SUSSEX HOCKEY ASSOCIATION

What is Talent Academy Selection?

Talent Academy (TA) is one of the many pathways to follow if you wish to play National Age Group (England) level hockey, for Under 16 and Under 18 players.

For those players whose County/Club/School coach believes they have potential to make an England U16/U18 team, but recognise the player needs time to nurture their potential, the Talent Academy program is an option for that player. If the coach believes the player is ready, they can nominate directly to England for “open nominations” for the Age Group Squads.

The Talent Academy framework insists that the local academy selects 25 boys, and 25 girls, from their long-list, by the end of September in the given season. This selection should be complete by October to form the Talent Academy squad that year.

Age Profile of TA squad

The 25 player TA squad should consist of players from 4 different age groups (Under 15 to Under 18). England Hockey suggest the following make up of the squad and the local TA’s should select players accordingly:

(Image taken from the England Hockey Document “TA Selection Guidance” found on this link)

If the player is in Under 13 or Under 14 age group, they should prioritise County/Club/School hockey that season, as they are not eligible for Talent Academy activity.

Identification and selection timeline

Coaches in clubs, schools & county’s should be identifying potential TA players throughout the year and, the local Talent Academy should be offering opportunities for potential future TA players to be observed from January to July in a calendar year.

Nominations for these “observation” opportunities go directly to England Hockey, not to the Talent Academy, so the governing body can keep track of the countries youth potential. Direct nominations to TA do not get visibility by England, so are no help to a players pathway progress.

After this process, a “long-list” of potential players should be created and nominated to England Hockey for consideration in the following seasons assessment phase.

The assessments will take place in August and September, with final selection of the 25 player squad is to be completed by the end of September:

(Image taken from the England Hockey Document “TA Selection Guidance” found on this link)

This means that all local players should understand whether they are selected for Talent Academy squad activity by October 1st. Unfortunately this is after the completion of county academy phase selection, so we at Sussex need to work with players who need an additional environment to help them progress their hockey, in the absence of TA.

County Selection for a TA trialist

Sussex County Hockey run assessment sessions in September. These assessments allow county age group coaches to select an “Academy” squad, who will take part in future county activity.

In seasons where county and TA trials are on the same dates, it is advisable that players attend TA trials.

If they wish to also be considered for county academy squads, whether they are selected for TA or not, they should contact the head of Sussex hockey or, the squad age group coach.

Depending on the number of players absent from county assessment, and the make up of any particular county squad, Sussex will find a way to accommodate these players in future county activity. The choices open to Sussex include:

• Running additional “assessment days” for those who weren’t able to attend scheduled events due to TA trials
• Using the knowledge of coaches from previous county age group squads
• Accommodating players in normal academy activity as their assessment
• Speaking with club or school coaches about the player and using this as part of an assessment of suitability

A decision on how to accommodate a player will be taken on a case by case basis.

How to take part in the Sussex if trialing for TA

If you would like to be considered for county hockey post Talent Academy trials, you must inform the Chair of Sussex hockey or the lead coach in advance of county trials.

This must be done in a private communication using the Spond app, or, by email.

The Sussex Hockey family is proud to offer young hockey players an option of an environment to aspire to play in, and will do everything possible to accommodate players post TA trials. We also need to care for an be mindful of players who are new to the county pathway and would like their turn to progress, so understanding is required from all parties.

To improve chances of county selection, TA trial feedback from the TA coaches will be useful to the player. Please make sure you request this feedback after the TA decisions. It will also be important for the player to understand this, and together we can work on improvements ahead of next seasons assessments.