Hockey
Australian Sports Commission
Sport Overview
The NTID program is responsible for the development and implementation of a number of Indigenous talent identification and development initiatives which aim to improve the sporting performances of Indigenous athletes, coaches and officials.
Hockey is arguably one of the most played organised sports for Indigenous athletes, especially on the International stage, and as such is an ideal sport for NTID indigenous funding. Hockey can also proudly claim two of the five Olympic medals that Indigenous Australians have won. Baden Choppy won a bronze medal and Nova Peris-Kneebone became the first Aboriginal to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1996 games in Atlanta.
Although a new and untried identification and development program for NTID, the popularity of hockey amongst the Indigenous communities coupled with the support of NTID and Hockey Australia will ensure that the best of the yet undiscovered and emerging Indigenous hockey talent is nurtured and supported and given every possibility to play the game at the highest level.
Current Projects
The NTID Indigenous hockey program aims to identify and fast track the development of hockey players of aboriginal descent into national squads and teams. The project will initially select around 16 athletes already participating in hockey programs within the existing hockey athlete pathway. The selected athletes will receive additional coaching and support in their home environments.
A key component of the project is the appointment of a full-time Hockey Indigenous NTID Coordinator to drive and implement the project in association with Hockey Australia’s high performance and coaching staff from the men’s and women’s AIS national programs. The Hockey Indigenous NTID coordinator will also be responsible for coordinating and providing coaching support to the athletes in their home environment. Each of the identified athlete’s programs will be case managed depending on their age and individual requirements. They will also be provided with visiting scholarship opportunities to attend training and competition sessions at the AIS national program in Perth. It is also planned that coaches from the national program will also conduct training camps in significant Indigenous hockey areas. High profile national athletes may also accompany the coaches to participate in these activities from time to time.
Initially the athletes forming the NTID program are from existing programs, predominantly in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland where links already exist with the Northern Territory Institute of Sport and the Queensland Academy of Sport. Depending on their skill level and age, the Indigenous NTID squad members will be invited to attend regular National U-16, U-18, U-20 and senior camps. However and more importantly, the program will also begin to identify those athletes outside the current pathway by visiting regional and remote centres throughout the country and begin to invest in the future by identifying, tracking and supporting the next generation of talented Indigenous hockey players.
Although in its infancy, it is envisaged that athletes identified through the NTID Indigenous program will be able to be exposed to the high performance environment through direct home support, camp activities as well as greatly increased competition exposure, resulting in these athletes being fast tracked into existing talent development initiatives within the national, state and regional talent development pathways. Links are now being formed between the existing state based hockey programs and the NTID regional coordinators which will help to identify and develop talented athletes. A fantastic opportunity for talented Indigenous athletes now exists and through the appointment of a Hockey Indigenous NTID Coordinator they will be able to access direct coaching support in their home environment. In time, this program will penetrate into other regional areas of NSW, QLD, SA and VIC where there exists an indigenous population and a strong hockey culture.
Squads
2007 Female squad
- Emily Peris (NT)
- Sam Ellis (ACT)
- Candice Liddy (NT)
- Brooke Peris (NT)
- Samantha Pan Quee (NT)
- Sheldon Garrlett (WA)
- Jordan Beard (QLD)
- Kelly Lewis (QLD)
2007 Male Squad
- Desmond Abbott (NT)
- Travis Carroll (NT)
- Joel Carroll (NT)
- Gary Backhaus (ACT)
- Jonathon Peris (NT)
- Justin Ellis (ACT)
- Nathan McGuire (WA)
- Zaan Togo (QLD)
- Nick Budd (QLD)
Results
- Kelly Lewis and Zaan Togo have been selected in the U-18 Queensland hockey squad.
“We really haven't kicked in with our squads as yet, but in saying that, we have identified over 30 players through our talent searches nationally. The athletes themselves seem very keen and motivated to be a part of the program and the Indigenous Hockey fraternity are very excited about the program with many past players having commented positively about it.” Joe Kelly, NTID Coordinator Hockey Australia, 2007
Program Supporters
- Hockey Australia
- Australian Institute of Sport
- Australian Sports Commission
Contacts/Links
For further information and enquires please click here
Testimonials
“What did we do at the camp? These athletes have improved greatly” Mick Evans, U-18 QLD State Coach in the inclusion of Kelly Lewis and Zaan Togo into the State squad, 2007
“Feedback in general from the Hockey fraternity about the NTID program has been positive and encouraging; we just want to make sure that the program continues to dove-tail into Hockey Australia’s existing pathways. We are creating a pathway and providing an opportunity for talented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes that currently is not there which can only be positive.” Joe Kelly, NTID Coordinator Hockey Australia, 2007
