“We Believe the Boys Will Want to End Their Youth Careers with Dignity,” Says Jaroslav Pavlík

The U20 national team is back on the scene. Jaroslav Pavlík has been appointed head coach for the next two-year cycle, which is expected to culminate at the U20 World Championship in Poprad in 2025. Pavlík has significant experience with this age category.

Cooperation in Plzeň Worked Well

Coach, you are returning to this team after a long eight years. How do you feel about your return to this familiar mission?

I’m looking forward to the new challenge, working with the coaching staff, and supporting the players for whom the U20 World Championship will be another highlight of their careers.

So far, the team has only had one camp at the beginning of the year in Plzeň. How do you evaluate it with the benefit of hindsight?

We only had the 2005 cohort available, but the tournament in Plzeň helped us effectively select players from this age group. After the World Championship in Žilina, which I attended in full, I also got a good picture of the 2006 and 2007 cohorts. My colleagues and I analyzed the situation, and both events helped outline the core of the future U20 selection.

You chose Miroslav Růžička and Petr Kopečný as your assistants. Before the camp, you described them as young but experienced coaches. How did they perform in their first test in Plzeň?

I prefer not to look at it that way. Only the championship itself will show whether all three of us passed the test. I can say that the cooperation in Plzeň worked well, and both Petr and Míra convinced me of my good choice. I’m pleased with both and believe we have a lot to offer each other.

Your cycle’s peak in Poprad 2025 with the national team is still a long way off, but can you give us an outline of how the preparation will look throughout the season?

In August, we have a camp in Kladno, which will conclude with participation in the Páňa Cup. In December, we are working on organizing a confrontation with the Slovak U20 team. Next year, we’d like to participate in the always well-organized tournament in Plzeň. Before the World Championship itself, we plan to have about three weekend camps, but that will depend on the course of competitions and the championship’s schedule.

We Can Observe Most Players in the Extraliga

How do you balance the roles of a national and club coach? How do you manage to combine these positions?

This isn’t a new situation for me. This will be my fourth participation in a World Championship as a coach, and I’ve always held both roles. We can observe most players in the Extraliga, which I and my colleagues see as an advantage.

The current U20 category includes age groups that have experienced success with the U18 team, such as the victorious World Championship in Liberec and the recent bronze in Žilina. What do you expect from working with these groups?

The U20 has always been a gateway to senior ball hockey. The boys have already had two successful championships, and we believe they will want to end their youth careers with dignity. The coaching staff is prepared to share as much experience as possible and prepare these boys for the transition to senior levels, with the aim of seeing many of them don the jersey of the Czech Republic's A team in the future, where their winning mentality will be needed.

What are your goals for the championship?

What goals can our national team have (laughs)? Only the highest ones. It will be essential to work hard now, do everything possible in preparation, create a group, a team that will sacrifice everything for success. Gradually achieving set goals is the only way we have a chance to succeed.