Groundbreaking hockey technical and skill development program, with online program (for outfielders) running alongside.
Book both Spring and Summer terms together & save 5% (£15) with code EVOACADEMY5. Add each term to your basket, check out and enter the code.
Book this Academy
Outfielders
Goalkeepers
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Essential Info
Top-class 8 week technical skill development program
Talent Academy: U10-U13
Performance Academy: U14-U16 (recommended County standard +)
Wednesdays weekly, 6.15-7.30pm
Small group technical training, different theme each week
Includes:
8 face-to-face small group training sessions per term
Free Academy training shirt
Online skills program for each outfield player
Online Academy training journal
Groups based on age, experience and continuous assessment
£150 per player
See FAQs for detailed information, including what to bring
Event Info
For outfielders & GKs across U10-U16 who are looking to accelerate their hockey development in a focused, committed program. Excellent coach to player ratios.
Our technical coaching curriculum uses the EVO Gamechanger coaching philosophy - expert coaching knowledge from our team of over 130 coaches across 30 countries, distilled into a unique training program.
Players benefit from weekly small-group coaching with experienced EVO coaches, an online skill development program and reflective training journal.
Timetable
Wednesdays, 6.15pm-7.30pm
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February
No session 16 February due to half-term
23 February
2 March
9 March
16 March
Academy FAQs
+ WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE ACADEMY SESSIONS?
Players work closely with EVO Hockey coaches each week. They are grouped by age/ability and work in groups of approximately 10-12 players per coach or less, ensuring attention to detail.
When signing up, players join either the Talent Academy (U10-U13) or Performance Academy (U14-U17). The Talent Academy has a skill development focus, while the Performance Academy covers skill development, refinement and game understanding.
Each weekly session is themed and delivered by experienced and creative EVO coaches. Each session includes:
- warm-up
- at least one technical element
- at least one decision-making element
- at least one small-sided games (SSG) element
- maximal player touches of the ball (targetting 500 touches per player, per session)
- minimal or no player queueing or waiting to participate
+ WHAT LEVEL IS THE ACADEMY - IS IT SUITABLE FOR MY PLAYER?
For the Performance Academy (U14-U17), we recommend players should be at County standard and above. For the Talent Academy (U10-U13) all abilities are welcome.
Our Performance Academy program is designed so that performance players can flourish in a creative technical training atmosphere, with the opportunity for them to get the attention to detail they need.
The Talent Academy is open to all players. This program is recommended for players who are looking to accelerate their hockey development in a focused, committed and enjoyable programme. U10-U13 are the "skill hungry years" where skill development can yield maximum results, hence this is the focus of the Talent Academy.
Bear in mind that the Academy at all stages has been designed for those who want to take their hockey development to the next level, whatever their starting ability. So commitment, enthusiam, and an open mind are the key essentials.
+ WHAT MAKES EVO SO GREAT?
We're glad you asked! See Our Story, where we explain the philosophy behind EVO Hockey and what sets us apart. But here's the short version -
Our camps are coached by the world's top senior players, up and coming junior internationals and some of the best creative coaching talent out there. Read more about our amazing coaching team.
We are trusted & recognised by the international hockey community. Our camps have been featured by the FIH (hockey's world governing body) and we have been invited to showcase at international hockey events such as the Champions Trophy. We regularly attract the world's best players to coach and young players travel from across the UK to attend, on recommendation from players and coaches.
Our camps are tailored to the players attending. You provide your playing information on registration and we make sure that, whatever your level, the programme you are on is optimised for you. In this way we have successfully developed players, from complete beginner to junior international level.
Our camps are creative, innovative and fun. We show young players hockey styles, philosophies and ideas from around the world, inspiring them to learn new skills and think about hockey in different ways. Sport psychology, strength & conditioning, video work and more are used to ensure maximum development benefit and enjoyment for all players.
+ WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU WITH OUR YOUNG PLAYERS?
At EVO Hockey we are extremely serious about the welfare of all players. Our camps have been designed by people with significant experience in coaching youth, club and school hockey. Chris Bowen, who designed and oversees the EVO camps program, has previously been Head of Hockey at Epsom College, Head of Hockey Development at Whitgift School and is currently Performance Director of Hockey at Reigate Grammar School.
With EVO, you can be confident that your young players are under the supervision of top coaches who have experience in working with children, the required DBS checks and appropriate first aid training.
+ WHAT EQUIPMENT DO WE NEED TO BRING?
For outfield players, gumshields and shinpads are an absolute requirement and no young player will be allowed to take part in the camps without these, unless parents sign a consent recognising the risks of doing so. We would NEVER advise playing hockey without gumshields and shinpads, at any age! Beyond that, clothes suitable for outdoor sport and the weather at the time are advised and astroturf shoes should be worn (not football boots). A hockey stick must be brought to the session - due to Covid restrictions we cannot lend sticks at this time.
For goalkeepers, it is essential to bring a FULL goalkeeper kit to the event, as we only have a very limited amount of equipment available at EVO. If your child doesn't own a kit but plays for a club or school, we recommend you ask them for use of their equipment during our camps - our experience is that those organisations will often be willing to assist. However, **please check any borrowed kit to ensure you have a complete set.
+ I CAN'T BRING MY CHILD FOR EVERY ACADEMY SESSION, IS THAT OK?
Of course! We understand that sometimes life throws up a curve ball and you can't always make every session. For the Academy programme, each week is different and builds upon previously developed skills. So players will get the maximum benefit from attending the full programme. However, each session can stand alone, so don't worry if you have to miss the odd one here or there.
The Academy is delivered as a single programme. Therefore, in the event of missed sessions, no credits can be given.
+ HOW DO YOU WORK OUT THE GROUPINGS?
We group players according to both age and playing experience, to ensure each player is able to get maximum benefit from their work with our coaches. We keep all players under review and there is the flexibility for individual players to be moved into higher age group sessions (subject to coaching assessments) so that we can ensure we get the best development outcomes for them.
Sometimes it is the right call to move a talented player up a level, to challenge them to deal with faster / stronger / bigger / more experienced players. Sometimes it is better to keep them within their age group, in order that they can 'stretch their wings' and continue to develop their talent. It is often a fine balance, but one our coaches are well placed to make!
+ WHAT IF WE HAVE TO CANCEL OUR PLACE?
We cannot offer refunds, but we can sometimes offer a partial credit for future events. Please make any requests to defer before the first Academy session by email - no-shows cannot be rescheduled after the event. We cannot always defer your place, but we will try to help wherever we can! See our Cancellations & Returns policy for more information.
+ WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?
This is the UK and we are made of strong stuff! We play on all-weather pitches, so expect the camp to run, rain or shine! Please ensure your children have sufficient clothing for the vagiaries of the British weather!
Fear not, however. If the weather gets too bad, most of our venues have some indoor space that we can use for cover if needed.
+ LOVE THE EVO SHIRTS IN THE PHOTOS & VIDEOS! HOW DO WE GET ONE?
You are in luck! Every player on the EVO Academy program receives a special Academy training shirt! Train with it during the Academy, wear it to your club / school events and bring it back to wear on future EVO days.
+ DO YOU PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS?
No. Please provide a drinks / refreshments for the Academy sessions.
Video
See us for yourself, check out EVO Hockey in action:
Testimonials
“The depth of your coaching staff was truly amazing. The attention given at group and at individual level was outstanding”
“Overall, the camp was some of the best few days of my life so far. You can tell how hard the EVO team have worked for this and I strongly recommend that every hockey player should go on at least one EVO camp in their life. You learn an incredible amount and have an insane amount of fun all at once. It was a truly five-star experience.”
Read more testimonials here (opens in new window)
Offers
Refer a friend, get 20% off your next camp or Academy booking
Refer a first-time booker to an EVO Hockey camp or Academy and, if they put you down as their referrer on booking, you will get a 20% credit for your next camp or Academy booking. Our way of saying thank you for helping to spread the word.
The EVO Academy is open to all and run by EVO Hockey with the support of our partners, Barnes Hockey Club and Richmond Hockey Club. Their provision of fantastic sports facilities enables us to bring EVO Hockey to west London and Middlesex.
Note: Sessions are run in compliance with Covid guidelines. All players are required to have an England Hockey Participation Agreement completed on their behalf, listing EVO Hockey, prior to their first session (we will email you a link to this upon booking). In the event of any part of the Academy program needing to be cancelled, due to changes in Covid guidelines or otherwise, players will be offered an open credit for future EVO events.