Midlands Hockey

Introduction and Structure

Midlands Hockey Inc (Midlands) incorporates the Bay of Plenty, Counties Manukau, Tauranga, Thames Valley and Waikato Hockey Associations. Midlands holds one of eight regional franchises sanctioned by Hockey New Zealand for the Men’s and Women’s National Hockey League and Under 21 Competitions.

Background

Midlands Hockey Inc is an autonomous entity (with its own governance, planning, management and funding that gives players, coaches, managers and administrators from the constituent Associations opportunities to achieve at the highest level.

The existence in the Region of the New Zealand Academy of Sport outpost at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) and the University of Waikato’s Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship programme for academic and sporting or cultural high achievers is helping to retain some player talent in the Region. These programmes, along with Hockey New Zealand’s ambitious plans for further enhancing the National Hockey League provide significant leverage opportunities to support Midlands’ own initiatives.

Vision

To grow a regional hockey franchise that gives players, coaches, managers and administrators from the constituent Associations the opportunity to achieve at the highest level.

The goals and strategies that flow from this vision will see Midlands develop all aspects of the game, in conjunction with the constituent Associations, so that potentially championship winning teams take the field and success provides opportunities for Midlands’ players, coaches, managers and administrators at the highest level of the game.

The goals

• To have New Zealand’s leading regional high performance programme that takes players, coaches and administrators through our pathway to success from age group representation to Black Sticks honours
• To win titles and produce consistent top four performances in the National Hockey League and Under 21 tournament