Adam Luck enjoys coaching challenge at Palmerston Saints

Palmerston Saints coach Adam Luck is embracing the ‘mentally taxing’ role of coaching two senior sides while still playing himself, stating it’s all ‘part of the challenge’.

Adam Luck is relishing the challenge of coaching both Palmerston Saints' men's and women's A-grade sides. Picture: Hockey NT.

Palmerston Saints coach Adam Luck is embracing the “mentally taxing” role of coaching two senior sides while still playing himself, stating it’s all “part of the challenge”.

Luck has played for the Saints since he was a child, represented Australia in the under-21s and even plied his trade in both Brisbane and Melbourne premier leagues.

Since returning back home to Darwin, the hockey lover decided to impart his knowledge and experience onto his Saints, picking up the role as player-coach of Palmerston’s A-grade men’s side in 2023.

The Saints man felt he had even more to give heading into the 2024 season, and decided to take on the role of the women’s A-grade head coach as well.

“Hockey is a community sport and for it to survive and thrive, you need all hands on deck,” Luck said.

“Palmerston has been a part of my life since I was five years old and I’d do whatever I can to see them in a good position.”

Luck said the gig wasn’t easy, with training often going late into the night and having to juggle his role on top of a full-time job.

Adam Luck in goal against the Blaze. Picture: Hockey NT.

However, despite finding himself strapped for time, he enjoys the challenging and unique situation.

“You end up being quite time poor at times, and it’s mentally taxing, but that’s all part of it,” he said.

“Fortunately for me, my managers, assistant coaches and players have my back and help me out.

“Without their belief in me, and buying into what we’re working towards, this wouldn’t be possible.”

As for the game itself, Luck said both teams required separate and tailored approaches as the teams are at different stages in their respective journeys.

“There are definitely different focuses and approaches to the two,” he said.

“That has nothing to do with different styles of play or a ‘men’s versus women’s game’, but purely where the sides are presently in their journey.

“With the guys, there is a lot more fine tuning and focus on drills whereas with the women, there’s a much bigger focus on fundamentals and team bonding as they’re a very new squad.

“And with both sides getting a win last round for the first time this season, it makes me believe that what we are working towards is beginning to take shape.”