Masters Championships

The beauty of hockey is that anyone can play and our Masters Championships provide a great platform for senior players to come together in their age groups and renew old friendships and rivalries.

Masters Championships Format and Eligibility

The Masters Championships continue to follow the ages group structure introduced for the 2024/25 season. These are groups are: Over 35s, Over 45s, Over 55s and Over 65. This alignment reflects that Masters hockey now begins at the Over 35 level, updating the original Over 40s and 50s structure first set nearly 30 seasons ago.

Over 65s Competition

The Over 65s competition will be for County teams or, where approved by the Area Masters Committee, teams made up of two or more Counties.

• Players must represent the County that their Saturday adult league club play in. 
•  Counties will be able to field more than one team. 

This reflects that few clubs could field an Over 65s team made up of players from their adult Saturday league teams but ensures that there is a structure for selection. It also reflects that there is increasing Masters’ county activity.   

Club Player Eligibility 

To support fair and consistent competition, the following regulations apply in the 2025/26 season:

• Teams are limited to two England Masters players (those who have played for England in the current or previous season), unless those players also represent the club in Saturday adult league hockey.
• A player may not play for a different club than their Saturday adult league club in any Championship at the same age group their club has entered.

Championship Structure 

A Tier 3 Shield competition is included in any age group Championship that has 32 or more entries.

• All teams enter at Tier 1.
• Teams losing in the first two rounds of Tier 1 progress to the Tier 2 Plate.
• Teams losing in Round 1 of the Tier 2 Plate are entered into the Tier 3 Shield.

This structure offers increased playing opportunities, ensures more balanced matchups, and provides most teams with a minimum of three games.

Player Eligibility 

• Players must have reached the relevant age in the years of the competition. 
• For example in the Over 35s Championships players must reach 35 on or before 31 December 2026.

Entry for the 2025/26 Masters Championships is now open.

For queries, contact the England Hockey Competitions Department: jo.stratfull@englandhockey.co.uk