 |
Hockey Victoria’s development strategy is more than conducting a junior state championships. It is about having a regionalised approach to the way we develop all areas of our sport.
The below areas of development are some of the key areas of development necessary for the longevity of field hockey in Victoria.
• Grass Root Participation – Minkey, Hook in2 Hockey & School Clinics
• Player pathways from club to Australian Representation
• Coaching & Umpire Pathways – Hockey Ed
• Facility Development
• Governance of clubs and associations
• Competitions
Development of any sport is about providing members with opportunities. The new Zone structure will provide all Victorian affiliates with a positive opportunity to grow to their ultimate potential as a players, coach, umpire, administrator and supporter.
Many of Victoria’s affiliates and their members have never previously been exposed to an involvement with the HV Junior State Championships and whilst it has in past provided such a nucleolus and pathway for so many of Victoria’s talented juniors we as a sport were not ensuring everyone was given an opportunity.
This opportunity is not just about players, coaches and umpires, parents and volunteers all need to be provided with exposure to best practice.
In 2010 the 10 new development Zones will start to see some of the benefits of the new Zone structure.
Each affiliate will be communicated with in relation to zone team nominations, head coaches will be appointed with the assistance of HV as well as undergoing a Coach the Coach session with HV Coaching Director Jim Irvine. Guidelines to selection and training will also be delivered to ensure the experience for all Victorian juniors in a fair and positive one.
Below is link to a list of the 10 Zones and the geographic regions where HV in conjunction with clubs and associations will be monitoring hockey development. Also provided below is a link the player development pathway available through Hockey Victoria. 
ZONES
Questions such as how many synthetic hockey grounds are in this Zone, how many accredited coaches are in this Zone and how do we build the game of hockey up in some areas of this Zone will now be answered in terms of Zones. How many players are reaching the pinnacle of this sport in Victoria are from this Zone.
Whilst HV appreciate some clubs and associations have existing relationships with other clubs and associations the geographic boarders are the fairest way to provide a divide as well as the most marketable approach for HV when speaking to the Victorian Government.
In 2010 parts of regional Victoria will be introduced to HV’s Regional Road show. It is hoped that this program becomes a key fixture in assisting regional associations with grass root engagement, participation and increases in coaching accreditation and skill development within the Zones.
Over 4,000 primary aged students will be visited throughout the program and it is hoped that over 300 children will then choose hockey as their chosen sport.
Jim Irvine’s experience and coaching methods will provide a new perspective on coaching for all regional and metropolitan Zones whilst Andrea Snow and Andrew Skillern’s influence on development programs within the state, zones and clubs will assist in development of juniors at all levels.
Cricket Victoria, the AFL, Netball Victoria and the Football Federation of Victoria currently have more than five times the staff contributing to the development of their sport.
Whilst at this stage hockey does not have the recourses of these larger sporting organisations we can still set ourselves up in this professional manner and start to match it with the big sports when talking with government.
For more information please follow the links below:
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGYFAQsZONESTALENTED DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY
