HOCKEY ACT SIGNS 4 YEAR PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION WITH 
THE ACT ACADEMY OF SPORT AND HOCKEY AUSTRALIA

Hockey ACT is delighted to announce a new 4-year partnership extension with Hockey Australia and the ACT government (via ACTAS) that will see high performance programs targeting the development of Emerging, Developing and Podium Potential athletes.

The announcement comes on the back of strong high-performance outcomes with both Canberra Chill teams bringing home Silver medals from recent Hockey One campaigns Men (2024) and Women (2023). The ACT Women recently winning the Australian U21 National Championships and a significant increase of National Identification in both the male and female athletes coming from within the ACT and ACTAS programs.

National Athlete Pathway Head Coach, Matt Cook said, “We are delighted to announce the partnership that will see more opportunities for our high-performance athletes. This partnership will help the ACT continue to grow and build upon our performance programs.”

The programs will ensure athletes have access to world class coaching, training, facilities and a full suite of support services including, Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, Performance Nutrition, Performance Psychology, Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement support, Physio coverage and other medical support. 

Mark Knowles, Hockey Australia National Technical Lead said, “Hockey Australia are thrilled to renew our tri party partnership with Hockey ACT and ACTAS. This partnership extension will continue to support both the sport in the ACT as well as towards national team success in the future. With the ACT U21 Women’s team success in 2025 along with Canberra Chill Hockey One finals appearances in both genders over recent years, the pipeline of both Pathway and Senior athlete progression looks strong. We look forward to growing on what is currently being done and highly value the current support these athletes, coaches and programs receive”

Following on from successful campaigns and successful partnerships, Hockey ACT has seen an increase in the number of athletes selected in the Hockey Australia squads.

ACT Academy of Sport Assistant Director Andrew Stainlay said, “ACTAS are proud to continue our partnership with Hockey Australia and Hockey ACT in support of the ACT National Athlete Pathway Program. With our collective focus on developing pre-categorised, Emerging, Developing and Podium Potential athletes, and the coaches that support them, we are certainly encouraged by the talent coming through the local pathway given the U21 Women’s win at Nationals. Then with the likes of Anand Gupte and Davis Atkin being regulars in the Kookaburras program, we are certain we will see more ACT players contributing towards Hockey Australia’s medal targets in the future.”

The partnership will see ACTAS and Hockey ACT expand its support to include a new emerging performance squad to assist targeted U18 and U16 athletes with additional high-performance support. This program will be led by Hockey ACT Pathways Manager Marcelle Keet. Marcelle joined the Hockey ACT team in late 2024 and brings plenty of experience to the program including a coaching role with the South African National team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Marcelle said, “This partnership will allow us to identify, educate and develop more athletes from within our pathway.”

Matt Cook added, “With Hockey ACT’s recently updated strategic plan in mind, we feel this partnership will assist in continuing to develop strong and dynamic pathways and a high-performance program that is driven by connection to the community and through innovation, curiosity and desire for each individual and team to be the best they can be”.

More information on the ACTAS program including the 2025 ACTAS Squads can be found here https://www.hockeyact.org.au/representative/targeted-athlete-programs