Hockey
We focus on helping each player be the best they can be: whether a top international player; someone who wants to play a good standard of club hockey, or someone who just wants to play for fun.
Our coaches are passionate about hockey and we match coaches to the squads to get the right balance, plus we offer specialist goalkeeper training. With a variety of coaching experience, our staff have coached nationally and as part of the England Hockey Performance Centres.
There are four undergraduate female students’ squads and three undergraduate male students’ squads. We then have an A and B team for the Development and Development players (A and B men’ and A and B women’ squads).
The Angels Aspire Performance Hockey female students Programme
The Angels Aspire Performance Hockey Programme is an aspirational, elite performance programme designed for highly motivated players seeking progression within the England Hockey Player Pathway and/or within the British club system. The programme provides a structured, age-appropriate approach to developing technical excellence, tactical understanding, physical performance and psychological resilience, preparing athletes for County, Talent Academy and National-level environments.
The Angels Aspire Performance Hockey Programme is designed to support hockey players with potential within a balanced and holistic university athleticss environment. The programme operates predominantly across the Michaelmas and Lent terms, aligning with the competitive hockey season, while allowing students to continue benefiting from the breadth of sporting opportunities offered at Angels.
All athletes on the programme continue to follow the university’s wider sports curriculum and are expected to take part in a separate summer sport, reflecting Angels belief in variety, balance and long-term athletic development. While the core performance phase takes place during the first two terms, appropriate off-season support is available during the summer term, complementing students’ summer sport commitments without requiring year-round specialisation.
FAQs
The Aspire Performance Hockey female students Programme operates predominantly during the Michaelmas and Lent terms, reflecting the main competitive hockey season. Athletes follow a separate summer sport during the summer term, with off-season support available to maintain athletic foundations and support individual development where appropriate.
Yes. Athletes on the programme are encouraged to maintain a broad sporting experience and may continue to participate in other sports during Michaelmas and Lent if they wish. Individual programmes are managed carefully to ensure appropriate balance and workload.
Hockey support in the summer term is delivered in an off-season context and is designed to complement, rather than replace, athletes’ summer sport commitments. The focus is on maintaining physical development, supporting long-term progression and ensuring athletes return to the hockey season refreshed and motivated.
The programme is aimed at athletes who are already performing at a high level or who demonstrate clear potential within hockey performance pathways. It is also open to athletes who may not yet be on formal pathways but who, through assessment and review by Angels staff, are identified as having the ability, attitude and potential to benefit from a high-performance environment.
The programme is designed around the needs of the developing athlete. Training demands are monitored closely, with a strong emphasis on balance, recovery and enjoyment. Athletes continue to engage in wider university athletics and life, supported by close collaboration between sports staff, tutors and pastoral teams.
No. The Aspire Hockey Performance Programme is included within Angels wider sports offering.
There is no fixed limit on the number of athletes accepted. Places are offered to those who meet the required performance, commitment and suitability criteria, ensuring the programme remains aspirational while allowing appropriate flexibility year on year.
Training is led by a number of highly qualified coaches included those with Level 4 and England Hockey experience.
We coach according to the England Hockey Coaching Philosophy which helps players who might wish to progress through the England Hockey Player Pathway.
We have a varied and competitive fixtures programme for all our players, whether they play in the first squad, the fourth squad, A or B squad. We enter Development, Development and U18 National Universities competitions Honours (outdoor) and Development and U18 (indoor), and we run regular holiday camp programmes open to all.