EHA Single System

The EHA Single System concept FIREBRANDS HOCKEY CLUB – A SUPPORTER OF ENGLAND HOCKEY’S SINGLE SYSTEM FOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Single System England Hockey has introduced the Single System and Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) through the player pathway. This single integrated system enables players to work together towards achieving their full potential whether that is at their school, our club, the Junior Development Centre in (JDC), the Junior Assessment Centre (JAC) in Bristol, the Junior Regional Performance Centre (JRPC), all at Beggar Bush Lane or the National Performance Centre (Bath and Bristol) /International level.  It has a common set of values and principles (below) to guide player development and recognises that players may not reach their full potential until early or mid 20's. There are within this two cycles in a year that involve preparation, competition and rest; and these pertain to their age/stage of development. Talent identification is a part of his process and considers a broad range of factors that contributes to a players potential in the game. This consists of working groups of approximately 30 players within an age group at JDC; up to 30 at JAC and JRPC. This has helped to develop many young players to higher levels at County, Regional and International levels.  Throughout all levels common assessment criteria set by EHB are used which cover athleticism, ball carrying skills, moving the ball, scanning, decision making and game ability. Players and Goalkeepers are assessed in core practices (which identify these skills) and within small unit and game play. This process may require Centrally Contracted Coaches, coaches and assessors to share and discuss information during the each cycle before any decisions are made for selection to JRPC. It is always a difficult and upsetting situation for a player when they are not selected at any level and when this is the case the ‘system’ will endevour to provide appropriate feedback to help them develop further and when the time is right .  Principles Hockey has established a single, integrated system for hockey that will help hockey achieve its vision of being 'the most dynamic, vibrant and successful sport for all'. Hockey's Single System is the development pathway enabling players, coaches and officials of all ages and abilities to reach their full potential. The principles for this single system for hockey are as follows: Long term - recognising that players may not reach their potential until early or mid 20s  Common philosophy - values and principles for the development of young players, using the consensus of scientific research as a basis  Openness - enabling all players to reach their potential, regardless of whether as a club or international player or whether they have come to hockey from an early age or later in life  Consistency - providing quality coaching and opportunities within a systematic player development structure nationwide  Transparency - talent identification that provides transparency at all levels and considers a broad range of factors that contribute to potential, not just performance in age group competition  Training culture - guidelines for ratios of training to competition that will assist players to progress at an appropriate rate according to their stage of development.  Effectiveness - greater clarity of roles and responsibilities for all partners, providing effective use and targeting of resources  What is the Single System Based on? The underpinning principle is that EH take a long-term view of a player's development. Research undertaken in the arts and sport, including hockey, conclude that it takes 9-10 years of deliberate practice to become an expert performer. It is based on a set of principles that puts the participant at the centre of what we do and is based on scientific research that has been widely accepted by the majority of other major sports within England. The complexities of hockey as a sport require that players learn core skills, then how to apply them in game situations, a constantly changing environment. This demands good decision making, often within the context of team tactics. There are then the aspects of fitness and psychology that contribute to performance.  The Purpose of the Single System The purpose of the Single System is to make opportunities for participants equitable and consistent. It is to ensure that a suitable level of coaching and competition is offered for people at the appropriate stage of their development and to maximise the chance they have of fulfilling their potential whether that potential is as a club or international player, coach or official.  How does it benefit the players Regular coaching from Regional Coaches and England appointed Centrally Contracted Coaches at the 12 JRPCs will expose more players to a higher level of coaching at an earlier stage in their development. By using the philosophy and style similar to that of the England National Age Group squads, progression for the athletes to the international environment will be improved. For those who do not move to the next level it will raise their game to higher levels helping them also reach their potential. The competitive structure at Tier 1 will provide many more players with increased competition closer to home while the Futures Cup will replicate the format of junior international hockey at Tier 2. The HiPACs (High Performance Assessment Camps) will provide positive experiences at an earlier age for more of our aspiring international athletes and expose them to high level training, coaching and sport science methods.  The Player Pathway Firebrands Hockey Club provides a focal point on the player pathway through its structures junior development programme that leads towards JDC, JAC and JRPC as well as senior club hockey.  The pathway will provide: Structured development of talented players  Access to quality coaching and competitive opportunities with travel times and distances commensurate with standard at each stage. This will help to develop a 'training culture' by having more hockey closer to players' homes minimising travelling time and distances and is: Supported by appropriate training and competition structures at each stage with phases of preparation, competition and rest  Open so that it does not discriminate against late-developers, or those coming to hockey later in life  Tiered to provide opportunities for talent identification and assessment using consistent criteria for transparency  Underpinned by a player development syllabus providing guidance for players, teachers and coaches  Supported through guidance and training for coach education and development  Very importantly, players will be continually assessed throughout the regional cycle so that selection to a National Age Group Squad is not based almost purely on performance at a single tournament.