Club Structure

This provides players, coaches and supporters with a framework for player and team development across all grades. Below is the Club structure, some grades may have more than one Somerville team.

Senior Open Grades
Premier & Premier Reserve
Division 1, 2, 3 & 4

Age Protected Grades
Youth Premier
Youth Championship

Junior Grades
Kwik-Sticks: Year 7 & 8
Kiwi-Sticks: Year 5 & 6
Mini-Sticks: Year 3 & 4
Fun-Sticks: Year 1 & 2

Player welfare & workload

All Grades
Somerville recognises that our players may play across multiple teams and competitions in one season. Player welfare is important to the Club and it is critical that the player openly communicates with the team coach and/or manager if they have any concerns. Players must, in the first instance, discuss their workload with the team coach to develop an effective plan to manage their time. In the interest of player welfare a compromise for training/match commitment may be met during season peaks. Should a player continue to have concerns, they should contact the Club Development Officer. In the event of unacceptable absence, both parties (club/player) will endeavour to find a solution. Should this fail, the Club may regrade the player.

Premier

The Premier teams are often regarded as our Flagship teams of the Club and are considered a priority team for the Club. It is the home of our current Blackstick players when available. Through representative commitment/unavailability these team squads are often extended beyond 20 players. Neither match time nor field time is guaranteed for Premier players. The teams are heavily “result focussed”. The Club reserve the right to recruit players from outside the Club when necessary.

Premier requirements

A player wishing to play Premier hockey must be prepared to attend:

  • Pre-season training and trials

  • 2x training nights per week - See Club Training Schedule

  • All scheduled matches - competition day is Saturday (unless otherwise scheduled)

  • End of season prize-giving

International players (Blackstick or overseas) may be exempted from some of the above requirements. Opportunities exist for financial assistance where players coach/assist another Club team.

Premier Reserve

The team in the Premier Reserve grade is the recognised path to the Premier team. During the pre-season programme, selected Premier Reserve players form part of the greater Premier squad. At the completion of this programme and after trials this team will operate as its own entity. Replacements for injured/sick or otherwise unavailable Premier players may be drawn from the Reserve squad. On occasion the Premier coach may request Reserve players train with the Premier team.

Premier reserve requirements

A player wishing to play Premier Reserve hockey must be prepared to attend:

  • Pre-season training and trials

  • Training 1 x per week when scheduled- see Club Training Schedule

  • All scheduled matches - competition day is Sunday

  • End of season prize-giving

Senior Division teams - Div 1,2,3,4

These teams compete in the appropriate open grade competition. They are a mix of competitive and social players, predominantly adult teams with a blend of younger players. The teams continue to play and train over school holiday periods and it is expected that players are available for the full duration of the season.

Senior Division requirements:

A Player wishing to play senior division hockey must be prepared to attend:

  • A minimum of 1 trial

  • Training 1x per week - see Club Training Schedule

  • All scheduled matches - competition days are Saturday for Div 1 & Div 3, Sunday for Div 2 & Div 4

  • End of season prize-giving

Youth Grades

The Club’s Youth teams compete in the Youth Grade and this is the recognised pathway to the open grade teams. The Youth grades draw from a range of players from Year 9 to Year 13 who are under 18 on 1st January each year. Individuals may be asked to fill in for higher graded youth teams, and/or open grade teams, sporadically during the season. This is a good opportunity for aspiring players to ‘test’ themselves against better youth players and/or more seasoned adults. 

Please note: the Club recognises that most players in this age group are still reliant on parents for transport/support, however the objectives of the team should not be continually compromised.

Premier Youth

The best Somerville youth players play in the Premier Youth grade.  In 2022 Somerville fielded 1 Boys team and 2 Girls teams in this grade.  These are considered priority teams for the Club, with the expectation of commitment to the Club with hockey as your ‘priority sport’.

Premier Youth competitions are held on Friday evenings.

Championship Youth

This grade is for players who may be recreational, developing hockey foundations, or who aspire to play premier youth in future years.  In 2022 Somerville fielded 3 Girls teams and 2 Boys teams in this grade.  Championship grade games are on Sunday mornings.

Junior Hockey

Somerville has teams at all grades across the Junior Auckland competition. There may be more than one team in each grade. The Club recognises that players in this age group are heavily reliant on parents for transport and support. Parents are asked to support team/coach objectives around availability, timekeeping and practice regimes. The Club recognises the delicate balance that must be achieved with regards to development and performance (age and stage).

For the purposes of data collection, Year 5-8 players will participate in skills/physical testing so that age group performance and standards can be set by the Club.

Kwikstick A - Premier

The Kwiksticks Premier grade team is recognised as a priority team in the Club. Committing to the Club with hockey as your "priority winter sport" is expected. In this respect, unless indicated prior to trials, the Premier grade team will operate with a maximum of 14 players. Coaches at this level are monitored to ensure they achieve a balance between team results and individual development.

A player wishing to play Premier grade must be prepared to attend:
● Pre-season training and trials
● Training 2x per week - See Club Training Schedule
● All scheduled matches - competition is Saturday Morning
● End of season prize-giving

Junior (all other grades)

All other Junior teams, although seeded on ability (with the exception of players new to hockey at the younger levels) are considered development teams. Development takes priority over results at all times. Parents should support sound team sport ethics, availability, Club uniform requirements, timekeeping, and practice regimes. Parents should be aware that coaches at this level (like players) vary in ability.

Junior competition day is Saturday mornings.
Training days vary depending on team - See Club Training Schedule.

Player Pathways

The Club has a number of priority high performance teams. It acknowledges these teams will receive additional resources and turf time befitting their status. Priority team status is given for the purposes of winning competitions and/or the development of individual talent for the Club.

These teams are ranked in importance (for both genders)
1. Premier
2. Premier Reserves
3. Youth Premier
4. Kwiksticks - Premier

Priority Teams

Priority Teams Players are selected into the priority teams based on ability. It is not a given right because of years at the Club, incumbent or representative player status. Selection is based on performance at trials and completion of physical criteria and skill testing where pertinent. Committing to the Club with hockey as your "priority sport" is an expectation.

Priority team players are expected to attend the following, unless unavailable through injury or illness:
● Pre-season matches and training
● Trials and relevant testing
● Matches and training during the season
● Prize-giving
● Relevant Club social events

Premier teams may include International players (overseas or BlackSticks) exempted from some of the above requirements.

The Club (team coaches in consultation with Club Development Officer) reserves the right to relegate any player who falls into one or more of the following categories:
● Does not attend an acceptable percentage of trainings or matches
● Fails to maintain playing or training/fitness standards
● Brings the Club into disrepute by word or action on or off the field

Players who trial and gain selection in a priority team are not guaranteed turf/field time for any match. However, continual lack of field time is a concern for both player and Club. This may necessitate in a priority team player being offered field time on occasion in a lower graded team.