Parent's Guide to England Hockey Junior Club Hockey Ages 5 to Under 18 2026/27

England Hockey's junior competition age groups use a 1 September cut-off. For 2026/27, to play in a junior competition a player must be:

The only exception is a player with an England Hockey Age Dispensation Certificate for that age group. Players must also be registered with their club on England Hockey's GMS system.

Full-length junior matches (England Hockey Junior Competition Regulations 2026/27):

Under 14 to Under 18 teams playing full-length games should play only one full-length match a day.

Festivals and tournaments: England Hockey's recommended limits:

Teams must have a break between games, and England Hockey strongly recommends the whole event lasts at least one and a half times the playing time (for example, 2 hours of play across 5 hours). Organisers can shorten games, especially for festivals and lower-tier activity.

In junior club hockey, yes. England Hockey says junior hockey in clubs caters for players of mixed ability, experience and gender, and its Junior Hockey Framework for 5-11 year olds works the same way.

In England Hockey's Under 14 to Under 18 junior competitions, clubs enter teams by gender and age group. Which competition a player plays in is decided under England Hockey's Trans and Non-Binary Participation Policy (Junior Competition Regulations 2026/27, reg 4.1.1.3).

Under the FIH Rules of Hockey (Rule 4.2), which England Hockey uses:

Field players

• Shin guards, ankle protection and a mouthguard are recommended.
• Gloves are allowed if they don't significantly increase the size of the hand (they must fit into a 290 mm x 180 mm x 110 mm box).
• Face masks: recommended when defending a penalty corner or penalty stroke. Otherwise, protective headgear is only allowed for medical reasons. Players must take corner equipment off safely once the corner is over, and always before leaving the 23-metre area.
• Nothing dangerous to other players may be worn. Body protection may go under the playing kit.

Goalkeepers must wear at least headgear, leg guards and kickers (headgear and hand protectors can come off only to take a penalty stroke). They wear a shirt in a different colour from both teams, over any upper-body protection.

England Hockey's Junior Competition Regulations (Under 14 to Under 18, 2026/27) set the standard. It's the aspiration at all levels, though not always achievable at every level:

• Shirts and knee-length socks in the club's colours, distinct from the other team and the umpires. If colours clash, the away team changes.
• Shorts, skirts or skorts in team colours. Players in the same team don't all have to wear the same type.
• Extra layers (cycle shorts, leggings, long-sleeved undershirts) should match the corresponding kit colour, or at least not clash with the opposition.
• Numbered shirts (numbers at least 20 cm high) are required in all competitions except the Junior Development League and below.
• Head coverings (turbans, hijabs and other agreed coverings) should be plain or match the shirt. They must not be attached to the shirt, have protruding items or metal fastenings or pins, be dangerous, or be likely to be pulled or unravel.
• Goalkeepers wear a shirt that differs from both teams and the umpires, plus full protective equipment.

Under the FIH rules, field players may also choose shorts, a skort or a skirt, provided they're the same colour and design as the team's.

Not in England Hockey's Under 14 to Under 18 outdoor junior competitions. Under the Junior Player Selection Policy (2026/27):

• A player has one junior club and must represent it in all outdoor junior competitions.
• Players must be registered with the club on England Hockey's GMS system to be eligible.
• A player may move clubs once per season, and must do so before set deadlines. For example, the deadline to play in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 Junior Super League is 15 November.
• Moving again, or after the deadline (for example because the family moves house), needs an exemption.
• In knockout competitions a player becomes cup-tied to one team.
• At Area League level and below, clubs without enough juniors in an age group to field a team may merge with other clubs to form a composite team. At Junior Super League level, a two-club merger is being trialled in 2026/27, with approval only.

England Hockey follows the UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite (Grassroots) Sport: "If in doubt, sit them out."

• Anyone with visible signs or symptoms of a head injury must be removed from play straight away. They can't play or train again that day, even if the symptoms go.
• They should be assessed by a healthcare professional, or through NHS 111, within 24 hours. For red flags or other serious injuries, get urgent medical help (999 if needed).
• No training, matches or PE for at least 24 hours.
• Rest for 24-48 hours (easy daily activities and walking are fine), then follow a graduated return: education first, then light exercise, then sport.
• No return to competitive matches within 21 days of the injury.
• If symptoms haven't improved by 14 days, get advice from NHS 111. If they last beyond 28 days, see the GP.

Most concussions happen without being knocked out.

Under England Hockey's Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy, every club must:

• adopt and promote the England Hockey safeguarding policy;
• appoint at least one trained Welfare Officer, who must have completed England Hockey's "Time to Listen" Welfare Officer workshop, renewed every 3 years;
• use England Hockey's DBS system and follow safe recruitment requirements;
• make sure everyone in a position of trust completes England Hockey safeguarding training and holds an Enhanced DBS check, both renewed every 3 years;
• report safeguarding concerns immediately through England Hockey's reporting procedures, and record and escalate lower-level concerns.

You can raise a concern about your child with the club's Welfare Officer.