HOCKEY ACT JUNIOR COMPETITION REVIEW

Why the Change?

Hockey ACT commenced a junior competition review in October 2023 to help examine the trends of current junior participation and how our competitions can be conducted into the future to ensure that our membership continues to renew and revitalise into the future.

What was the Review Process?

The Junior Competition Review Committee was chaired by a HACT Board Member, included membership from the HACT Board, Club Presidents, Junior Competitions Advisory Committee (JCAC) and junior members. The committee conducted community consultation through two surveys in addition to the Hockey ACT 2023 Winter Survey. The data from these surveys and community consultation formed the review committee’s findings which were presented to the Hockey ACT Board and Staff. This week Hockey ACT met with clubs to discuss the changes and implement an agreed upon structure for the 2024 season.

An overview of 2024 structure is outlined below.

Junior Capital League – CL18s

A new elite competition “Capital League 18s” has been formed to capture the best under 18 talent in Canberra and surrounding regions. This competition will be played in line with senior competitions and athletes must be at least 13 on the 1^st January 2024 to be eligible. There is an expectation that clubs select their best players, including U16 and U18 ACT state players in this competition.

Games played – Sunday 11am/midday.

Location – Lyneham, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.

Junior State League – JSL1 & JSL2

This is an under 18 competition that clubs can grade players based on skill and experience within two divisions. Division 1 (JSL1) is aimed at players who are under 18 and recommended to have played before. Division 2 (JSL2) is recommended for players who are under 16 years of age and/or players who are under 18 that are new or developing hockey players.

Games played:

JSL1 – Friday evening.

JSL2 – Saturday morning.

Location – Lyneham, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.

Under 14s

This competition is for players less than 14 years old on the first January 2024. The competition is divided into two divisions, Division 1 for emerging players, Division 2 for developing or new players.

Games played: - Sunday morning.

Location – Lyneham, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.

Under 12s

This competition is for players less than 12 years old on the first January 2024. This is the first year for full field play. The competition is divided into two divisions, Division 1 for emerging players, Division 2 for developing or new players. To support the transition to a bigger field coaches can be on the field as required until Round 7 in Division 1 and throughout the season for Division 2. Division 2 games will be 20 minutes halves until Round 7 to allow for more coaching opportunities.

Games played: - Sunday morning.

Location – Lyneham, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.

Under 10’s

This competition is for players less than 10 years on on the first January 2024. It will be run similarly to the U11s competition from 2023. There will be two divisions, Division 1 is a single gendered competition (Boys/Girls), Division 2 is a mixed gendered competition. Games are played on half a field, with 8 players a-side and modified rules.

Games played: Saturday morning.

Location: Willows ANU preferred however some games may need to be played in Lyneham, Tuggeranong or Queanbeyan.

Next steps

Hockey ACT will work with the Junior Competition Advisory Committee (JCAC) to update the rules based on the structure changes and will provide these to clubs and for public view closer to the season.

More clarity regarding times and location will be released closer to the season when clubs nominate teams into each division.

Summary of recommendations from the Junior Competition Review Committee

An initial survey was conducted to test winter competition format preferences (Part 1).

Preferences included: competition day of the week (Monday to Thursday or Friday to Sunday); team size (7, 9 or 11 aside); mixed gender competition and or teams; age brackets (current age groups or move to align with Hockey Australia new representative age groupings); rule variations (i.e. tomahawks limited to certain age groups or skill level); and general feedback on what would need to change for your friends to play hockey.

There were 134 responses to the Part 1 survey. The results informed the development of competition format options each for older players (under 12 to 18 – Table 1) and younger players (Hook into Hockey and under 10/11 – Table 2) – Part 2.

There were 208 responses to Part 2 of the review. Summary of findings are set out below, note the committee also considered approaches being taken by other associations.

Older age group summary of findings

• Part 2 survey results show a slight preference for Option 1 age groupings (see figure 4).
• Drilling into the results further showed that the boys 15-18 age group preference between options was closer to 50/50.
• Additional evidence considered by the committee included the difficulty in forming competitions for both boys u15 and u18 in 2023 and based upon expected membership for 2024, similar challenges are anticipated.
• Further Part 1 survey results showed a 70:30 preference for the larger age grouping presented in Option 2.
• There was strong support for an under 18 high performance option (see figure 6).
• Results for mixed teams and or competition was more varied. The committee’s findings for mixed competition for the under 12 group is provided in note 2 above.

Younger age group summary of findings

• Part 2 survey results show equal preference between the two options presented (see figure 5).
• Drilling into results for responses associated with the younger demographic, a stronger preference for Option 2 is evident (see figure 8).