Nomination for TA

The main aim of Talent Academies is to provide an environment where individual players can develop their potential. The focus is on players aged 15-18 (school years 10, 11, 12 and 13) who have been identfied as having the potential and commitment to make it to the highest level of hockey. Year 9 players may be selected, but this is the exception (see below).

Players can be nominated by their club, county or school, and there are opportunities for assessment throughout the cycle.

CCHC players can be nominated for a TA assessment by Cambridge City HC, but also by their County coaches or by their school. This is done through a common nominations portal to ensure players are nominated to their correct catchment area TA. For players at CCHC this is likely to be the Cambridge TA (hosted by CCHC) or East TA (hosted at Bury).

Talent Academy squads are not fixed by the September assessment phase. It is expected that players will be moving out and/or others invited to join as they develop over the season.

There is no limit to the number of assessments a player can attend in a season - this is to accommodate the often rapid development players have at the age of 15-18.

England Hockey's guidance is that Year 9 players should be nominated by exception - '....what we mean when we say exceptional is an early developer that fits outside the normal age of development. A player that you genuinely believe will be ready for the TA Cup and EAG consideration.'

Player assessment is continuous.

Nomination decisions for each 'nomination window' are based on discussion between the youth section head coach, age group lead coach, and also senior coaches where applicable.

The final decision on who to nominate is the responsibility of the youth section head coach.

If you have any queries about nomination for your young player, please arrange to speak with your Age Group Lead Coach in the first instance.