Hockey WA GMs Update I April 2022

Game & Community Development 

Shayley McGurk Davy 

General Manager – Game & Community Development 

As we head into the hockey season for 2022, there has been a great deal of planning and preparation to ensure that the season runs smoothly and we get to deliver our competitions appropriately. 

Due to the current COVID-19 climate, a large amount of planning and preparation has gone into our competitions to ensure that the hockey season can go ahead effectively. Contingencies and guidance has now been set for clubs to ensure a smooth and operational season can go ahead. We encourage all clubs to visit the covid hub here to ensure that they understand the processes put in place. 

Recently the Kookaburras competed in the Fortescue Challenge. It was amazing to see Perth get behind our national men’s side in a series of intra-squad matches that delivered high-level hockey and an opportunity for fans to see our national stars up close. 

Recently, we completed our Ric Charlesworth Classic competition for 2022. It’s really pleasing to see the WA hockey community get behind one of our flagship competitions for another year. The competition, in its third year, continues to develop into a festival of hockey that promises to showcase some of WA’s best hockey talent. Not only this, the event itself, through Brightside Live, has elevated to give fans at Perth Hockey Stadium a hockey event like no other with full sports presentation, fun and great hockey for fans. Congratulations goes to both the Highlanders' sides on winning their first titles and claiming double gold! 

With the Ric Charlesworth Classic reaching its climax, it’s now full steam ahead for our competitions and Premier League. The Premier League season is commenced on Friday 8 April with the men’s and we’re excited to be able to deliver and take our topflight competition to new heights in 2022. 

Regional WA will benefit from our Hockey WA – CSBP Fertilisers partnership with the CSBP Festivals returning for 2022. Narrogin, Northam, Bruce Rock, Geraldton and Albany will all hold festivals that will bring high-level coaches and high-profile players to regional areas. It’s really exciting for the five regions, with young players given the opportunity to give hockey a go and fall in love with our sport by learning from the best. 

This year, we are endeavouring to take hockey to new areas across regional WA. An exciting new indigenous pilot program is underway in Mullewa. It is a long-term reoccurring program that links in with local indigenous figures using hockey as a pathway to learn new skills. The Gascoyne Roadshow began in late March, reaching out into the region for the first time. Hockey will be delivered into up to 10 schools and will allow us to identify opportunity for programs in the future. 

The Hockey WA Regional Round will return for another year, with this year’s edition heading to Geraldton. Not only will those in Geraldton be exposed to one of our Premier League fixtures, a range of activations are in store. The weekend will entail a range of activities, including schools and indigenous activations, as well as upskilling events and Q&A sessions, ensuring further development in the region. 

Hockey is as prominent as ever in schools across WA, with record participation in Term 1 of 2022. 360 sessions delivering hockey to 2658 participants across WA is a fantastic feat and we’re excited to continue to build on this and expose more children than ever before to our great sport.  

As the season now begins, I wish everyone a safe and happy start to their 2022 hockey journey! 

Performance & Development 

Dean Evans 

General Manager – Performance & Development 

With hockey fixtures starting to go back to normality, there’s a range of high-level competitions and events on the horizon in 2022. 

We recently completed the Ric Charlesworth Classic for 2022. 160 of WA’s best hockey players, ranging from budding young stars to former National squad members and established players hit the field at Perth Hockey Stadium for the eight-day tournament. It was really pleasing to see the talent on offer across WA put in their all ahead of the upcoming hockey season – I'm sure it will put the players in good stead heading into their various competitions. Congratulations to both the Highlanders men’s and women’s sides for taking out the title in 2022. Now that the dust has settled, we will use performances from the Ric Charlesworth Classic as a key indicator as we approach selection of the Perth Thundersticks extended squads. 

Our under-15s and under-18s state teams recently competed in the Hockey Australia National Championships in Newcastle and Cairns respectively. A massive effort from the players, with our two WA Gold under-15s sides both claiming a silver medal and our under-18s Gold boys going home as national champions, defeating NSW 5-4 in a thrilling grand final! A lot of effort and preparation goes into these tournaments - I'd like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our staff, volunteers and players on making the state proud over east – a mammoth effort! 

Our Perth Thundersticks Academy sessions are underway for 2022. We’re excited to be able to deliver another high-level iteration of our academy this year, nurturing and developing our budding young hockey stars in the state to unearth the next crop of elite players in WA. Recently, players from the Academy cohort attended the Ric Charlesworth Classic, exposing them to high-level competition play and the opportunity to be amongst some of WA’s best players. On the horizon for academy members is more training and camp sessions, and with the Commonwealth Games coming this year, we will be able to review and analyse these matches to ensure our athletes are up to speed with all things hockey at the highest level. We’re also pleased to be able to deliver the Future Thundersticks Classic for another year in November, exposing these players to high-level competition play. 

Recently, we have accepted expressions of interest from coaches wanting to coach WA’s top-level side, the Perth Thundersticks. We are now in the middle of the process to determine who will take the reins from Kate Starre in the women’s side and Stephen Davies in the men’s side. I would like to extend my thanks to Kate and Stephen for their efforts over the past couple of years leading our top WA players. 

Nominations for players wanting to trial for the WA Under-21 State Teams will be released shortly – I urge all prospective players to keep an eye on Hockey WA’s website and social media channels. The Under-21s will compete in the Hockey Australia National Championships in Perth, on home soil, from 20 July. We have a strong crop of Under-21s players here in WA and I’m excited to see the performances from those players, particularly with a lack of National Championships for the Under-21s due to COVID-19. 

Hockey WA is headed to Geraldton for our Regional Round in early May. I’m excited to announce that we will be holding junior clinics, as well as coaching courses to ensure that those in the Geraldton area are up to speed with their hockey. More information will be released on this in due course. 

Our Coach n Play sessions have continued for another year, with FIH Master Coach, Terry Walsh, delivering these sessions across the state to ensure our members understand the benefits of utilising our Coach n Play tool. Hockey WA Coach n Play is a video-based tool full of hundreds of training skills, tips and tricks, which can be accessed through your devices - a high-level coach at your fingertips! Recently, sessions were delivered at Hale, Busselton and Bunbury, with more to come throughout the year. I urge all Hockey WA members to access Coach n Play and take their hockey to the next level. 

I wish all of our players across WA the best of luck heading into the hockey season! 

Business Operations 

Graeme Hall 

General Manager – Business Operations 

Hockey WA continues to evolve and mature as an organisation as we face a third year in which COVID-19 will be central to our planning.   

Since December, it has been clear that the 2022 season was going to be different. The potential for a change in board arrangements and the likelihood of living with COVID-19 as a community and as a sport has required a vast amount of work. 

Hockey WA have been required to undertake significant planning and documentation since the Christmas break. A pre-season with no spectators in the venue and a great deal of help and assistance from our clubs and players to ensure we abide by the rules.  The current requirements of entering the venue, training and then leaving takes us back to 2020.  

Hockey WA have collaborated with the DLGSC and WAPOL to redefine the venue and the licensed areas, ensuring that everyone can access the venue.  There is expected to be some constraints as to how people access all hockey venues in the first part of the season.   

Crowds are likely to have set capacity for the time being until directed by the WA State Government but, given the size of PHS, there is a hope that we will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to be present at any games. 

As patrons begin visiting PHS for the start of the new season, we hope that you will see several changes installed to improve the visitor experience. We are hopeful that the following changes will be both noticed and enjoyed. 

• A new scoreboard will be installed on the north-eastern corner of PHS.  

• Shade structures have been installed on the grandstand to hopefully make those early mornings in the sun a little bit more enjoyable.  

• New furniture in the Eastman Lounge, Bar and Café will give the place a new look  

• Shade and seating on the eastern side of PHS 2 will be a great addition for spectators 

• The back nets behind the goals on PHS 2 have been replaced  

• The grandstand in front of the bar has had a facelift 

• The Bar and Café have been painted and we have some new kitchen equipment (oven, freezer, and fryers) 

Hockey WA has been working extensively with Hockey Australia and the other member associations to establish a strong policy platform at a national level.  There has been a significant amount of work undertaken to enhance several policy documents.  Where possible, a generic position is being established for Hockey in Australia.  The Safe Hockey Framework is being introduced to every member association.    

One key policy document that has been developed with significant national engagement and interest has been a concussion policy.  A highly credentialed working group has done an outstanding job of preparing this policy in all jurisdictions.  The key elements that stakeholders should notice from the concussion policy are as follows: 

• How to recognise a concussion 

• Assessment and appropriate actions 

• Reporting tool 

• Return to the game. 

The policy documentation available to all clubs includes the following: 

• Policy documentation  

• Toolkit for concussions in hockey 

• Posters  

• A reporting tool and QR code 

• Return to sport framework 

The Board of Hockey WA had no hesitation in adopting this policy, prepared for the sport, across Australia. This is a tool that can be used by every club in the country.  Raising awareness about concussion in our sport is an important step to a safer environment. Please ensure you visit the ‘Policies’ page underneath the ‘Info’ tab on the Hockey WA website. 

Hockey WA and the Perth Hockey stadium have seen some changes to personnel over the summer break.  In early January we said goodbye to a long-standing venue manager in Jason De Wind.  Jason has left us to take a role as the manager of Lemnos Field.  Everyone at Hockey WA wishes Jason all the best for his future at this new venue.   

Some new and old faces are now working at Perth Hockey Stadium; the new team are learning the ropes and will seek to put our own stamp on the venue.   

Melaine Banyard has been working in facilities and booking role and has become a key point of contact for clubs and users of PHS. 

Paul Fox is our new Bar and Café Manager and hopefully people will see Paul’s influence in a few changes we are seeking to implement at both the bar and café.  Paul will also be looking for some opportunities to seek more users at PHS.  If you need to host a meeting or social function, we will be happy to talk to you.   

An old friend who is returning is Barb Jenkins. Barb will be helping out with some policy and procedural documentation.  Benefiting from her significant experience we hope to ensure that our staff are well placed to ensure a safe and welcoming environment. 

Commercial, Marketing & Media 

Nicholas Janzen 

General Manager – Commercial, Marketing & Media 

It’s been a big year already across Hockey WA’s Commercial Operations, Marketing and Media department, with a range of projects and partnerships set to take the sport to new heights in 2022 and beyond. 

Across the off season, Hockey WA has extended partnerships with CSBP, CBH Group, Motive Travel and The West Australian, with Milwaukee Tool, Benchmark Projects Australasia and Nesuto on board. Thanks to our commercial partners for their ongoing support and faith in the direction our sport is heading! I call on all the wider hockey community to kindly consider supporting those organisations that support our sport. 

A significant piece of work Hockey WA’s Commercial Operations, Marketing and Media department delivered recently was our marketing campaign video – if you haven’t yet seen it, you can check it out here. Hopefully you also think it’s upbeat, exciting and, ultimately, makes you want to pick up a hockey stick! The campaign has already reached more than 105,000 people across the country and around the world, through Facebook alone – with 1100 likes, comments and shares, and, most encouragingly, more than 700 clicks on the “Sign Up” button in the process. Thanks to everyone who features in the campaign, which highlights players of all ages and abilities, and to those who attended our filming session late in 2021. 

There is some exciting news on the horizon about Premier League broadcast in 2022, with our elite open-age club competition set to reach more people, via more channels, than ever before. In addition to the nationwide agreement that will see all states stream content via LIVEHockey.com.au, a very exciting announcement is imminent. Hockey WA’s Premier League live stream products will be produced by Local Media Services Company (LMSC) in 2022 – we welcome David Macrae and his team to the Hockey WA family. 

On the topic of the Premier League, the 2022 competition will at this stage be known as just that – the Premier League – following All Flags Signs and Banners’ support last year. Unfortunately they are unable to continue their support this year. We are more than confident in finding a suitable long-term naming-rights partner in the not-too-distant future, given the incredible exposure the tournament attracted in 2021 (with more than $340,000 worth of traditional media exposure alone, including weekly coverage in The West), more than 250,000 users and 6,200,000 page views on our website and the exciting broadcast news. If you or someone you know is interested in having a conversation around partnering with Hockey WA around the Premier League or other opportunities, email sponsorship@hockeywa.org.au 

Hot off the press – Hockey WA has extended its partnership with The West Australian and Seven West Media for a further three years. This is tremendous news for the sport, with the partnership in 2021 taking the game to new places and more people than any time in recent memory. In 2022, that coverage will be even more extensive, following the weekly coverage in Hockey Central in 2021, in addition to never-before-seen live-stream broadcasts of a range of tournaments including the Bevan George and Kobie McGurk Cups, the Future Thundersticks Classic, the CBH Group Country Championships and the Ric Charlesworth Classic. 

On the topic of the Ric Charlesworth Classic, this year’s tournament was a massive success! We were pleased to be able to once again stream the competition through The West Australian, with this year’s Ric Charlesworth Classic matches from PHS-1 streamed live and free through Streamer. This year, the competition was streamed for 1,911 hours, reaching the devices of hockey fans across the world completely free. On top of this, the tournament gathered significant media exposure through The West Australian – we urge all Hockey WA members to read up on some of the action from the Ric Charlesworth Classic on thewest.com.au. 

Until next update, in the second quarter of the year, have a great start to the year and your hockey season!