• Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.
• Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for athletes during representative off-season programs, as a part of the Hockey NSW High Performance Pathway program. 
• Compliment athletes local Representative team training and encourage athletes to be leaders within those teams.
• Prepare athletes for NSW High Performance trials and pathways, such as the Hockey NSW AAP program, NSW State Squads and/or Teams, and future NSW and/or National selection. 

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport Hockey program is closely aligned to the Hockey NSW high performance curriculum, and operates in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport Hockey programs, and as such is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathway. And include training in the NSW Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development. 

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include events scheduled in conjunction with other NSW Regional Academies of Sport and/or camp-like training environments.

• Athletes must be between 16 and 18 years of age as of 31 December 2023. 
  • ie born 2005 - 2007
• Athletes must be a registered member of Hockey NSW
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a HNSW affiliated association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Athletes who have been selected, or are selected into the Hockey NSW AAP Program are eligible to participate within parts of the SWSAS Academy Program, subject to the approval of Hockey NSW. 
• Approval will be subject to the training load and commitments for the AAP program, however may include inclusion into the SWSAS Academy sports education, strength and conditioning, sport science testing and or athlete health and wellbeing programs. 

Nominations for the 2022-2023 Squad open Friday 16 September 2022, and close 5pm Wednesday 5 October 2022. 

A Trial will take place on Sunday 9 October, 2022 - 7:30am - 10:00am at Moorebank Liverpool Hockey Complex, Moorebank

The Trial will feature a number of skill and drill sessions, as well as short sided and/or modified games. 

Depending on the number of nominations and trialists, a second trial may take place at a time and venue TBC. 

Selection Process:

• Athletes must nominate and attend one or more trial/s as listed.
• Athletes must attend all trials. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• The Academy may select up to 15 Male and 15 Female athletes from the 16-18yr age group.
• The Academy will select a squad, not a team. As such, there is no requirement to select based on filling certain playing positions.
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised after the final trial, and will need to attend an Induction Session on Wednesday November 23, and may be required to attend the Academy Media Day on Sunday December 4.  

Athlete Levy

• A program levy of $400 inclusive of GST, will be applicable to all successful athletes. 

Additional Camp Levies

• Athletes within the program who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Wagga Wagga during late April 2023 will be required to pay a Games levy of $350, which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Levies. 
• Additional Camp levies may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. 

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless arrangements have been made with the Board of Management.

UNIFORM

NEW ATHLETES

• New Athletes will be provided a full uniform including a walkout polo, walkout shorts, training (gym) t-shirt, tracksuit jacket and tracksuit pants. 
• New Athletes will also be provided an Academy Branded reversible playing/training singlet and performance shorts/skorts.

RETURNING ATHLETES

• Returning Athletes who require a new reversible playing / training singlet or performance shorts/skorts will be eligible for a discount off the purchase through the Academy's Official Uniform Supplier Aceit. 

Athletes who require any additional or replacement walkout, competition or optional uniform items (including hoodie, backpack, SWSAS socks, sportsbag etc) will be able to purchase these items through the Academy's Official Uniform Supplier Aceit.

• SWSAS will conduct regular training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training between October 2022 and April 2023. A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program and in the lead up to the Regional Academy Games.

• Regular training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible. 

• Selected athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, that may include access to a supervised gym program throughout the December - January holiday period. 

• The Academy will send one male and one female team to compete in the  ClubsNSW 'Your Local Club' Regional Academy Games Hockey competition to be held in Wagga Wagga, Friday to Sunday 21-23 April, 2023. 

• The Academy may send age and gender appropriate team's to other tournaments, or conduct Development Camps/Challenges with other Regional Academy or high performance programs and invited teams in early 2023.

• Training sessions will take place at either the Metro South West Hockey (Narellan) or Moorebank Liverpool Hockey Complex. A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the TeamApp online communication tool. 

2022-2023 Hockey Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Nathanael Stewart
Assistant Coach: Michelle Lethwaite
Assistant Coach: TBA

Squad Manager: TBA

2022-2023 Hockey Squad

To be announced 11 November, 2022