Hockey in Jamaica 
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| Planet Field Hockey |
September 25, 2000 
Off The Crossbar
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Name: Marlon Jackson
Club: Raiders United
Home and National Team: Jamaica
Position: Utility player. Currently left/right back. Occasionally midfield or centre back.
Major International Competitions:
1994: 4-nations U-21 tournament
1998: Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC)
1999: Pan Am Club Championships
2000: Americas Cup
OTC: When did you start playing hockey?
MJ: I played from I was a kid for fun, but started playing competitively at 11 years of age in high school, around 1991.
OTC: What is your biggest accomplishment in hockey?
MJ: Being selected for the senior side at age 17. It meant a lot to me as my father also played and captained Jamaica back in the 70's. Other
than that it would probably be my hockey club, Raiders United, winning the league and knockout competitions for this year, making a 3peat in both competitions.
OTC: What do you do outside hockey?
MJ: Currently, I work with a construction firm as a Quantity Surveyor. I also frequent the movie theatres. I am into drag racing, watching a wide cross-section of sports and listening to music.
OTC: What draws you to hockey over other sports?
MJ: I guess it is the love of the game. Also my father played at the national level so I want to continue the tradition. What keeps me here is that I have had some personal success... and
also I am getting better at the game.
OTC: People describe the hockey community as a family - do you think this is so, and why?
MJ: I think so. Why? I guess we have some of the characteristics of a typical family. Families have arguments between themselves and so do we, especially during a heated game but we are still able hug and have a drink together after the game. Family has close bonds and here in hockey we have examples of that with hockey couples, whether married or just in a relationship, and close friendship; I can testify to both. I also think you see hockey bringing together different classes and races in the name of fun.
OTC: What is the state of hockey in Jamaica at present?
MJ: I don't think it is where we all would like it to be, but compared to past years it is better. Efforts are being made though to push Jamaican hockey forward.
Both national teams have been active. We had the male national team who participated in the Americas Cup in July this year and the recent CAC games. A national U-25 women's team will be in Barbados in August for the Banks Tournament and a U-21 team should be in Chile in October and next year March we are to host the women's Americas Cup, following on the heels of us hosting the Pan Am Club Champs last year. We also now have greater media coverage by both the print and electronic media than past years. Emphasis is now being placed on the youth through our Turf Kids programme, which is held on Saturday mornings for the young ones who are awarded certificates on completion. Our high school league has also grown rapidly over the last 4 years.
OTC: What level and depth of coaching like?
MJ: The level of coaching is not that high but they are a few coaches who know what the sport is about and know their stuff but may lack the experience/knowledge of the finer points of the game. Our national coaches recently came off a course in Holland and are now imparting the knowledge they gained from the course among the players.
OTC: Do you have access to good equipment, sticks, goalkeeping equipment, etc?
MJ: No. We have a few sports stores that stock hockey items but they are few and of a mediocre standard.
OTC: Jamaica recently put in an artificial turf - has this helped improve the standard of hockey?
MJ: Overall, the standard has shown slight improvement but I would personally like to see it rising at a faster rate. A few clubs are still lagging behind but you will find the ones who train regularly are the ones making the improvements and playing better hockey.
OTC: What does Jamaican hockey need to do to improve the game there?
MJ: To improve Jamaican hockey at all levels I think it would take a combination of frequent exposure for clubs and national teams, proper and knowledgeable coaching whether it be local or foreign, frequent practicing by national and club teams and the necessary financial support.
OTC: What do you think of hockey as a spectator sport?
MJ: Hockey that is played at a fast and skilful level makes for a beautiful spectator game. However learning the rules of the game may be a turn off for spectators but once learned I am sure they would enjoy a good game of hockey as much as football.
OTC: Will you be able to watch any hockey from the Olympics?
MJ: The only Olympics hockey I will be watching is those the covering TV stations choose to show, if any. I guess I will have to wait on videocassettes.
OTC: Who will you be cheering for?
MJ: My heart is with Canada as you are representing the Pan Americas. I also like to see the Australians play and Pakistan and the Spaniards.
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