Player Development
Our Junior Section is committed to developing lifelong hockey players by creating an environment that values enjoyment, teamwork, and personal growth. We focus on helping young athletes progress both as players and as individuals, offering a clear pathway that supports their development, encourages ambition, and helps them achieve their goals.
Alongside regular age-group training and fixtures, many of our junior members also take part in Saturday hockey through our Development Team. When ready, players may progress further to become members of our senior teams to challenge themselves at a higher level.
A number of our junior players are selected to represent West and South Yorkshire, and some continue their journey through the England Hockey Player Pathway to reach Yorkshire or Durham regional squads, with the chance to play for selection to the national squads.
Ultimately, our priority is that every young person enjoys their hockey experience — both in training and competition — and develops a lifelong love for the sport.
Progression to Full Pitch Hockey
From around the age of 13, most junior players will begin to play 11-a-side league hockey through one or more of the following opportunities:
- Participation in Under 14 or Under 16 junior hockey fixtures
- Involvement in the Mixed Development competition
Players aged 13 and above (with parental consent) may also train with senior squads. When appropriate, they can be considered for Saturday league matches within the Men’s and Women’s sections. These invitations are coordinated by the Club Chairs in collaboration with the coaches of each age group, Development Squad and Selection Committees.
Players who reach Year 12 and are no longer eligible for U16 hockey will be encouraged to move into senior training and senior teams, allowing them to continue their hockey journey within the club.
In line with England Hockey’s Right Athlete, Right Environment (RARE) principles, the club will always consider the most appropriate playing environment for each player, ensuring they develop at the right pace and level. More information is available here, on the England Hockey Website.
Development Team
The Mixed Development Team brings together players from the U12, U14, and U16 age groups who wish to gain more experience of 11-a-side hockey by playing in Saturday fixtures against local clubs. Typically, a small number of adult players take part as on-field mentors, helping younger players to build their understanding of team structures, positions, tactics, and overall match play. This supportive environment helps prepare players for the step up to adult competitive hockey.
Junior coaches and managers identify and invite players to join the Development Team from around age 13. Invitations can be offered at any stage during the season as players develop or express a desire to play more hockey. For more information about the Development Team, please contact Sarah Sykes.
England Hockey Player Pathway
For those who want to push themselves beyond club hockey, there is representational hockey, which brings with it new challenges and opportunities.
At the beginning of each season, club coaches and coordinators nominate selected players for assessments at the West Yorkshire Academy Centre, providing the opportunity to represent their county across U12 to U18 age groups. Some of our players have also joined the South Yorkshire Academy Centre.
The two Academy Centres provide regular training and competitive hockey against other Academy Centres across the North of England (including North Yorkshire, Durham, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire). These Academy Centres provide competitive county hockey teams for all ages from Under 13 through to Under 18, both boys and girls.
For those playing at this level, they can either chose to progress to trials at the Yorkshire Talent Academy. However, others may continue their journey at the regional West Yorkshire Academy Centre, with the possibility of going straight to England trials where strong enough.
The Academy Centre trams are invited to a festival of hockey in the summer, where all of the Academy Centres compete.
Many of our junior players are currently involved in County Hockey, and some have progressed to Yorkshire and beyond through the England Hockey Talent System.
Further details are available on the England Hockey Talent System webpages.
North East U13’s
Separate to the talent development pathway run by England Hockey is the Under 13 Regional Hockey Championships.
Each year around January 2025, the North East Hockey Management Team looks to select one squad of 18 players from the region’s three counties; Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire to represent the North East in the UK U13 Regional Junior Hockey Championship for the Boys and Girls competition.
Players can be nominated for trials held across the North East of England early each year, for preparation for the Regional Championships held in July
