FIH sport and development director David Luckes says nearly being axed from the Olympics was a key factor in their decision to change ©Getty Images

Hockey nearly being axed from the Olympic Games programme in 2013 was the “driver” behind the sport’s governing body implementing a revamped competition system as part of their 10-year strategic plan, International Hockey Federation (FIH) sport and development director David Luckes admitted here today.

The FIH announced sweeping changes to its calendar in April, which included getting rid of the Hockey World League (HWL), which had attracted criticism from players and stakeholders due to its confusing nature, and Champions Trophy events in favour of a new three-tier home and away competition.

The format is due to come into effect in 2019 and will have a direct consequence on the qualification process for future Olympic Games.

Competing nations will clash twice a year, once at home and once away, in a format similar to the HWL.

Teams participating in the brand-new league will be chosen based on a defined set of qualification rules, while countries will also compete in second-tier and third-tier events which mirror the HWL.

The extensive alteration to the competition calendar is a crucial element of the FIH’s Hockey Revolution, which aims to increase the global interest in the sport.

It was launched largely due to the threat of being removed from the Olympic programme three years ago as hockey managed to survive despite being in the bottom three along with wrestling and modern pentathlon.

The Champions Trophy is one of the events which will be axed as part of the FIH's competition reshuffle
The Champions Trophy is one of the events which will be axed as part of the FIH's competition reshuffle ©Getty Images

“I think there’s a saying which says you should not let a good crisis go to waste and [nearly losing the Olympic place] gave us the chance for reflection and to change the perception of the sport,” Luckes said during the final day of the Men’s Champions Trophy here.

“We all believe in our core values but that message wasn’t getting through.

“It was a driver to look at the new strategy and the calendar was part of that.”

Former goalkeeper Luckes, a three-time Olympian who also won Commonwealth Games bronze with England in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, also hopes the new system will help “put a regularity” of hockey on the calendar.

It followed criticism in some circles about the spread of major events and how hockey fans would go months without seeing their sport live on television.

“After people watch a hockey match, we want them to think ‘right where is the next time I can watch hockey,’” he said.

“We want to put a regularity of hockey on the calendar so it becomes part of people’s viewing culture.”