Talent System Overview
England Hockey has ambitions to deepen the talent pool of players with the most potential and to do so it is vitally important that we embed a non-linear talent system that creates more opportunities for progression via multiple routes. A fluid system that places the player at the heart is fundamental by recognising that talent develops at different rates and each individual journey is unique. England Hockey are therefore pleased to communicate information regarding the nomination process for players into Talent Academies that aligns to this ambition.
Nomination Process
The nomination process enables nominated players to access assessment opportunities within the Talent Academy catchment area aligned to their club. This process aligns with the Talent Academy Player Identification & Selection Guidance which you can find within the documents and downloads section on this page.
The map identifying which Talent Academy your Club relates to is in the links to the side and below:
This nomination, assessment and selection process follows an annual cycle.
During this cycle, each Talent Academy will add details of upcoming assessment opportunities to their individual websites.
Assessment opportunities should not clash with centralised calendar dates.
Nominations
As with many sports the nomination processes require a player to be nominated by a coach or teacher from a school, club, or county hockey environment. This allows the player to attend an assessment opportunity at a Talent Academy.
Coaches nominate players by submitting the player nomination form in the link at the bottom of this page.
Please note Talent Academies are intended for high potential players who will be entering school years 10, 11, 12 and 13 at the start of the following annual cycle.
Nominations are submitted with the understanding a player is being put forward, were successful, to join the Talent Academy squad for the following annual cycle. (Only in exceptional circumstances or where space allows players who are identified during the cycle will be able to access provision).
Following a player being nominated, they will be automatically informed of their nomination and will receive an email inviting them to register for an assessment opportunity. This will be an event located within the Talent Academy catchment area that their nearest club resides in (if you are unsure of which catchment area you reside in, please refer to the Talent Academy Club Mapping resource within the external links section). If for geographical, logistical, or personal circumstances a nominated player would like to attend an open assessment opportunity in a different catchment area they can indicate this when completing registration.
Once registration has been completed the Talent Academy will make contact with further information and details. If you would like to contact your local Talent Academy please click here for relevant contact details. No nominations can be made direct to Talent Academies, only nominations made through the EH process and link below can be accepted for assessment.
At each step of the process coaches and parents / players receive confirmation regarding the information they have submitted.
- Club, school or county nominate a player.
- Parent is informed and asked to register or decline by following a link in the email and completing their players details.
- The Talent Academy is informed once the parent has registered and consented.
- Talent Academy contacts parent with assessment details and further information.
- Player is assessed by Talent Academy for selection.
The November 'last look' window for Talent Academy Nominations is now open for all Talent Academies.
Please use this link to nominate a player from your school, club, or county:
https://tanominations.talentplatform.hockey/talent-academy-open-nominations/
To find out more about the Talent Academies Player Identification and Selection Guidelines, please visit the documents and downloads section.
England Hockey recognise selection can be a challenging experience for some young players. Therefore, please see the resource by the University of Alberta, Canada (in the documents and downloads section), which offers some useful tips to coaches, players, and parents to help ease the pain and promote positive athlete development.
