments to reprimand players for their mistakes. Mistakes are part of the game, and we can’t penalize good intentions that don’t pan out on the ice. Instead, I focus on fostering confidence in the players. Our communication is about improvement rather than punishment.
**Editor:** You mentioned that you discuss performance with specific teammates, like Marek Židlický and Ondra Pavelec. How does that collaboration contribute to your overall team strategy?
**Rulík:** We work closely together. I speak with forwards, Marek focuses on the defensemen, and Ondra handles the goalies. Our discussions are vital for aligning our views on player performance—I’d say we agree in about 99% of cases. This collaboration strengthens the team dynamic and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
**Editor:** The chemistry within the team seems vital to you. Why do you think it’s so important?
**Rulík:** The spirit of our World Cup winners still resonates within the team. It’s about the right chemistry—they need to fit into the system and fulfill their roles. What they communicate off the ice, in the locker room, is just as important as their performance during the games. It creates an environment of trust and unity.
**Editor:** It sounds like you have a well-rounded strategy in place. In closing, what’s next for the team?
**Rulík:** We’ll continue evolving and growing as a unit. I have verbal assessments prepared for each player, and we’ll be having individual calls to discuss their progress. Our goal is clear: to build on our successes and keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve together.
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Coach Rulík. Best of luck to you and the team in the upcoming challenges!
