Youth Training
From the 2025/2026 season we are re-structuring our youth training to provide clearer Talent Foundation and Talent Development environments for our young people. Please find training times here

What is the difference between a Talent Foundations and Talent Development environment?

Good question! Talent Foundations are just that, the foundation of which we want the young people to build their lifelong enjoyment, build consistency as a whole player, encourage 'good' mistakes and ensure there is respect to all involved in the sport and begin to lead.
Talent Development is the next stage, where the training environment will start to challenge, support a player to start to self-analyse, be curious and starting to complete a wide range of player qualities with consistency.

How will St Albans HC achieve this?
Sunday's and mid-weeks training approach will be slightly different:

For the bi-monthly mid-week session called CONNECT a player will be within their age group to train and focusing on their Talent Foundations and leadership. The other bi-monthly sessions are called CHALLENGE, this will be where they will train in appropriate training environments across two age groups.

This format is to continue the social connections and positive environments within our age group training and combine an opportunity for stretch across a larger talent pool to aid talent development.

Adult Training
We endeavour to ensure all players experience fun, challenge and connection in our training sessions. Club members have a variety of reasons why they play at the club, and all are valid. For some, it is to catch up with friends, others it is to develop as an individual and see where it takes them, it's a tricky job, but we try and cater for all.

The adult training sessions are a continuation of our Talent Foundation & Development objectives, offering development of all the England Hockey Complete Player Qualities, within a fun, challenge, respectful environment. Promoting good mistakes, building self-analysis, teamship and more where we can.

Right Athlete Right Environment (RARE) principles
This brings us on to how best we, as stakeholders (parents, coaches, teachers, etc) in a young players playing journey, can support and guide them to navigate when it's appropriate to enter into different playing environments. For example, as a coach, here are a few questions we may consider:

• Is it the right time for this players' confidence to be selected into a team that plays in thel eague above where it will be a faster pace and more physical (potentially)?
• When is it the right time for a player to be playing adult hockey?
• What combination of club, school, County Hockey, Talent Academy, National programme environments are best for the player?
• How does this session/activity/game impact on a player’s hockey programme and overall ‘load’? What other commitments do they have that we need to be aware of?

Each person and player is different, and when you add other sporting commitments, school work, social needs, family into consideration it can feel like a lot. St Albans HC coaches, in partnership with the parents and all other stakeholders need to ensure there is transparency and ensure the players needs are a priority when discussing current and future steps.