MINISTIXMONTHLY
Participation Pulse
Overview of junior
Welcome to the first edition of MiniStix Monthly This newsletter has been created to bring our junior hockey community closer to the strategic programs, growth initiatives, and participation priorities shaping the future of our game.
Each month, MiniStix Monthly will share updates on key development pathways, highlight the impact of grassroots initiatives, and celebrate the work being done across clubs and regions to inspire our hockey community at every stage
Shayley McGurk-Davy
We’re excited to take you on this journey as we continue to grow junior hockey through purposeful programs, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to positive and engaging experiences
Message from: GM - Game Development & Operations
the positive experiences being delivered across WA
Participation Pulse
Please see the latest presentation supporting the Club Development Framework
Thank you to the clubs and volunteers who continue to create welcoming, fun and engaging environments that keep kids coming back to hockey
REGISTERASAPROVIDER
Sporting Schools Term 1 has officially wrapped up, with Hockey WA delivering programs to 9 schools across the state, including a strong presence in the Peel region.
There were 2 teacher delivered programs and 7 coach delivered programs throughout term 1. With a total of 93 sessions across all coach delivered programs
Sporting Schools - Term 1 Wrap
Term 2 Sporting Schools funding applications have now been approved, and we’re already seeing strong interest from schools, with 6 who have committed to hockey programs so far and more booking in as we speak. Term 3 registration open & close dates will be communicated when we receive them and published in the next issue Hockey WA will be in contact with relevant clubs when a school falls within your catchment area to arrange coaching or see how we can work together to build a program
VIEWWORKSHOPPRESENTATION
A great tip is to bring flyers along to these sessions for participants to take home It helps create a clear connection to a club or program they can visit if they decide they love the sport.
Program Highlights
Key Dates and Opportunities
National Participation Forum - Online
Thursday, 9 April 2026
5:15pm (AWST)
Featuring:
Hockey Australia – national participation insights
Sam Elliott (Flinders University) – research‐based strategies on:
Creating positive first experiences
Engaging and supporting parents and volunteers
Building fun, meaningful junior environments
GamePlan National Online Forums
Who should attend: Club committee members, administrators, coaches, and anyone involved in club development.
These sessions introduce the Game Plan platform, a practical tool helping clubs assess, plan, and strengthen areas such as workforce, governance and safeguarding
Forum #1
Wednesday, 8 April 4:00pm – 5:30pm (AWST)
Forum #2
Monday, 13 April 6:00pm – 7:30pm (AWST)
YMCC Junior Carnival - Save the Date
Sunday, 19 April 2026 | Years 5–10
A much‐loved annual event, perfect for pre‐season preparation, skill development and match practice
Hookin2Hockey Metro Canrival - Save the date
Sunday, 26 July 2026 | Hookin2Hockey Programs
A much‐loved annual event, perfect for wrapping up the hookin2hockey season It will again be hosted by Hockey WA at Alderbury Reserve in combination with YMCC and Healthway.
U18 National Championships Trials
Nominations close: Wednesday, 15 April – 5:00pm
Perth Hockey Stadium
Trial dates and venues detailed online
NOMINATEHERE
Regional Umpiring Development Opportunities
Wednesday 1st April 2026
Wednesday 7th April 2026
Saturday 18th April 2026
Thursday 30th April 2026
REGIONALONLINEBRIEFING
Hockey WA would like to congratulate the following clubs on their huge success with the event:
Kwinana Tigers
30 children attended, an incredible outcome given the club’s size
Celebrating Success
Hookin2Hockey | Come & Try Day
YMCC Hockey Club
40 kids attended in a fantastic day for the club.
Curtin University Hockey Club
22 participants took part in their Come & Try day
Outstanding work by our clubs in promoting hockey and
Hockey WA Volunteer Recognition Program
Hockey in Western Australia thrives because of one thing above all else: our incredible volunteers. They’re the friendly faces on the sidelines, the quiet achievers behind the scenes, and the dedicated community champions who keep clubs, competitions, and programs running smoothly. To honour these everyday heroes, Hockey WA is proud to relaunch the Volunteer Recognition Program, an initiative celebrating the people who make our community stronger.
The program shines a spotlight on volunteers who demonstrate dedication, leadership, and true community spirit Whether they’re coaching juniors, organising events, umpiring, managing teams, or helping behind the scenes, these individuals play a vital role in participation, development, and the overall experience of our sport.
Volunteer of the Month
Monthly nominations (1st–20th)
Community‐driven nominations
Congratulations to the Perth Thundersticks Women, named Team of the Year at the SportWest Awards an outstanding achievement for the program and the WA hockey community
One volunteer recognised each month
Monthly winners become finalists for Volunteer of the Year
LEARNMORE
Perth Thundersticks Women - Team of the Year
The Bridging the Gap course was delivered to all Premier League teams, coaches and umpires ahead of the season.
This interactive workshop brought together:
Coaches
Umpires
Team captains
Bridging the Gap Course
With a focus on communication, consistency, collaboration and shared understanding of the game, setting the tone for a confident and aligned season
The Academy provides a structured, high-performance pathway for talented junior officials. In 2026, selected umpires will officiate 9/10 Division 1 matches on Sunday mornings, gaining valuable experience in a competitive and high-quality hockey environment
Whistle Watch
Rising Stars Umpire Academy
Participants in the Rising Stars Umpire Academy will receive:
Opportunities to umpire high-level junior fixtures
Ongoing coaching and constructive feedback from senior umpires and experienced coaches
A clear pathway toward the Hockey WA Senior Umpiring Panel and potential appointment to National Championships
This season, a key priority in the umpiring area is an increased investment in umpire coach and mentor support; directly strengthening the development pathway for officials. Funding has been directed toward structured coaching, mentoring, and enhanced performance feedback to ensure umpires receive consistent, high‐quality support at all stages of their development Development will be targeted and delivered to TeamStar Premier 1, Premier 2 and 3 divisions, and Junior 11/12 and 9/10 divisions – Rising Stars Umpire Academy
The Academy is designed for committed, talented, and ambitious young umpires who are eager to grow their confidence, knowledge, and on-field performance
Whistle IQ Umpire Coaching Program
Partnering with Whistle IQ; a modern digital officiating development and feedback platform used to support the coaching, assessment, and progression of umpires; we’ll focus and commit to providing clearer, more actionable insights, supporting continuous improvement and long‐term retention of umpires across competitions. Umpire Coaches will be appointed to some 300 games over the course of the 2026 season.
We thank you for your ongoing support in strengthening umpiring within our sport. Your partnership is essential as we work to retain, develop, and recognise officials at all levels of the game, creating a better environment for participants across our hockey community.
https://www.hockey.org.au/safe-hockey
https://www hockey org au/integrity/children-young-people
Resources
Volunteering WA
Resources to support volunteer recruitment and retention https://volunteeringwa org au/leading-volunteers/workshops-and-training/ https://volunteeringwa.org.au/leading-volunteers/resource-library/ https://volunteeringwa.org.au/leading-volunteers/workshops-andtraining/workshop-event-calendar/
To our clubs and associations, Thank You.
The work you do behind the scenes is often unseen and sometimes thankless, but it is absolutely vital to our sport. The hockey community in WA relies on your passion, commitment and countless volunteer hours.
Please know that everyone at Hockey WA genuinely appreciates the role you play in growing participation and creating positive experiences for our players, families and volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you!
Closing Message
From MiniStix to Thundersticks - the journey starts here
