Coach David Kuna: Every Player Who Deserves It at a Given Moment Will Get a Chance

Czech men’s national team head coach David Kuna talks in this interview about preparations for the home World Championship in Ostrava 2026. He explains the change in the concept of national team camps, the goals of the February camp in Plzeň, and the March event in Poprad.

We Did Everything We Could to Bring a Fourth European Team Here

Coach, what are the main objectives of the three-day national team camp in Plzeň in February, and how do you plan to develop the playing concept there?

First of all, I would like to point out that when we were putting the preparation together, we originally imagined it quite differently. More precisely, we immediately ruled out continuing with the previous concept — specifically the three-nation tournament, which meant playing two matches against Slovakia and Switzerland over two or three days. From the outset, we said that this was not a concept we wanted anymore.

We did everything we could to bring a fourth European team here, and we were even in contact with the USA team. However, considering that the championship will be held in Ostrava this year and in Slovakia next year, it is very difficult to bring an overseas team here two years in a row.

The second option was to propose to the Swiss side whether they would be interested in coming to Plzeň for a two-game series, which would have made sense for us, as the original plan was to organize a four-day camp. It looked promising, but in the end the Swiss declined. Ultimately, we chose our own solution, which is a bit unconventional, but we believe it will be more beneficial for us. The players will be confronted through internal competition on Sunday morning.

Thirty players and four goaltenders will attend the Plzeň camp. How will you organize the training sessions to ensure every player gets optimal ice time while still working effectively with group dynamics?

From the very first training session, we will work in groups. The players will be divided into two groups, each consisting of 15 players and two goaltenders. We will also have substitutes available, because we do not want a single player to drop out of this concept, and we do not want to change it in any way — it is set up very precisely.

The only specific element will be the Saturday morning practice, which will be divided by positions. All goaltenders will be involved, as requested by our goaltending coach Filip Šindelář, while skaters will be divided into two groups based on positions rather than teams. First, there will be a defensemen’s session, followed by a forwards’ session.

The roster includes players from various club environments. How challenging is it to unify their playing habits into a single national team concept in such a short time?

Of course, it is not easy. On the other hand, these are players who have the potential to become representatives of the Czech Republic, so we expect their adaptation to take place very quickly — and that will also be one of our evaluation criteria.

Thanks to this concept, we are able to invite more players, giving them greater opportunities not only to compare themselves with one another, but also to show us how they react to specific tasks in individual lines, including cooperation with particular teammates.

A mutual game between the two assembled teams will be part of the camp on Sunday. How will you use this match to evaluate players and test combinations?

The Sunday game will be the culmination of the entire camp. Naturally, we will evaluate and observe all players in this match. The game will be recorded, and both teams will be under close statistical scrutiny.

I would like to emphasize one important aspect that was also our intention — both teams will play with three lines against each other. Although international ball hockey is typically played with four lines, we will use three so that players are under greater load. This will result in more direct confrontation, especially on a smaller rink. The Extraliga resumes the following week, and while we do not base everything on that, this setup can also be beneficial for the players and their clubs.

We Have Been Talking for a Long Time About Creating a National Team Break

The second camp will take place at the end of March in Poprad, Slovakia, during the Extraliga national team break. Twenty-one players and two goaltenders will be invited. How does preparation for this camp differ with fewer players and limited time, and what will be its main purpose?

From an organizational standpoint, the preparation runs largely in parallel. I am extremely pleased that we reached an agreement with the Slovak side, because for a long time we have been discussing the need to establish a national team break. This was successfully arranged, and I would like to thank all Extraliga clubs for their positive approach, including the League Commission and everyone involved.

The main purpose is international confrontation, which will take place on a full-size rink in a dignified environment. Two matches in two days against a very strong opponent — what more could you wish for? This will be added value for the players invited to the camp, giving them the chance to show — or not show — whether they are capable of succeeding in such matches, especially on the opponent’s home ground.

In Slovakia, we should complete two training sessions, but we will not have as much preparation time as we did, for example, in Boskovice. I firmly believe that these games will be beneficial for both sides, just as they were in Boskovice, and personally, I am very much looking forward to Poprad.

How much space will younger or less experienced players get at these camps? Do you focus more on their current performance or on long-term potential toward future events?

To be honest, we monitor both. I believe that every player who deserves it at a given moment will get a chance. In addition to performance and potential, we also monitor how players work on themselves in training at their clubs. We track all of this, but players must also do something extra. Thinking that two club practices a week are enough is a serious misconception. I must say that with some players this was an unpleasant surprise, and it was reflected in their performances during the autumn. Then they cannot be surprised if they are not selected.

How important is communication between the coaching staff and players during these camps? Do you actively work with the mental side and feedback during training as well?

The players can tell you themselves — because I ask them directly on the rink after practice to evaluate the training session or specific drills. That gives me immediate feedback, and each time we ask a different player.

From our side, feedback is also provided during meetings, where we work with video in preparation for upcoming matches or in evaluating previous ones. All necessary materials and videos are shared with players through the XPS system, and we are also able to work individually, which is a great tool for us.

I can reveal — it’s no secret — that a special webinar for all potential national team players and players took place a few days ago. The women’s team also wanted to attend the webinar together with us, which made me very happy. The topic was nutrition and diet in relation to ball hockey. The webinar was led by Mr. Suchánek, and I believe it was at a very high level. So it’s not just about feedback, but also about educating players.

At This Moment, No One Is Pigeonholed

Work with goaltenders is part of both the Plzeň and Poprad camps. How specific is their preparation, and how closely is it linked with the team’s defensive system?

Our goaltending coach Filip Šindelář would be best suited to answer this question, but of course it’s not something that falls solely on him. We all discuss these matters together, and I am in regular contact with Filip even outside of camps.

The specifics lie in the fact that if Filip needs something for the goaltenders during certain shooting drills or warm-ups, I try to accommodate him. At the same time, Filip has sufficient space before training sessions to work with the goaltenders on what he needs. He records them himself and later analyzes situations with them from a technical perspective.

As for defensive aspects, we focus on defensive positioning. I can hint that we will now devote a lot of attention to situations in the defensive zone, and if there are plays from behind the net, for example, we want to involve the goaltenders as well. Likewise, Filip asks us for specific player positioning in shot-blocking situations during penalty kills in relation to goaltender movements. We tried to accommodate this and showed it to players on video already at the Boskovice camp. The cooperation is direct and absolute — we fully trust Filip. If we have a differing opinion on something, we always try to find common ground so that it benefits the team as a whole.

Can performances at these camps significantly reshuffle the order within the broader national team pool? How open is this process?

It certainly can happen — it is entirely up to the players. At this moment, we do not have anyone pigeonholed. However, it is true — and we have clearly told the players this — that we will select the best possible players for the system of play we want to present, and we will select them for specific positions. At the same time, it is important for us that players are able to accept the role assigned to them and fully embrace it.

Finally, coach, what would you like players to take away from these two national team camps — both in terms of sporting development and team growth?

For me, the most important thing is that every national team camp gives the players something and moves them forward, just as it moves us as a team closer to the peak event awaiting us in 2026. That is why the health of all players, quality preparation for training, sufficient recovery, and overall development are so important — not only for the national team, but also for their progress in training sessions and matches with their home clubs.

Last but not least, it is essential to have a strong group of people taking care of the players. Even though they are competing with each other for places, they should be able to build relationships that lead to a strong locker room. All of this should come with the level of service that representatives of the Czech Republic deserve at the highest level.