Burras to hold preliminary Junior World Cup training camp

Australia’s Under 21 Men’s Hockey Squad, the Burras will assemble for a training camp on the Gold Coast this Sunday in the lead up to the FIH 2021 Junior Hockey World Cup.

An extended squad of 44 athletes have been selected for the week-long camp that will consist of skill development and high-level match competition in lieu of last year’s National Championships being cancelled because of COVID.

WA athletes feature heavily in the cohort.

Congratulations to the WA athletes selected:

James Collins

Brodee Foster

Campbell Geddes

Harry Golding

Tom Harvie

Oliver Higgins

Matthew Lewis

Alistair Murray

Christian Starkie

Nine of the 44 selected for the squad are Western Australian representatives, showcasing the breadth of talent the state has to offer and an exciting future ahead for the sport in the state.

Burras Head Coach Ben Bishop says he is looking forward to bringing together the best identified Australian Under 21 male hockey talent.

“Our coaching group is excited to work closely to help advance the players’ hockey growth on and off the pitch, especially after the restrictions and limited opportunities last year,” said Bishop.

“The camp will involve skill development sessions, off field learnings and what I am sure will be high quality intra-squad matches to challenge the athletes as they work towards other Junior Program activities in 2021.”

Notably, the focus and investment being put into this group of athletes at this age level is not only about the upcoming Junior World Cups but a longer-term vision for success according to Hockey Australia High Performance Pathways Manager Ian Rutledge.

“Besides being an adjusted Olympic year, 2021 is also a Junior World Cup year for our men’s and women’s programs, and therefore an important activity for our collective program and athletes,” said Rutledge.

“Athletes from this cohort will most likely be our 29-32 year old senior team leaders at what will hopefully be a home 2032 Olympics, with the experience of Paris 2024, Los Angeles 2028 and over 200 international caps in their back pocket.

“Rather than retiring in 2028, data and experience shows that athletes often choose to continue their journey ‘a little longer’ with a home Olympics being the next stop and driver.

“Whilst the Junior World Cup is a comparative competition opportunity, the ongoing athlete development, progression and support processes that underpin it are more critical for us in the longer term. This is the work we are attempting to get across and then optimise during these camps.”

Following the camp, the next part of the Burras program will see the athletes compete in the Australian U21 Championships in late June.

Selectors will use the national championships to refine squad selections in the lead up to the announcement of the 2021 Junior World Cup Squad.

Australia’s Women’s Junior World Cup group continue their preparations after a similar camp was held at the AIS in February, with squad selection also taking place at the National U21 Championships.