HP- Pathway Pilot Program

NHA would like to inform our community that regarding a High Performance Pathway Pilot that hockey is undertaking in partnership with High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ).

Over the past year HNZ have been shifting our focus to ‘open the Black Sticks’, a strategy towards a more regional approach to our high performance system and developing the regional training environments. HPSNZ has been piloting a small number of regional pathway programmes and hockey has been part of this in Dunedin, Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Whangārei, the next iteration of this programme is extending further now into regional pods like Nelson.

As this is a pilot programme designed to test and capture learnings to inform future work, capacity is limited to a maximum of 2/3 athletes per association. As part of the programme, these athletes will have funded access to HPSNZ services including strength and conditioning programmes, performance life consultants, mental skills providers etc, as well as individual support from a trained Independent Facilitator (IF) who will guide off field development through their individual performance plan and circles of support.

The programme has been well received and impactful in the regions hockey has been involved. This is an exciting opportunity to provide high level athlete support to some regionally based players and to continue to grow our system.

Background
HPSNZ has identified that the current cohort of athletes focussed on Paris 2024 will have had,on average, 12 years of system support before they arrive in Paris. HPSNZ has also noted that the pool of athletes who will form the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic teams are at present under 21, living at home and sourcing their support services regionally, on an ad hoc basis. To achieve repeatable success in 2028 and 2032 HPSNZ needs to develop an
enhanced talent pipeline for these athletes. The Pathways Programme is that pipeline.

Programme
The purpose is to identify and support pre-HP athletes to commence their transition into High Performance sport. Identified athletes will have demonstrated the fundamental attributes, abilities, and motivation for future success and the programme will aim to grow the proven habits associated with performance at the International level. Their development will be enhanced by the support of an Independent Facilitator and access to a
range of HPSNZ supported activities that can be tailored to their individual needs.

Outcomes
Through this programme HPSNZ seeks to ensure that:
– Athletes can access the coaching and development support they need within regional environments.
– Regional athletes and coaches are identified as those demonstrating transition
readiness, future performance attributes and ambitions; and are connected to National Pathways.
– Athletes gain understanding about NSO development priorities, to enable them to successfully navigate key transitions and optimise their future potential.
– Athletes are more planned in dealing with multiple commitments, in life and sport.
– Athletes develop awareness and identity in sport and life to optimise future decision making.

Athletes
As mentioned, we are restricted to a maximum of 2/3 athletes from each association. We can support the process of identifying the right type of athletes for this programme, however, in the absence of national players in your area you will need to lean on your local network to help identify suitable people.

In the first instance, the criteria should work as follows:
– U21s selected for National programmes 2023/4
– U18s selected for National programmes 2023
– U18 local representative players with high potential for National selection 2024

Independent Facilitator
HPSNZ will train an IF for each association, we can work with you to identify the right people for these roles. The role of the IF is to ensure the athlete’s performance, long term development and wellbeing needs are prioritised in all decision making. This will include bringing together the athlete’s circle of support (coach, Performance Support personnel and other key people identified by the athlete). The IF will also lead the tracking and impact
through regular monitoring of the athlete’s IPP and action plan.

At NHA , HPSN just completed the training of Paul Jones (Independent Facilitator) who will start the Program before Christmas with our athletes selected Clara Gardiner , Scott Brown & Kurt Ward.

We wish them a great learning opportunity through this Program.