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, creating a positive culture and positive 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.
What does this mean for:
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We’re ensuring that our clubs are in the best shape to deliver hockey to young people, by providing more training to our coaches, volunteers and welfare officers. Our delivery content will help 5-11 year olds learn the game in a fun way, develop age appropriate hockey skills, and build personal characteristics such as communication skills, decision making and teamwork. To find your nearest club that provides hockey sessions for 5-11 year-olds, please visit our Find A Club tool, or contact participation@englandhockey.co.uk.
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In schools, we’ll be training more teachers, and supporting them with new delivery content to ensure that hockey is delivered in PE lessons, and also extra-curricular clubs. We’re investing in state school provision of hockey through the School Games network where our skill station festivals will provide an introduction to the game, and our 4v4 format will cater for those looking for more competitive opportunities. For more details contact schools@englandhockey.co.uk.
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In communities, we’re building on our initial work as part of the Commonwealth Games Legacy where we worked with a host of different community groups to support their Holiday Activities and Food programme. Over the years, this has grown and we continue to work with organisations such as StreetGames to ensure that hockey can be delivered in non-traditional settings and can be modified to meet the needs of the young people, either as a stand alone activity or as part of a multisport session. We are committed to growing the game in this space and will be launching community projects across the country in 2025-26, and beyond. For more details, please contact participation@englandhockey.co.uk.
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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.
Play hockey in a place that's right for you
We want to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to play hockey within their chosen environment, and we’re focusing our attention on primary schools, hockey clubs and community groups.
Where would you like to play?
Club
Fun, safe and progressive hockey experiences for 5-11 year olds in clubs
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Community Groups
Flexible and informal activities to introduce hockey to community groups
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