Hockey: Hockey bosses set youth development as key goal

Taking a proactive rather than reactive approach, New Zealand Hockey are determined to build a solid youth-based foundation - and prepared to base this on the models used by the leading nations - to move their game forward.

Coaches from the 16 National Hockey League teams will also be given the opportunity to be part of the programme aimed at building the coaching base and having full-strength teams well-prepared for the 2013 Junior World Cups and beyond that the 2016 Olympics.

The lack of depth at the highest level was exposed at the men's World Cup in New Delhi where players called in as replacements were found to be off the pace required at the highest level.

In losing Brad and Hayden Shaw through unavailability, Simon Child who opted out and captain Phil Burrows through injury early in the tournament, the Black Sticks' lack of depth was quickly evident.

"We have to build a depth of talent through our junior high performance programme," said HNZ chief executive Hilary Poole.

"We want to use the 2013 Junior World Cup as the initial focus. We sent teams to those tournaments last year but they were just pulled together on a user pays basis which meant not necessarily the best players went.

"Last October we selected two national junior squads of 18 men and 18 women who had played in the national under-18 tournament. They will have four training camps this year. Last year they had only one. We are now looking for international competition for these players."

If and when funding allows, HNZ hope to follow the Australia, German and Dutch model where up to 30 of their best players are given an early exposure to international play.

"We will look to reselect the squads late each year with the best of the under-17 and under-18 year-olds moving up to the under-21 academies and from there on to the development squads (up to 10 players) and later the national squads which will remain at 24.

"Our young women players have been given an early opportunity to play internationally," said Poole. "We have been invited as the Oceania representative to play in the Youth Olympics in Singapore in August along with Argentina, Holland, Germany, South Africa and Singapore."

Poole said her sport remains very vulnerable to "funding ebbs and flows" but is determined to find the ongoing funding needed to support the programme. In the meantime, national women's coach Mark Hager is preparing for a three-match series with Argentina.

Hager is without four of his most experienced players with Katie Glynn, Krystal Forgesson, Emily Naylor and Kayla Sharland in Europe playing for a Dutch club side.

"Provided they are not involved in any relegation play-offs, they will be back for the series against India in May," said Hager. "With these players missing the Argentina series it is the chance to have another look at some of the younger players. It will also be the first time Piki Hamahona has played for me."

After the Indian series Hager will name his 18 players for the Champions Trophy in Nottingham in July.

They will prepare for that six-team tournament by playing in a four-nation competition in Holland with Argentina, China and the Dutch - all teams bound for Nottingham.