Max Caldas ist head coach von Bloemendaal. Als einer der ehemals besten Hockeyspieler erklärt er, was den Unterschied zwischen Spieler-Sein und Trainer-Sein ausmacht, warum ihn Spieler wie Jamie Dwyer fordern und wen er für den Favoriten der Damen-WM in Argentinien hält.

Max, you have been one of the best hockey players. Now you are the coach of Bloemendaal. What's more difficult - being an athlete or a coach?

I do not think I was one of the best hockey players. In fact, I know so. But what I did learn from being fortunate enough to have been able to play at the highest level and now being a coach at the highest level is that the difference, for me, is the way we use our energies. As a player you live frome game to game, you check your performance daily, you recover, eat, look forward to free days to do other things. When you coach is day to day AND tomorrow and the day after that. Talking, thinking, making choices, involving everyone in the different processes, finding tools to give to the players.

In Bloemendaal your are coaching some of the best global players - e.g. until the end of last season the Worlds Hockey Player 2009 Jamie Dwyer, T. de Noijer etc.. What is the difference in your daily work with the athlete between "top stars" and "normal" players?

I think it is very important to give every player, "star" or not, the feeling and attention they deserve. I believe that there are 16 individuals in a team (sometimes more) I do not think in star/not star but more along the lines of what is your role within the team, how can I help you to get better and that every other player in the team knows what you are good in and what will you improve. Players such as Jamie and Teun make you as coach better, because the demand quality and still want to get better.

The Hoofdklasse seems to be the best league in the world. Now some top internationals are moving to the German Hockeyliga. How do you rank the dutch, german, english and spanish leagues?

I think that one of the important things in the Hoofdklasse is the amount of trainings that you are able to do in a week with your club team. In other leagues is much less than in Holland, maybe bringing the average level a bit down. Still, it has to do with quality on your sessions. I think the dutch and german competitions are a bit above the others in Europe.

In a couple of weeks the World Cup Women takes place in your home country Argentina. Compared to other countries the Leonas are far more polular than the Men's Team. What is the reason for the high polularity of "Las Lenoas"? What is your tipp for the World Cup Women 2010?

Girls get a lot attention in Argentina. The were able to create a "fantasy" name around their team together with a good performance in the pitch. There are far more women than men that play hockey in Argentina. Kids that go to the different schools (mostly private) play a lot of hockey, evenb though they may not play at club level. Exposure with sponsors and press is also there all the time as well as playing for the big prizes in every tournament. Football, rugby, basketball are big sports for me in Argentina... Women? Hockey...Tip? I think the Argies will be tough to beat at home, but I know the dutch girls win it. Holland then...

Max CaldasBorn in Buenos Aires

117 caps / goals? Too few to remember

Former Clubs as player: Hockey Club Klein Zwitzerland (Holland), NSW and SA in Australia, Club Ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina),

Former clubs as coach: Dutch U21 men, Amsterdam ladies, Dutch ladies team, Leiden mens team