JUNIOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2025
2025 JUNIOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TRIALS
North West Lightning is the only club in the state that has autonomy of a JSC zone. When LIghtning was formed in 2018 it saw the collaboration of the associations in the zone with CV Blazers, creating a club that oversees all sections of its hockey program.
Players must be affiliated with HCV, GVHA, NCHA, SHA or WHA to nominate and trial for the teams. Trials will be held on Sunday 27th April in Bendigo. The teams train for 10 hours leading up to the event and the proposed training dates are: Sunday 25th May, Sunday 1st June, Sunday 22nd June and Tuesday 8th July (Under 12), Thursday 10th July (Under 14 & 16).
Player nominations are now open and will close 5pm Wednesday 23rd April:
https://www.hockeyvictoria.org.au/events/270349
Event dates and venues
Under 12 Hockey 5s - Wednesday 9th & Thursday 10th July at Footscray
8 players in each team with possibility of entering 2 in each gender
Under 14 and Under 16 - Friday 11th July to Sunday 13h July
Each team consists of 16 players, with teams playing at SNHC Parkville and Footscray
Under 18 – Friday 19th September to Sunday 21st September
The Under 18s will also play in the Senior Country Championships (SCC) in Bendigo 7th - 9th June.
Junior Country Championships (JCC) - We encourage all players to represent their association at the JCC which will be held on May 17th & 18th.
Under 14 - Essendon
Under 16 - Greensborough
Under 18 - SNHC Parkville
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Attendance at trials is compulsory: All players are required to attend the trial this Sunday to be considered for selection, except for those players in the Under 16/18 State teams or Academy.
When: Sunday 27th April 2025
Where: Benigo Hockey Centre, 11 Ashley St, Ironbark (Bendigo)
Times: 9.00am – 10.30am Under 12 Boys & Girls West
10.30am – 12.30pm Under 14 Girls & Boys East
10.45am – 12.45pm Under 16 & Under 18 Boys West
12.45pm – 2.45pm Under 16 & Under 18 Girls East
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Sign in: We ask that the athletes arrive 15 minutes before the trial. All players are required to sign in, collect a bib and number and try on uniform if required.
What to bring: The 7 S’s – shoes, socks, shin pads, skort/shorts, shirt (dark and white), stick, safety (mouthguard and facemask); drink bottle, sunscreen and snacks. Do not wear any State or Zone team shorts, skorts or socks. Equipment is not to be shared between players.
Tryouts: Will include drills to assess individual skills, small games and in some cases full field games. The exact format will depend on final numbers and will be communicated with players on the day. If you are a goalkeeper be prepared to trial for a field position as well.
Selection Criteria: Players will be assessed on passing skills (pushing, slapping, hitting), receiving skills (trapping), elimination/ball control skills, defensive skills (tackling, channelling), goal shooting skills, involvement, game awareness and accountability, temperament.
Selection Process: There will be at least two selectors appraising players in each team. No feedback will be given. Players will be expected to meet the selection criteria to be considered. The Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 teams will consist of 16 players, including 2 goalkeepers, while the Under 12 teams will consist of 8 – 10 players, including 1 or 2 goalkeepers.
If a player is unable to attend their trial, they must advise the Zone Coordinator the day prior to the trial. (nwlhc.junior@gmail.com). The player may be considered for inclusion in their Zone team if there are not enough nominations. Playing history and club endorsement may be taken into consideration.
Announcement of teams: Teams will be released on the HV website by 5.00pm Wednesday 30th April. If selected, players will receive a link to the Lightning Webbook which will contain a congratulations letter within 48 hours of the teams being released and further information such as the cost/payment link, details on how to order uniform and optional items and the training schedule.
If your child is not selected there may be other opportunities with another zone and players will be contacted directly from Hockey Victoria.
Training
All players are required to attend each training session. Players unable to attend must apply for an exemption which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Players wanting to miss training for local matches will not be granted an exemption.
The other training sessions will be in Bendigo on the following dates:
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Sunday May 25th (including Under 18)
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Sunday June 1st
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Sunday June 22rd
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Tuesday 8th July (Under 12)
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Thursday 10th July (Under 14 & Under 16)
Training Dates for Under 18
All players are expected to play in the Senior Country Championships in Bendigo from Saturday 7th – Monday 9th June. Fundraising will offset the cost of travel, accommodation and some meals and we anticipate it costing no more than $150 for the weekend. Other propsed dates are 7th (dependent on association finals) and 19th September.
Uniform Sizing: There will be sample sizes of the playing uniform and optional uniform at the training session. Players will have the chance to change the size of the playing top that was ordered at the time of nominations. This is the only opportunity to change the sizing and must be changed on the sign in sheet at the end of the trials.
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There is no cost to nominate or trial. If successful in gaining a place in the Lightning team there is an approximate fee of $415 - $445 fee for Under 14 – Under 18 and $345 - $365 fee for Under 12. The fee covers the officials’ payments, pitch hire, staffing, administration, first aid and other event related costs; training program including pitch hire, equipment etc.; coaching, zone administration and playing shirt or GK Smock.
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JSC Parent Information Sessions
We will be running a short information session at 10.30am and 12.30pm to give an overview of the trial process, selection, training expectations and the opportunity to ask any questions.
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The canteen will be open and sells pies, pasties, sausage rolls, dim sims, hotdogs, toasties, drinks and chocolate bars. If you are able to assist for an hour in the canteen, please respond to this email. We would hope over the course of the trials and training sessions that all families would help in the canteen, as the revenue goes back into the great facilities we use.
Contact Details: If you have any questions, queries, issues relating to this session or any other
matter, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Jane Finch or Angela Poxon
North West Lightning Zone Coordinator
0429143332 or 0428314219
