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England Hockey launches new era of coach education: 2026 Courses now live
England Hockey has officially opened bookings for its redesigned coaching courses, marking a significant shift towards a more flexible, immersive, and "real-world" experience.
The updated curriculum moves away from traditional "levels" in favour of a blended learning journey. By combining self-paced e-learning, facilitated online modules, and hands-on pitch sessions, these courses provide a supportive experience allowing coaches to balance their professional development with existing coaching commitments.
At the core of this revamp is the focus on Active Learning. Instead of just absorbing theory, coaches are encouraged to engage in problem-solving and critical thinking that mirrors the challenges they face in their coaching every week.
Sam Beveridge, England Hockey Coach Developer explains: “Our priority is to ensure that the learning is relevant and meaningful, to allow experiential learning linked to the real-life world of hockey coaching we all experience every week."
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Simply choose the course that matches your coaching role:
- The Coach Course: Perfect for those responsible for working directly with players, coaching independently, and looking to build confidence, refine delivery and player engagement.
- The Lead Coach Course: Aimed at those responsible for working directly with players, coaching independently, while also writing and organising their environments programme and supporting other coaches and helpers. This pathway offers increased mastery, including 15 hours of enhanced leadership content beyond the standard Coach Course.
Courses are built around the SPEG model (Self, Player, Environment, and Game), a framework which ensures that coaches aren’t just teaching technical skills but are also considering the psychological needs of the player and the team culture. By integrating this with “Hockey IQ”, coaches are able to explore the latest principles and phases of play, both in and out of possession.
Ian Sloan, England Hockey Coach Developer and ex-GB Hockey International, is excited to bring this tactical understanding to the pitch: "Bringing Hockey IQ to life is going to be a real step forward for coaching in England. We’ve created new e-learning around the principles & phases both ‘In Possession’ and ‘Out of Possession’, which is full of videos to make the learning engaging and relevant."
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If you hold a legacy qualification (such as an old Level 1, 2, or 3), you are strongly encouraged to refresh your learning. This ensures your practice meets current England Hockey Best Practice Standards for safety, inclusion, and player welfare, giving you and your organisation total peace of mind.
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The only booking window for 2026 is open now and closes in June 2026. To ensure a high-quality, interactive experience, places are limited to 20 per course.
Coach Course (formerly Sessional Coach)
Lead Coach Course (formerly Coach Course)
Need some help?
Every coach’s journey is unique so if you aren't sure which 2026 courses best match your previous training, or if you have specific individual circumstances you'd like to talk through, the England Hockey coaching team is here to support you.
Please email us at coaching@englandhockey.co.uk to discuss your situation and ensure you choose the best path for your continued development.