By Forrest Crellin
PARIS (Reuters) – When Paul van Ass and his son Seve sit at the dinner table together, they no longer need to worry about a coach-player dynamic and can celebrate their gold medals after two thrilling shootouts gave the Dutch their first Olympic hockey double.
It was not always easy in the Van Ass household, however, especially when Paul got to coach the men’s team in 2010 in the run up to the London Games while his son was trying to make a name for himself and take part in the national squad.
When making his player selection for London 2012, Paul had a tough decision to make. Seve was ultimately left off the team in favour of a more experienced player.
“I think you need a hierarchy in the scene. So I didn’t choose him to be in the squad. And it was a decision obviously very hard for him, but also within the family,” Paul said.
Such a decision in a competitive household could cause a familial rift that could take years to repair, but the Van Ass’s were able to work it out and Seve did not let it discourage him.
“We are a funny family. We can cope with that and we just continue. The family stays close without gold medals. So that’s independent of that. But it’s of course unique,” the 63-year-old Paul added.
Paul van Ass coached the Dutch men’s team from 2010 to 2014 and took over the women’s team in 2022 when Alyson Annan, now China’s head coach, quit after players spoke out about a negative culture in the programme.
“It was a big bonus that he (Seve) was picked (for Paris). He had to work hard for it. But he proved himself to be of value for the team as now the older and more experienced player,” Paul said.
“I think from zero to hero, that is what sport is about.”
Seve played all eight of the Dutch men’s game in Paris as a midfielder, helping control the centre of the pitch and recording three shots over the course of the tournament but was unable to find net and score.
“The family dynamic is pretty easy at the moment,” Seve said.
“It was a bit harder when he was the head coach of the men and I was the player. He’s doing his stuff with the women and I’m doing my stuff with the men.
“He’s not trying to coach me. For endorsing me, he’s empowering me to perform and helping me if needed but to be honest during this Olympics we both have our full focus on our own performance,” the 32-year-old added.
“So he has his schedule and his rhythm towards his own matches and I have the same.”
The Van Ass’s will celebrate their familial achievements together with a party, they both said.
“No pictures at the party,” Paul said with a sly laugh.
(Reporting by Forrest Crellin; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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