The Hockey Victoria coaching director hosted a coaching clinic with about 20 Central Wimmera Hockey Association coaches at Horsham Racing Centre yesterday.

Irvine said regional Victoria was not receiving as much cash help as regional associations in New South Wales and Queensland and the results showed on the pitch.

``About half of the state players from those two states come from country associations,'' he said.

``The standard of country Victorian players is improving but the money those two states get from government funding is huge compared to what's available in other states, including Victoria.''

Irvine said a key to developing players was using synthetic pitches instead of heavy grass surfaces, mostly used in the Wimmera.

He said synthetic pitches helped create better competitions and made it easier for promising players to develop their skills.

Irvine won a silver medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and was assistant coach of the Kookaburras team which won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Irvine applauded the efforts of Wimmera coaches who braved cold and blustery conditions to participate in the two-hour session.

``They are so enthusiastic and very involved in their hockey,'' he said.

``I must have got about 40,000 questions about coaching and that is what makes these trips to country areas so important.''

Irvine said there were three things people needed to become an elite hockey player.

``You need a good competition, good facilities and good coaching,'' he said.

``I can't help with the first two but I can help with the coaching.''

Irvine said his session was based on teaching coaches modern methodology which focused on using skill-based games to develop junior players instead of drills.

``The games and what I was teaching was very well received,'' Irvine said.

``I hope they take everything that was learnt today back to their players and we see some great players coming out of the Wimmera in the future.''