JUNIOR hockey players will benefit even further from a Hockey NSW initiative to make radical changes to its junior development programs.
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Local juniors had to travel extensively to Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong in past years to train in state teams.
That now appears to have been changed after Hockey NSW unveiled plans for a new Central Development Program that regional coaching co-ordindator Blair Chalmers can only further benefit the talented young players in the New England and North West.
“In the past not a lot of local players accessed the yearly development clinics,” Chalmers told The Leader.
“They were often held in Sydney, Newcastle or Wollongong. The additional cost to parents in relation to travel, accommodation and meals made it cost-prohibitive.
The Centre of Development Program overcomes those additional costs as it is conducted locally and will provide a greater opportunity for players at any level to extend their game to a higher level.
“Players will be exposed to a variety of highly accredited coaches identified by Hockey NSW as they were under the previous Development Clinic model.
“I encourage any player that is eligible to register for this program to do so.”
Hockey NSW this week unveiled plans for a revised Centre of Development Program that will see radical changes in the way athletes approach their hockey careers in NSW.
Rolled out to under 13s and under 15s boys and girls only in its first year of operation, the Centre of Development Program will provide quality coaching and development to athletes of all skill levels in their home region on a weekly basis during the off-season.
Replacing the HNSW Development Clinic and partly the Regional Academy of Sport Programs (16 - 18 year olds), the program was developed due to an
