Gradual Improvement in Performance Should Culminate at the Championship

Head coach of the Czech U20 women’s national team, Jaromír Kotlík, shared his thoughts on their preparation for the tournament.

At what stage is your team’s preparation for the Poprad championship?
Three weeks before the start of the championship in Poprad, our preparation is in its final phase. We've been preparing continuously since the World Championships in Liberec.

Are you satisfied with the preparation so far? Is everything going according to plan?
Yes, we’re satisfied with the preparation so far. The players have approached it responsibly, and we can see gradual improvement in their performance.

What are you focusing on most in preparation – tactics, chemistry, speed, fitness?
From the start, we've worked on physical conditioning and gradually tried to identify player combinations that work well together on the field. Toward the end of the preparation, we naturally focus more on systems and tactics.

Two years ago, the Czech juniors outshot every opponent, even the eventual champions Canada, but still ended up with only a bronze medal. How are you preparing the players to improve their scoring efficiency?
Yes, two years ago we lost the semifinal against Slovakia because we couldn’t score in time and our individual mistakes were punished. We couldn't turn the game around and unfortunately had to settle for the bronze-medal match.

What style of play would you like to showcase at the championship?
We want to play as a team where each player gives their all on the field—attacking and defending as a five-player unit—and we aim to minimize unnecessary mistakes.

When will the final roster be announced?
The final roster will be announced on June 15, after the training camp.

Do you plan to play any warm-up matches before the championship?
Yes, we’ll play preparation matches against the Czech women’s national team and also against a youth team.

The championship will take place in a city near the High Tatras. Do you have any plans to stay in Slovakia longer to reward the players with a chance to see the Tatras up close?
I believe some of the players will want to visit the Tatras. Some of their families will be coming to the championship and will want to experience not just the ball hockey but also your beautiful nature. Unfortunately, as a team, due to the demanding match schedule, we won’t have much time for sightseeing.

What is the Czech team’s goal for the Poprad championship?
We want to deliver a strong team performance, and if we manage to bring home a medal after playing well as a team, we’ll be satisfied.