The Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) and Hockey NSW are excited to announce an extension of their PARTNERSHIP to provide support and development of regional HOCKEY athletes with a goal to reach the Brisbane Olympics.  

Futures Academy aims to propel the sport of hockey towards excellence and innovation, essentially preparing talented, young, pre-elite male and female athletes for the rigours of professional hockey. 

Shona Eichorn, CEO of Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) said regional athletes are going to be incredibly supported in this new program which focuses on the athletes holistically, preparing them mentally, physically and emotionally. 

“This new partnership will support the athletes holistically in nutrition, psychology, strength and conditioning education and much more.

“We are very excited about this new pathway that will help to jumpstart the careers of many future Kookaburras and Hockeyroos from regional areas,” Mrs Eichorn said. 

The Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) and Hockey NSW are excited to announce an extension of their partnership in building and implementing a significant development that promises to shape the future of athlete development and performance within the Hockey NSW pathway.

Labelled ‘Futures Academy,’ this initiative is designed to propel the sport of Hockey towards excellence and innovation on the pathway to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, and with the support of the RAS will assist in the development of regional athletes from across the state. The role of RAS in this re-built tier one program will be to provide Performance Support to the state’s leading regional athletes. Essentially preparing talented young pre-elite male and female athletes for the rigours of the elite levels of their chosen sport.

RAS provide critical opportunities for young sports people to access quality support and development opportunities in a holistic environment – opportunities that would not otherwise be available.

With a strategic focus on holistic athlete development, the Hockey NSW Futures Academy aims to redefine the pathway for aspiring athletes in NSW. This comprehensive program marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards creating a pipeline for future Hockeyroos and Kookaburras, whilst nurturing talent across the state.

Whilst Hockey NSW will provide the coaching, skill acquisition and sport development component of the program, RAS will provide the identified athletes with off-field performance support including education in strength and conditioning, sports psychology, and nutrition. The strength and conditioning component incorporates functional testing, movement screening, athlete conditioning and training load management to provide an integrated approach and a service that is individually suited to promoting enhanced athletic development and a transferal effect for improved sports performance.

Chair of the Regional Academies of Sport Brett O’Farrell commented on the exciting partnership “To work with the state’s most promising young athlete’s ten years out from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games is quite exciting, this program has been built to develop the next generation of Future Champions and we hope to witness many Kookaburra and Hockeyroos on our tv screens in the coming years originate from this program.”

Brent Livermore OLY OAM, high performance manger for Hockey NSW commented “Hockey NSW is pleased to announce an exciting shift with the alignment and partnership with the RAS that will help guide and steer the direction of the Futures Academy and pathway not only in Regional NSW but across the state.”

“It is a well needed shift in the pathway to engage and align with all members and stakeholders in building the foundations required to implement a sustainable pathway across NSW,” said Mr Livermore.

RAS will also be operating a tier two development program within the regions with the aim to talent identify and provide a further opportunity for those pathway athletes in the sport.