Local hockey players have been benefiting from some world class coaching and advice over the last week.

Shiv Jagday, a former head coach of both the US and Canadian national field hockey teams, has been on the Island working with a range of players ? from 7-11 year olds to national team players.

?We are fortunate to have a coach of Shiv?s calibre visit Bermuda to demonstrate modern hockey techniques to our local coaches and players,? said Bermuda Hockey Federation president Justin Freisenbruch.

?He has a fantastic coaching resum? and we are hoping to facilitate the transfer of his knowledge to our players, in particular our developing youngsters.?

Jagday has had a busy five-day schedule running coaching sessions both at local schools and with league teams at the National Sports Centre.

Freisenbruch said he hoped this would be the well-respected coach?s first visit of many.

?As we enter our second year of hockey on the Astroturf facility it is very important for us to ensure that we are keeping current with the way the game is being played internationally,? he said.

?We want to make sure that our local coaches are able to instruct all of our players in a manner which will increase their ability and maximise their enjoyment of the sport. You can never underestimate the importance of a coach to a player?s development.?

A native of India, Jagday moved to Canada in 1977. He coached the Canadians to their first gold medal in the sport in the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela.