Notice from Hockey Victoria
Dear Clubs & Regional Associations,
Please note that as of this year, the South East Cougars Zone will be known as the Gippsland Bulls.
The change of name is one of the steps towards transition to the first ever Regional Junior Player Development Academy, in line with the Metro High Performance Academies for junior players.
The other immediate changes are:
• Minor change to the Gippsland Bulls Zone uniform to reflect the change.
• Formation of the Zone Committee with representatives from LVHA, EGHA, WGHA and Gippsland Bulls Hockey Club to oversee the transition.
The partnership between Gippsland Bulls Hockey Club, Latrobe Valley HA, West Gippsland HA and East Gippsland HA, will cement the intention to provide a recognisable existing regional entity as the platform for the player/coach development in Gippsland.
As communicated to all Regional Associations in 2017, Gippsland will be the first regional zone to pilot this new player and coach development model, which would see the following issues addressed:
• Crystalise the junior player development pathway which would see more local development opportunities for children (therefore reducing the travel burden for kids and parents while still accessing professionally developed and delivered program);
• Introduce a local junior player development program designed by HV High Performance Team; and
• Establish a coach development pathway which would ensure self-sustainability for the region in the future.The desired outcomes of the above model are an increase in JCC team participation (and the improved results) from the three local associations, improved JSC results for the Zone, increased regional player representation in the State Teams, reduced travel relating to player development, and local employment/development opportunities for coaches and an administrator.
In March, HV will meet with the three local Association and the Gippsland Bulls Hockey Club to finalise the details for the Regional Academy, which will commence in the last quarter of 2018.
If you have any questions in regards to the above, please email Sash Herceg on sherceg@hockeyvictoria.org.au
Regards, Sash
Kind Regards,Sash Herceg
General Manager – Hockey Operations