East Grinstead Hockey Club Junior Performance Programme

Talent Development Academy

A high-performance accelerator programme for ambitious juniors, targeting England Hockey's Talent Academy.

#PlayWithHeart

The Talent Development Academy (TDA) is the bridge between MiniStars and England Hockey's Talent Academy. Designed by our Premier League coaching team and delivered inside an England Hockey certified Talent Centre, it gives ambitious U14 players the advanced technical coaching, game understanding and behaviours they need to progress into club, representative and talent pathway hockey.

TDA store Next step: Talent Academy Our Talent Centre

2026/27 squads are under way. Applications for this season closed on 7 September. Want to be considered next time? Let us know and we'll keep you informed about the next intake.

Progression

14 nominations

TDA players nominated for the Talent Academy in 2025/26.

International

1 NAGS trial

Player selected for an England National Age Group Squad trial in 2025/26.

Certified

Talent Centre

Coaching environment certified by England Hockey for Talent Foundations.

Next step

1 of 24

England Hockey licensed Talent Academies — and ours is run by EGHC.

The pathway

The step before the Talent Academy

EGHC is one of very few clubs where an ambitious player can go from their first MiniStars session to England Hockey's Talent Academy without leaving the club. The TDA is the crucial middle step: it turns strong foundations into the habits, decision-making and resilience that Talent Academy coaches look for.

Foundation · U6 upwards

Age-group hockey

Weekly training and matches with their squad — which every TDA player keeps.

Step 1 · U10 & U12

MiniStars

Individual skill, confidence and decision-making on Friday evenings, indoors and out.

About MiniStars

Step 2 · U14

Talent Development Academy

Advanced technique, game understanding and the behaviours of a pathway player.

You are here

Step 3 · U16 & U18

EG Talent Academy

England Hockey's licensed Talent Academy, run by EGHC — the main route into England age-group hockey.

About the Talent Academy

Why EG

Certified coaching at the age that matters most

EGHC is an England Hockey certified Talent Centre: the governing body has assessed our coaching, competition, culture and welfare and confirmed they meet or exceed its standards for Talent Foundations. The TDA sits at the very top of that stage, preparing players for the Talent Development phase that follows.

U14 is a pivotal age. Ability and ambition start to diverge, school hockey varies hugely, and it is when many teenagers — especially girls — drift away from sport. A certified environment, coached by people who work with Premier League players every week, gives ambitious players the stretch they need while keeping the enjoyment that keeps them playing.

Because EGHC also runs a licensed England Hockey Talent Academy, TDA coaching is built with the Talent Academy's expectations in mind. Players arrive at Talent Academy trials already familiar with the standards, the language and the intensity.

What certification means

Reassurance for parents

✓ Qualified, DBS-checked coaches, including Premier League players
✓ Programmes assessed against England Hockey standards
✓ Right Athlete, Right Environment (RARE) principles and a Healthy Talent Culture
✓ A direct line of sight to the EG Talent Academy

About our Talent Centre

What players learn

From skilful to game-ready

TDA sessions raise the level from MiniStars, with a greater focus on advanced technique, understanding the game and the behaviours needed for higher-level hockey.

Technique

Advanced skills

Refining carrying, receiving, passing and elimination at higher speed and under pressure.

Game sense

Game understanding

Reading the game, positioning and recognising the moments that decide matches.

Game sense

Decision-making

Choosing the right option quickly, as the game gets faster around them.

Player

Individual development

Understanding their own strengths and areas to improve, and owning their progress.

Mindset

Competing

Comfort with being challenged, arriving ready to learn, compete and improve.

Formats

Indoor & outdoor

Four indoor blocks at England's most successful indoor club, plus two outdoor blocks.

Looking ahead

From TDA to the Talent Academy

The next step

How TDA prepares players

England Hockey's Talent Academies are the principal development environment for 15 to 18 year olds and the main route into England age-group hockey. Entry comes through nomination by a club or school coach, followed by trials and an assessment phase each September.

TDA coaches see players week in, week out, so they are well placed to nominate those who are ready. In 2025/26, 14 TDA players were nominated for the Talent Academy — and at EGHC, that next step happens at the same club.

EG Talent Academy

A door, not a divide

Every route stays open

TDA doesn't separate players from their age-group squad or friends — they train and play with their team as normal, and TDA is an extra on top. Players who don't apply, or aren't selected, remain valued members of the club.

England Hockey's system has many entry and re-entry points. Players develop at different speeds, so missing one intake is never the end of the road — many find their way onto the pathway later.

2026/27 programme

How the TDA works

Season

Six blocks, Sep – Jul

The programme runs from September 2026 to July 2027 in six training blocks, all on Friday evenings.

Indoor · 4 blocks

Fridays 7pm – 8pm

In our on-site indoor hall at EGHC, fitted for video analysis.

Outdoor · 2 blocks

Fridays 7.30pm – 8.30pm

On the EGHC water-based Astroturf at East Grinstead Sports Club.

Kit

Indoor equipment

An indoor stick, a left-hand indoor glove and non-marking indoor court shoes. We'll advise after selection.

Competing indoors too. EGHC enters U14 teams in Indoor Hockey UK tournaments, and our U14 Boys took silver at the 2025/26 London Grand Slam.

Junior Indoor

Selection

What we look for

Selection considers much more than current ability. We look for U14s with the potential and behaviours to thrive in a more demanding environment.

Potential

Signs they can progress towards a higher level of hockey.

Technical ability

Strong core skills to build advanced technique on.

Coachability

Listening, learning and applying feedback quickly.

Attitude

Positivity and a willingness to work hard.

Bravery

Confidence to take risks and learn from mistakes.

Game understanding

Reading situations and making good decisions.

Commitment

A real desire to develop, across most of the season.

Balance

We work with families to fit hockey around school and exams, not against them.

Joining

How to join the TDA

Applications

Apply each season

Everyone applies for each new season, including former MiniStars and last season's TDA players — previous involvement doesn't guarantee a place. Applications are reviewed by the EGHC coaching team alongside what they already know of each player, with an assessment session where needed.

Places are limited to protect quality, intensity and individual attention. Players and parents should talk it through first: we want players who want to challenge themselves and get better.

Members & non-members

Open to ambitious U14s

Applications are welcome from EGHC members and players at other clubs. Where the TDA is oversubscribed, current EGHC members are given priority, and members receive member pricing on bolt-on programmes.

TDA is priced by block and sits on top of regular junior membership, which covers weekly U14 training and matches.

Talent Development Academy

14 nominations

1 NAGS trial

Talent Centre

1 of 24

The step before the Talent Academy

Age-group hockey

MiniStars

Talent Development Academy

EG Talent Academy

Certified coaching at the age that matters most

Reassurance for parents

From skilful to game-ready

Advanced skills

Game understanding

Decision-making

Individual development

Competing

Indoor & outdoor

From TDA to the Talent Academy

How TDA prepares players

Every route stays open

How the TDA works

Six blocks, Sep – Jul

Fridays 7pm – 8pm

Fridays 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Indoor equipment

What we look for

Potential

Technical ability

Coachability

Attitude

Bravery

Game understanding

Commitment

Balance

How to join the TDA

Apply each season

Open to ambitious U14s

Ready for the next level?