A Junior Academy Centre (JAC) is a training centre for the U13 to U17 age groups. JACs are open to any hockey player who has been nominated by a Junior Development Centre (JDC) coach.
What is a Junior Academy Centre?
A Junior Academy Centre (JAC) is a training centre for the U13 to U17 age groups. JACs are open to any hockey player who has been nominated by a Junior Development Centre (JDC) coach. After attending a JDC, a JAC is the next step on hockey’s player pathway. A JDC coach can nominate a player to attend an assessment for a JAC if and when they think it is appropriate for the player’s development.
Players who have previously been involved in Junior Regional Performance Centre (JRPC) Tier 2 activity may also attend JACs.
What happens at a JAC?
A JAC will provide regular training sessions where players will receive coaching on the core skills of hockey from appropriately qualified coaches. As well as training, there will be competition between local JACs. Initially, the type, level and frequency of localised competition may vary across the country as the Single System is still at the early stages of implementation.
The combination of training and competition allows players to develop in a variety of situations and ensures that they are assessed in more than just the competition environment.
Where and when are the JACs?
Players will attend whichever JAC is closest to where they live (or in the case of boarding pupils, where they attend school). There will be a minimum of one JAC in every county. Pilot activity is being run in 2008/09, but from 2009/10 JACs will run from January to April. Information about the location of JACs is available from clubs, schools, your County Association or England Hockey Regional Office and at
www.englandhockey.co.uk/jaclocations.
Who organises the JACs?
JACs will be run by County Hockey Associations or Hockey Development Groups who will appoint coaches and managers/administrators to organise and run all activity. The manager/administrator will be the main contact regarding nominations, dates and times of the sessions and the coaches will be responsible for the training and competition. View the complete 'How to Guide'
Is there a cost to attend a JAC?
A fee will be charged for attending training sessions and competitions.
What is the next step on the U18 Player Pathway?
Following JAC training and competition, JAC coaches will nominate players to attend Junior Regional Performance Centre (JRPC) assessment. JRPC activity will run from August through to November. For more information on JRPCs, please refer to the JRPC leaflet in this series or visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/jrpc.
Which Age Group?
| Birth Year | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | |||
| 1993 | Under 18s | |||||
| 1994 | Under 17s | Under 18s | ||||
| 1995 | Under 16s | Under 17s | Under 18s | |||
| 1996 | Under 15s | Under 16s | Under 17s | |||
| 1997 | Under 14s | Under 15s | Under 16s | |||
| 1998 | Under 13s | Under 14s | Under 15s | |||
| 1999 | Under 13s | Under 14s | ||||
| 2000 | Under 13s |
