The NSW Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) programs form an underpinning program for the Hockey NSW Athlete Acceleration Program (AAP), that can see athletes progress through the athlete Hockey Development Pathway, and be provided the support they need, to progress to the next level.

The program is provided to support female and male Hockey players between 16 and 18 years of age. (Born 2004, 2005, 2006)

The 2021 2022 program is set to commence in mid-November delivering physical conditioning, education and field-based skill sessions. The field-based skill sessions will be held in 2.5-hour blocks. The program will break for the entire duration of the December school holidays and training will resume with regular evening sessions running from early February through to Academy Games (April 8-10, 2022).

All Academy sessions are generally held throughout the Academy region, although we will go outside the local region for the training camp and ClubsNSW Academy Games which will be held in Wagga Wagga NSW for 2022.

SWSAS will also run strength and conditioning, athlete sports education and personal development sessions throughout the season.

It is expected that athletes will undertake their own training over and above the SWSAS sessions.

The purpose of the SWSAS hockey program is to:

• Provide an environment for the athletes to develop.
• Give access to quality services and programs, as they progress through the Hockey Development Pathway.
• Provide a coach education and development program for Regional Academy coaches, with the support of Hockey NSW Regional Participation Coordinator (RPC) Network.
• Prepare athletes for the 2022 Hockey season.

Program Outline:

The program is supported and endorsed as an integral component of the HNSW Development Pathway.

And offers on and off pitch support all athletes, which includes access to education, fitness, and nutrition as well as specific on field technical training. The program will run mainly over the off season of Hockey during the months of October to April. During the Hockey season of April to September the scholarship holders will have reduced contact with the Academy.

The program will consist of:

• A minimum of 30 hours on field sessions and 3-6 hours of education.
• Sports Science Fitness Testing and Functional Movement Screening.
• Fitness program to consist of basic strength and conditioning through the SWSAS Sportly App, which will be updated quarterly.
• Athlete education topics relevant to the makeup of athletes within the program, will be selected from the following: Drugs in Sport and Community, Nutrition, Resilience, Sports Medicine/Injury Prevention, Integrity in Sport, Public Speaking, Social Media for Athletes, Mental Wellbeing, Social Media Danger, Sports Psychology, Financial Fitness, and Strength and Conditioning.
• Provision of a coach education and development program, with the support of Hockey NSW Regional Participation Coordinator (RPC) Network.

Athlete Criteria:

• 16–18 years of age in 2022 (Athletes born 2004, 2005 and 2006).
• Not a scholarship holder in the Hockey NSW AAP for the same term*
• Selection based on the Academy’s defined local government boundaries
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a Hockey NSW affiliated association within the Academy local government areas of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly.
• All athletes must be a registered primary member of a Hockey NSW affiliated Association as of the 1^{st of} January 2021.
• Athletes can only be a scholarship holder in one Academy annually.

 Note: The program is provided separately and does not include selected AAP athletes.

* Athletes holding AAP scholarship may be included in the SWSAS program at the discretion of the HNSW Pathway Manager.

Note: Scholarships are not in the form of a monetary sum, but rather enable athletes to participate in the academy program.

In selecting the athletes that will hold scholarships within the 2021 2022 SWSAS hockey program, SWSAS is seeking to lay the foundations for the development and emergence of quality athletes that will progress to the highest level of participation in the sport. With the program content featuring skills and technical development opportunities, athlete education, sports science and fitness elements, the program is a comprehensive introduction to what will be required at the elite levels of the sport.

Athlete Scholarship Levy:

• A program levy of $400 GST inclusive will be applicable to all successful Athletes.
• A uniform including a walkout polo, walkout shorts, training t-shirt, full tracksuit, and cap will be provided as part of the overall program. A competition uniform kit is provided for match play where needed.
• Note: Additional items such as a Hoodie, Back Pack, Sports Bag and SWSAS socks will be available to purchase at an additional cost.
• All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 14 days of completing 'scholarship agreement forms', or the scholarship offer may be withdrawn; unless agreed Board of Management arrangements have been confirmed.

TBC for 2021 2022 Sports Program Year.