Hockey Ireland is delighted to announce the launch of the U21 Breakthrough Programme, a key initiative designed to accelerate the development of Ireland’s most promising hockey talent and provide a clear pathway to senior international hockey.
This programme is tailored to bridge the critical gap between underage and senior hockey, ensuring identified players receive comprehensive support, exposure to senior-level competition, and integration with senior national structures.
Programme Overview
The U21 Breakthrough Programme will:
✔ Identify and develop Ireland’s top emerging hockey players, providing a single elite pathway for those with the potential to reach senior international level.
✔ Include a player pool featuring both U21 and over-21 athletes, ensuring extended development opportunities for those progressing through the system.
✔ Enhance integration with the senior national team, allowing seamless progression and exposure to high-performance environments.
✔ Provide the most comprehensive support structure within the Hockey Ireland pathway, ensuring players receive technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development.
The primary objective of the programme is to streamline the transition from underage to senior hockey, offering a structured and competitive environment that develops potential senior international players. The initiative will align with senior national team structures, ensuring a seamless connection between Ireland’s underage and senior squads.
Open Trials – Invitation to Apply
As part of the U21 Breakthrough Programme, Hockey Ireland is inviting aspiring players to take part in open trials to identify talent for the next stage of the national performance pathway.
Men’s Open Trial:
🗓 March 9, 2025
📍 Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin
⏰ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Women’s Open Trial:
🗓 March 16, 2025
📍 Sport Ireland Campus, Dublin
⏰ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Eligibility:
- Players with the potential to progress towards senior international level.
- Those currently within or aspiring to enter the national performance pathway.
🔗 To register for the trials, please complete the following application form by Feb 23rd at 11am.
Any player currently in a national programme in 2025 does not need to apply.
Additional Resources:
Who is the U21 Breakthrough Programme for?
The programme is designed for Ireland’s highest-identified young talents, with selection based on potential for progression into senior international hockey. While many players will be U21, the programme will also support high potential over-21 athletes to remain on the development pathway.
Objectives of the U21 Breakthrough Programme
1) Develop Ireland’s Next Generation of Senior Internationals
- Identify and nurture elite-level talent, accelerating player development
2) Provide a Comprehensive Performance Programme
- Offer technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development, ensuring players are fully equipped for international competition.
3) Enhance Ireland’s Underage and U21 Competitive Success
- Strengthen Ireland’s U21 and age-group squads to compete at Junior European Championships, Junior World Cups, and other international tournaments.
4) Create a Seamless Transition to Senior Hockey
- Establish a clear and structured pathway, ensuring top players progress into the senior setup with full integration into training and match environments.
5) Promote a Professional and High-Performance Culture
- Foster a commitment to excellence, elite level performance behaviours and a drive to perform impactfully on the international stage, mirroring Ireland’s senior international standards.