Junior Hockey Framework

The Junior Hockey Framework is England Hockey’s unified approach to junior hockey, ensuring every young person can have a positive experience of hockey in an environment that's right for them. It brings together and aligns the entire junior hockey system – across clubs, schools, and community partners - around a shared vision and common principles, all of which put the development of a young person at the centre. 

The framework will be rolled out in phases from September 2025 – with the first phase focusing on delivery to 5-11 year olds, equipping deliverers to create a positive culture and provide progressive experiences across three key environments – clubs, schools and communities.

• Culture: Creating safe, connected spaces that value youth voice and focus on holistic development. We will help young people develop as hockey players, but in addition, our sport can help them develop as individuals.
• Experience: Ensuring the hockey experience delivered puts young people first and  is fun, progressive, active, and engaging.  We will meet young people’s motivations, celebrate their achievements, keep them active and create a sense of belonging to hockey.
• Environment: Supporting junior hockey wherever it happens—in schools, clubs, and communities. Our network of clubs will provide excellent opportunities to play hockey, but we need to ensure that it can also be played in schools, and in community groups.  We’ll be taking hockey to young people to introduce them to the sport and our new delivery content will help with transition from one environment to the other. 

Hockey Heroes & Quicksticks

As we develop the Junior Hockey Framework, we’re putting these two programmes on hold. However, we’ve taken the best bits from both programmes, and are using them to support all clubs, schools and community groups in providing brilliant experiences for more 5-11 year olds.

For more assistance, please contact participation@englandhockey.co.uk.

Who can it attract?

The Junior Hockey Framework is designed for everyone involved in delivering, supporting or experiencing junior hockey. It provides clear guidance, accessible tools and a shared vision - so that every young person can have a great start in the sport.

The programme will attract young people aged 5-11, and their parents and guardians, and it will support coaches, teachers and volunteers, from clubs, schools and community groups.

Available Support

All of the support resources can be found on Hockey Hub in the Junior Hockey Framework section.  This will include:

• Content designed with you, for you: co-created with feedback from young people, coaches, teachers, clubs and schools - ensuring it meets real needs in real settings.
• A unified, flexible delivery model: for the first time, a single framework supports delivery across clubs, schools and community partners - with adaptable, age-appropriate session plans tailored for 5–11-year-olds.
• Hockey intelligence built in: every session embeds the principles of physical literacy, holistic child development, and progressive skill-building, helping develop better players and people.
• Positive, age-appropriate competition: guidance on simplified, child-centred formats to ensure early competitive experiences are fun, inclusive and developmentally right.
• Support for those who deliver: we’re removing complexity and providing clear guidance, training and best practice standards to give all deliverers the confidence and tools to succeed.

How to Get Involved

If you’d like to help make hockey more visible, relevant and accessible to 5-11 year olds in your club, your school, or your community group, click on the links below, contact participation@englandhockey.co.uk, or access the supporting resources in Hockey Hub.