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Dear all Gold Coast Men's Under 18s hockey players,

With the season fast approaching we are inviting all interested players to nominate, for the Gold Coast Men's Under 18s team. This year the team will be participating in trial matches against Tweed boarder, Coulter shield and State Championships on the following dates-

Trial Matches: Tweed boarder    28th Feb               Tweed
Coulter Shield                             28th-29th March   Toowoomba
State Championships                  1st - 4th May       Tweed

We will be aiming to have a training squad of 25 players during the season to provide exposure and development for players who show potential to make the under 18s side next season. From this a playing squad of up to 18 players named for each event.

Trials will begin on the Friday 13th February at 6:00 PM at the Gold Coast hockey centre, and will continue over the following weekend, finishing with trial matches against Tweed Boarder. There will also be a meeting open to both players and their parents which will provide everyone with information regarding the Under 18s program this year.

Attached is some further information on the trials, as well as the selection system. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone or e-mail. Otherwise I look forward to seeing you on the Turf.

Yours in hockey,

Benjamin Chiu

Gold Coast Men's Under 18s Coach
Gold Coast Hockey Association Development Officer

Gold Coast Men's Under 18s Trial Program

	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Weekend  1 13th - 15th Feb	Session 1 Turf 6:00 - 7:30PM
	Meeting (parents welcome) Board room 7:30 - 8:00PM
Weekend 2 20th - 22nd Feb	Session 2 Turf 6:00 - 7:30PM	Session 3 Turf 9:00 - 10:30AM	Session 4 Turf 9:00 - 10:30AM
Weekend 3 27th Feb - 1st March		Match Vs Tweed Murwillumbah Time TBC	Match Vs Tweed Murwillumbah Time TBC
		Women's AHL QLD vs NSW	Women's AHL QLD vs NSW

Selection Process

During the trialing period players will be selected based on the pillars of selection and positional expectations outlined below. Each training session and trial match will be filmed and reviewed by the selection panel to assist in the selection process.

4 Pillars of selection

Technique	Insight	Communication	Conditioning
·   Ability to perform skill ·   Variety ·   Pace and Accuracy	· Tactical knowledge and awareness	·   Team orientation ·   Within Team ·   Within Setup	·   Match specific physical fitness ·   Aerobic Capacity ·   Strength ·   Speed ·   Agility

Positional Expectations

Goalkeeper

Ø  Physical Presence

Ø  Balance & Agility

Ø  Hand speed and co-ordination

Ø  Recovery from saves

Ø  Positional understanding, in particular at set plays

Ø  Communication

Fullbacks/Centre Backs

Ø  Composure (coolness under pressure)

Ø  Very good tackler, with ability to channel (patient)

Ø  Mobile, Quick on turn, speed over short distances

Ø  Physical Presence

Ø  Pass selection, variety and range (distance is a requirement)

Ø  Communication

Wing halves/backs

Ø  Mobile, quick on the turn, speed over short and long distance

Ø  Repeated sprint ability (sprints with short recovery)

Ø  Sound tackling and channelling Patient

Ø  Confident carrying ball

Ø  Pass selection and range (distance a benefit)

Ø  Good understanding with fullbacks and midfielders

Centre Half/Midfield

Ø  Mobile, quick on the turn, Speed both short and long

Ø  Tackling and channelling important

Ø  Defensive vision- ability to cover up hole and pick up "scraps"

Ø  Attacking vision- directing attacking play

Ø  Creativity on dribble and pass

Ø  Understanding with fullbacks

Ø  Ability to receive ball under pressure

Ø  Pass selection and variety

Ø  communication

Left/Right Inners/Midfield

Ø  Explosive speed & dynamic

Ø  Vision

Ø  Passing off either foot

Ø  Strong receiving skills

Ø  Leading skills (sharp front, back, and lateral)

Ø  Good tackling, ability to delay play

Ø  Good trapping skills

Ø  Ability to eliminate a player, create and use an overload or isolation

Ø  Mid to Long range scoring skills

Strikers (Centre Forwards & Wingers)

Ø  Explosive speed over short distance

Ø  Strong receiving

Ø  Leading variety

Ø  Channelling, trapping and hassling

Ø  Creative ball skills, ability to eliminate defenders

Ø  Short, Mid, and Long range goal scoring

Ø  Goal awareness

NOTE:

All players should have a set play/short corner skill of some kind Flexibility and versatility is a benefit Benchmarks will be provided at a later date