— England Hockey Talent Academy

EG Talent Academy

The England Hockey Talent Academy for the South-Central region of the South East, operated by East Grinstead Hockey Club. High-performance coaching and competition for young players looking to significantly accelerate their progress through England Hockey's Performance Pathway.

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National champions. EGTA Boys won the England Hockey TA Cup at Nottingham in July 2025, winning all three matches to finish first of 24 Talent Academies.

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Latest from the Academy

EGTA news

22 September 2026

EGTA 2026/27 training blocks under way

The new EG Talent Academy season has started, with structured training blocks running from September to July.

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15 September 2026

EGTA trials: what players and parents can expect

A quick guide to how EGTA trials work, from coach nomination to the September assessment sessions.

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8 September 2026

Goalkeeping focus at the EG Talent Academy

Our goalkeeping lead runs dedicated sessions for EGTA keepers alongside the main training blocks.

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1 September 2026

Player profiling and development plans at EGTA

Every EGTA player is profiled and given an individual development plan, reviewed through the season.

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All EGTA news

Licence

1 of 24

England Hockey licensed Talent Academies, and the only one in Sussex. Licensed since 2022/23.

Commitment

~100 hours

Of extra hockey contact time a year, on top of existing club and school hockey.

Squads

~25 per gender

Training squad numbers kept small to protect coaching quality, intensity and continuity.

Re-licensed

2025 – 2028

Our licence was renewed for a second three-year cycle from autumn 2025.

The concept

What is a Talent Academy?

Talent Academies are where England Hockey supports the country's highest-potential young players. They are the principal talent development environment for 15 to 18 year olds and the main route into the England Age Group programme — a large proportion of England age-group players come through a Talent Academy.

Each academy works with a small squad per gender. Players are assessed against the GB Hockey Talent System Framework and its “Complete Player Capabilities”, and every player has an Individual Development Plan that is reviewed through the year, alongside fixtures against other academies.

It is not the only route to the top. England Hockey also runs open nominations and scouting, and players can join, pause or re-enter the system at different points. But for most ambitious 15 to 18 year olds, a Talent Academy is the environment that makes the difference.

The standard

What a licence demands

England Hockey awards Talent Academy licences for three-year cycles, and they come with high expectations: structured training blocks from September to July, qualified coaches and a goalkeeping lead, player profiling and development plans, a designated welfare officer, scholarship places and annual quality assurance. Host clubs must also hold Talent Centre status.

Why EG

Why the EG Talent Academy

Premier League club

Top flight, both genders, both formats

East Grinstead is one of very few clubs in the country with Men's and Women's teams in the England Hockey League Premier Division both outdoors and indoors. We are used to working with emerging and established performance players.

Coaching

Coaches from across the region

Qualified coaches, seasoned Premier League players and internationals, drawn from several organisations — not just EGHC — for a balanced, inclusive and diverse coaching team.

Partnership

Two venues, one programme

We partner with Hurstpierpoint College. Training nights are usually at Hurst in the autumn and spring, then move to EGHC for the summer term, with camps and home matches at East Grinstead.

Analysis

Video like the professionals

A clubhouse video room with a giant screen, analysis at camps and matches, and every home match recorded and live-streamed for players, parents and coaches.

Results

National champions

EGTA Boys won the 2025 TA Cup, and several EGTA players have progressed to England assessments.

Pathway

Connected to club hockey

EGHC's MiniStars (U10–U12) and Talent Development Academy (U14) prepare younger players — 14 TDA players were nominated for the Talent Academy in 2025/26 — and our adult teams offer a clear next step after the Academy.

The programme

A year in the EG Talent Academy

The EGTA programme runs in phases from September to July. Timings and phases may change, so treat this as a guide.

Phase 1.1 · September

Trials

Nominated players attend one to three trials camps of around four hours' pitch time, plus activities that assess analytical capabilities. Last year's TA Cup squad are exempt.

Phase 1.2 · October

Assessment

Successful trialists join returning TA Cup players for around three weeks of two-hour Monday-night sessions, after which the training squads are selected.

Phase 1.3 · Nov – Dec

Foundation block

A block of squad training up to Christmas, including an indoor training camp, building the foundations for the summer.

Phase 2.0 · Jan – Apr

Extended training

Training sessions and day camps, with friendly and training matches against other Talent Academies.

Phase 3.0 · Apr – Jul

Summer development

Squads continue to develop together with sessions and day camps, now based at East Grinstead.

Phase 4.0 · July

Talent Academy Cup

Twenty players per gender are selected for England Hockey's multi-day TA Cup at Nottingham Hockey Centre.

2026/27 is under way. Trials finished in September and squad training runs on Monday evenings at Hurstpierpoint College from October. Every date is in the subscribable EGTA calendar.

EGTA calendar

Inside the programme

What players experience

Camps

TA camps

Extended contact time covering many aspects of the game and constant refinement of the basics, with video review alongside coaches, internationals and Premier League players.

Training

Squad training

Monday evenings in term time (Fridays nearer the summer), developing individual skills and techniques to give every player the best chance of TA Cup selection.

Matches

TA fixtures

Matches against other Talent Academies, home and away. Home matches at East Grinstead are recorded, downloadable and live-streamed.

Competition

The TA Cup

One match a day over several days at Nottingham, with a head coach, assistant coach and manager — and in-tournament video analysis, just as Premier League and international teams do.

Getting in

Who it's for, and how to join

Players

Is it right for you?

The players who benefit most have a passion for the sport, a mindset focused on reaching the highest level, and are prepared to work hard. They already show high potential against the Talent System's Complete Player Capabilities and are making steady progress.

It is a real commitment — around 100 extra hours a year — at an age when exams are ramping up. A strong partnership between EGTA staff, families and club and school coaches keeps the player at the centre and helps balance priorities.

Nomination

How to get involved

Tell your school or club coach you want to be considered. Entry usually comes through nomination by a coach, followed by an invitation from EGTA to the trials each September. Summer taster camps help players prepare.

Players develop at different speeds. If a player isn't selected first time, the door stays open for later inclusion, and those in the programme can step out temporarily or permanently if they need to.

Support

Funding, welfare and partnership

Not for profit

Fees in phases

EGTA is a not-for-profit programme, governed separately from EGHC as England Hockey requires. Fees are charged by phase to spread the cost.

Bursaries

Help with costs

We budget for a number of bursary places each season. If cost is a barrier, please get in touch and we'll help find a solution.

Ask about bursaries

Safeguarding

Welfare first

Staff and volunteers are vetted in line with England Hockey guidance. If anything feels wrong, follow the EGHC welfare process or speak to any coach.

EGHC welfare process

Parents & clubs

Working together

Our Talent Academy Director keeps in regular contact with parents, and we document every player's development plan. Area clubs are welcome to volunteer at squad sessions.

England Hockey Talent System resources EGHC policies

Ambitious? Let us know.

Talk to your club or school coach about a nomination, or email the Academy team with any questions about trials, the programme or bursaries.

Email talentacademy@eghockey.co.uk Talent Centre