The Leinster Hockey Development Programme brings together players from across the province to train, develop and represent Leinster and their district teams throughout a range of competitions and representative opportunities organised by Leinster Hockey and Hockey Ireland.
The programme is designed to provide players with high-quality coaching, meaningful match experiences and opportunities to progress through the provincial pathway in an enjoyable and challenging environment.
A major focus of the programme is creating more playing opportunities for players, increasing exposure to representative hockey and continuing to strengthen the connection between clubs, schools and provincial hockey throughout Leinster.
Provincial Pathway & U21 Programmes
The Leinster Provincial Pathway programme includes U16, U18 and U21 representative teams, with players progressing through district, provincial and national competitions throughout the season.
The return of the Under-20/U21 Interprovincial Programme marked an exciting development within the pathway, following strong support from clubs, players and the other provinces for representative hockey at this age group.
Representative squads regularly compete in Interprovincial competition, national festivals and tournaments both within Ireland and abroad, including the annual Hague Tournament in the Netherlands, where Leinster and Leinster South teams compete against top-quality opposition from across Europe.
These experiences provide players with opportunities to develop both on and off the pitch, while also creating lasting friendships and connections through hockey.
Selection & Coaching Processes
Selection within the Leinster Hockey Development Programme is ongoing throughout the season.
Players are identified and assessed through a combination of:
- School and club nominations
- District Development Programmes
- Inter-district blitzes and tournaments
- Provincial assessment sessions
- National festivals and representative competitions
Players selected for Leinster Interprovincial squads continue through further coaching and assessment phases alongside players nominated through schools, clubs and Irish underage extended panels.
Selection is based on performance, development potential, attitude and commitment throughout the programme.
Previous selection for Leinster or Ireland underage teams does not guarantee future selection, with the programme designed to continually identify and support developing players across the province.
Leinster Development Programme & District Hockey
The District Hockey structure forms the foundation of the Leinster Hockey Development Programme.
Players initially enter the programme through school and club nominations before being placed into District Development Panels. These district squads train and compete throughout the season before taking part in the annual Leinster District Blitz (Regional Blitz), one of the standout events within the development calendar.
Following the district phase, selected players progress to National U15 Festivals and provincial Summer Panels, with opportunities to represent Leinster and Leinster South at U16 and U18 Interprovincial level.
The pathway is designed to create meaningful development opportunities for players at every stage while ensuring players continue to receive coaching, match exposure and representative experiences throughout the season.
Thank You AerCap
As always, we would like to sincerely thank our dedicated Development Programme sponsor, AerCap. Their continued support of the Leinster Hockey Development Programme allows us to continually grow, improve and enhance opportunities for young players across the province.
