Team Cardinal Talks Hockey with Pam Bustin
April 18, 2008 | Field Hockey
April 18, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With this year being an Olympic year, and Team Cardinal in the midst of preparing and training for the 2008 fall season, is an exciting time on the field hockey front in Louisville. The team conducted a `Question and Answer' session head coach Pam Bustin as she prepared to help lead the USA Field Hockey Team in the Kazan Olympic Qualifier. Redshirt freshman Jenna Ahern, a leader on team Cardinal's Leadership Council, shares her thoughts and the `Q&A' session.
Redshirt freshman, Jenna Ahern, Louisville, Ky./Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area
In my opinion, Pam Bustin has never struggled to understand the meaning of commitment. Her need for excellence and admirable leadership qualities have enabled her to be one of the most distinguished Division I coaches in the country. A US National Level III Coaching Accreditation recipient, Bustin represents USA Field Hockey as an instructor within various US coaching forums across the country. More impressively, for the past three years our head coach, Pam Bustin, has worked with the National Team as an assistant coach.
The benefits that our team has gained from Coach Bustin's experience are endless. The pace of the game at the international level is faster than the college level and the elite players have mastered concepts on which we are still working. Some of our focuses at the moment are our team zone, pressing, outletting, and scoring. Not only does Pam's coaching competence help us, but the availability and usage of current international video, provides our team with access to information and game examples that inspire us to increase our level of play. Pam constantly brings drills that are position specific that heed to our individual play.
Last spring we were short numbers in our defensive unit so I was asked, being a midfielder, to fill in. What began as a temporary fill-in, soon became a position I love. The only problem was that at the time, I didn't have experience as a backfield defender. Being able to watch video of zone defense and off-ball movement has helped me understand the game of defense. And Pam, who is working with the defense at the international level, knows what skills, movements, and plays to point out to extend my knowledge. As a team, we are aware of and thankful for the enriching environment that surrounds us. It is evident that without Pam Bustin's commitment, the magnitude of these opportunities would not be as great.
Team Cardinal had a few questions for Coach Bustin upon her recent return from the 4 Nations Tournament in Mendoza, Argentina. The US finished third in the tournament with impressive wins over 2008 Olympic participants Germany (gold medalist -Athens 2004) and South Africa. The US team is preparing for their own 2008 Olympic bid. That tournament takes place in April in Kazan, Russia.
Below is Team Cardinal's interview with Louisville Field Hockey Coach and US Assistant Coach, Pam Bustin:
TC: Describe the National Team's overall philosophy compared to that of Louisville's.
PB: The National Team's overall philosophy is very similar to Louisville's: prepare to be the best in a dedicated, committed, team oriented way...and love doing it! Never lose sight of the special privilege to represent yourself, your school, or...YOUR COUNTRY. Hockey wise...the philosophy is the same too...score more than the opponent! This we will do with a solid defensive organization and a team dependent attack!
TC: What are the main differences in the transition from Division I to the international level?
PB: The level of hockey skill is just amazing around the world at the elite level. We need to expose our college athletes to the international game more often so they can be inspired to emulate and eventually create such a high level of skill execution. If the younger American athletes can see more elite international play, our fundamentals will improve and we will begin to use our imaginations to discover new and innovative ways to use the stick and ball!
TC: How do your expectations of players change when coaching Louisville players and then the US National team?
PB: I expect the international level athletes to approach their training and competition preparation in an extremely professional manner. We introduce and teach these practices at the college level: proper sleep, good nutrition/hydration, dedicated fitness schedule, comprehensive skill practices, video study, mental/competitor's fitness, and team consciousness. Once an athlete crosses over to the elite international level...they are absolutely accountable and responsible for their approach to being the best in the world.
TC: What are the major benefits for you in coaching the US National team?
PB: The major benefit for me personally...is the exposure to the best hockey being played in the world and to talking about the game with some of the best hockey minds in the world. I have learned so much about the game, about coaching, and about WHO I am and WANT to be as a coach. I do it too, of course, to assist USA to Olympic qualification, but also to bring everything exciting about this great sport back to our Cardinals...who EAT IT UP! It has been AWESOME!
TC: For the past two seasons Louisville field hockey has been able to study what you bring back from the international level. What are the main concepts Louisville players have been able to improve on by studying film?
PB: I believe the main concepts that Louisville has been able to improve due to my involvement with US Field Hockey are: 1.) individual skill improvements...the players really recognize the importance of developing SOUND fundamentals 2.) Defensive team zone, including the movements from pressing to circle defense. 3.) GOAL SCORING! Seeing that there is a way to score in ANY situation! Having video of good execution from players with a greater game sense and skill level has provided a visual of what we practice on the field.
TC: What advantages do you feel your players receive because of your position on the US National Team?
PB: I believe the biggest advantage to our college players is the consistent presence of passion and excitement for this game of field hockey...especially when talking about the game at the Olympic level. Yes, I am an Olympian...but for most of my players...that was back when they were 7 and 8 years old! Ancient history! For the college players to see updated game play of US athletes who are fairly close to their ages captures their attention and enhances their belief that they too can play that way.
My National Team involvement also reminds me that our college athletes are capable of raising their game within the college environment. I am motivated to introduce different skills and teach different concepts in a way that the student-athlete becomes engaged; then WANTS to put the effort in to improve and excel.
It has been a remarkable experience. I am grateful to the University of Louisville Athletic Department, namely Tom Jurich and Julie Hermann, for recognizing the significance of this opportunity and supporting my US team role.
