Regional Performance Centre

Regional Performance Centre (RPC)

What is RPC:

The AKH RPC was established in September 2017 and replaced the AKH Academy. RPC is for AKH and HNZ identified players aged 16-23. Players are identified for RPC selection by AKH Rep Coaches and the HNZ Athlete Pathway personnel. Players for the 12 month programme are notified in September each year for either an October start  or January start depending on their current year’s hockey load.

The programme may include HNZ identified athletes shifting to AKL for university or work.

The RPC programme has the following pillars:

1. Tactical and Technical

2. Strength and Conditioning

3. Nutrition

4. Mental Skills and Leadership

Players in the programme operate in two blocks:

October to March: Monday and Wednesday evening trainings incorporating pillars 1 and 2 including intersquad matches.

April to September: Pillars 3 and 4 held in season. During this block players are monitored and tracked against their Individual Performance Plans (IPPS) by RPC Coaches.

The RPC Coaches are specialist coaches including:

Paul White – Hockey Speed and Conditioning

Helen Clarke – Goalkeepers

Bronte Anscombe – Nutrition

Peter Daji – Goalscoring

Jimmy Grant  – Tactical and Technical

Franki Traini – Tactical and Technical

Kirsten Spencer – Tactical and Technical

Warren Birmingham – Mental Skills and Leadership

Anna Lawrence – Mental Skills and Leadership

The programme oversight in its first year is the responsibility of CEO Manoj Daji and from 2019 will be the responsibility of a new Coach and Player Capability Manager.

The cost of the 2019-2020 RPC programme is $650.

AUSTRALIA EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

AKH has also reinstituted an annual exchange programme for school leavers and those players aged under 23. Each year a Mens and Womens u23 team will travel to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane to play against State u21 teams in a four day intensive block of hockey education.

COACH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

In 2019 Club, School and Rep Coaches affiliated to Auckland Hockey will have the opportunity to partake in a monthly Coach Accreditation programme devised by Warren ‘Busta’ Birmingham – AKH Coach and Player Capability Manager. The Accreditation programme will be delivered at various Auckland clubs and schools.