About Us
Talent Academy Information
The University of Bristol has been selected by England Hockey to host a talent academy in Bristol from the 2023/24 season; to become one of the key centres for developing High Potential Hockey players.
The University of Bristol Talent Academy will select and develop players in squads of c.25 girls and 25 boys aged between 15 and 18 years old (school years 10,11,12 and 13). These players will be nominated by schools, clubs and counties within our catchment area.
England Hockey Statement
Talent Academies are intended for the highest potential 15 to 18-year-old players, replacing Performance Centres.
England Hockey estimate that the current talent pool will yield approximately 500 players per gender, requiring the intensity and commitment of a Talent Academy. This equates to the top 60% of players who currently attend Performance Centres, plus those who are part of England Age Group squads.
There will be multiple opportunities most weeks for high-quality coaching and training through a combination of dedicated sessions and integration with other activities delivered by the host. Every Talent Academy will have a squad of players selected through a robust process based on the England Hockey Player Profile.
Further information can be found on the Talent Academy page on the England Hockey website.
Ethos and Vision
The University of Bristol is synonymous with aspiration, learning, growth and achievement. Bristol is one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK, ranked 61st in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2023.
As a Top 10 University for Performance Sport in the UK, we have a dedicated team of coaches and support staff to help our students train, compete and achieve their full sporting potential. Our Performance Squad represents our most-talented athletes who are combining sporting excellence with their studies.
The University of Bristol Hockey Talent Academy aims to utilise the excellence, ambition and standing of the University of Bristol and its passionate, people-focused coaches to develop and support the most high potential, aspiring young people in the area.
Strategy
Our #WEAREBRISTOL hashtag demonstrates our ambition beyond university life. We want to be an organisation that can represent Bristol, that the city can be proud of.
The University of Bristol Talent Academy (TA) shall seek to play a major part in the Bristol hockey community working together to develop & support the widest range of young people in hockey in the area that we are able to reach and connect with.
Through the Talent Academy we aim:
- To operate a person-centred, supportive fun yet challenging, hockey environment focused on players rounded physical, psychological, social & emotional education.
- To marry the best aspects from our coaching experience in England Hockey Performance Centre environments, with the ideas & the thrust of our University Performance Sport environment.
- To utilise the Club’s standing & ambition in the England Hockey structure to connect high potential young people with the some of the best hockey players in our area.
- To further diversify our membership beyond our student population, keeping EDI & the principles of the Right Athlete Right Environment at the heart of our approach.
- To offer young people a taste of life in a University performance sport environment.
A note about our founder Ben Dudley
Ben was the much loved Head of Hockey at the University of Bristol, until he tragically lost his 6 year battle with blood cancer in 2023, aged just 36.
Ben joined Bristol in 2017, having also played and coached at junior international level, played in the Euro Hockey League and coached in the English Premier Division. Ben was a hugely passionate, enthusiastic and energetic coach. Despite illness Ben worked tirelessly to take hockey to the next level, principally within our Hockey Club but also in our Bristol community. Ben worked tirelessly to develop players, coaches and the game as a whole.
Ben was the driving force behind everything at Bristol Hockey in the last 6 years and our guiding hand in the setting up of this Talent Academy. Ben had a vision of creating something bigger, something special to support the best (young) people & our game of hockey in this area. He said ‘we can compete to be the best of average but we can work together to be the best’. We will continue to work towards Ben’s vision.
Values and Behaviours
Brilliant - We will be creative and try things without fear. We will be accountable for our behaviours. We are what we demonstrate.
Resilient - We will believe in ourselves and our ability to perform and develop. We will be about the process not the outcome.
Intelligent - We will look for solutions to problems the game presents. We will get out head up and interpret what we are seeing.
Selfless - We will be a good teammate. We will contribute our skills, abilities and intelligence to the team and work together to find solutions.
Tenacious - We will work harder than anyone and take accountability for our development. We will never give up.
Optimistic - We will have fun, enjoy the process of development and where it is going to lead us as people.
Leaders - We will demonstrate and develop our ability to lead, in our own style and approach.
Got a question?
If you would like more information, please e-mail us.
Ben Dudley Talent Academy Founder
Image credit: Fine Time Photography