Your Coaching Team

Please find below profiles of the academy coaching staff.

N.B. Coaches may change from programme to programme depending on their availability.  We also appoint specialist coaches to take training sessions based on the requirements of the players attending the academy. 

Tuition

We have assembled a quality coaching team to deliver each element of the academy programme. You’ll receive tuition from leading coaches, sports psychologists and fitness experts, who will analyse and develop every area of your game. The coaching at the academy will focus on:

• Technical skills training; focusing on ball carrying position, attacking manipulation skills, and all-encompassing defensive skills
   
• Opportunity for specialised development in advanced skills such as drag flicking, backhand skills, overheads and penalty corner skills
   
• Decision making under pressure and tactical tuition in different game scenarios
   
• Individual video analysis of match play
   
• Comprehensive strength and conditioning assessment and player-specific program
   
• Workshops on eating for performance, personal identity and self awareness, focusing in high pressure environments and a rare Athlete Experience - getting a tour and training viewing of an elite football club in the AFL
   
• Behavioural profiling in sport with a world renowned Athlete DISC profile

Matches

In addition to training at the academy, you’ll join a local hockey club where you’ll attend mid-week training sessions and play matches at the weekends. 

Playing for a local club will enable you to put the academy coaching into practice in weekly competitive matches. It also enables you to integrate into the community, meet new people and make new friends.

Facilities

Most academy sessions are held at Melbourne High School, home of the MCC and MHSOB Hockey Clubs in beautiful South Yarra, a 6 minute train ride from the Melbourne city centre. The strength and conditioning sessions are held at ProSport Fitness, one of the most complete gyms in Melbourne, with an altitude chamber and hot/cold bath recovery facilities alongside the more regular features. 

At a glance:

• Very short travel time to hockey training facility
• World class Gym and fitness centre
• Video analysis experience with an elite coach

What to expect

When you arrive at the academy a thorough assessment will be made of your strengths and weaknesses. This assessment provides the basis of your training programme at the academy. Performance objectives are set and continually reviewed as development progresses.

Timetable

A typical weekly schedule of the programme is shown below. During the programme you’ll work on all areas of your game. In addition, you’ll also play matches with a club at the weekends and attend club practices during the week.

Social Life

Making the most of your time away

Travelling to the other side of the world to play sport is a truly once in a lifetime experience. So all Sport Lived programmes are designed to make sure that both your sporting life, and your social life, are as action packed and exciting as possible. That’s why you’ll always get…

Social events with Sport Lived

The cities you can visit with Sport Lived are some of the most exciting and welcoming on the planet, and there always seems to be something interesting going on. So to help you make the most of your time away, our local staff organise social events like trips to top sporting occasions, surfing lessons, welcome dinners and loads more besides. They’ll also try to assist you get tickets to events you want to watch while you're away, and give you expert advice on the best things to see and do in the city.

Membership of a local sports club

One of the best things about travelling with Sport Lived is that we arrange for you to join a local sports club. We handpick clubs with lots of members and different teams - some of whom have regular social events. Some clubs may offer preseason tours, and in the past some clubs have organised welcome events for new players. Trust us, you’ll feel like an old hand within a few days and the other members will make sure there’s never a dull moment!

A great place to stay in the centre of town

We offer programmes in some fantastic cities, and we know that to make the most of your time away, you need to be right in the centre of the action. So we make sure that your accommodation is in the heart of the city - just a short walk away from all the best cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and pretty much anything else you’ll ever need.

Like minded flatmates

Having a few friends to share your experiences with is a huge part of any foreign trip – they make the whole experience loads easier and loads more fun. So you’ll always share your swish city centre accommodation with other Sport Lived participants - that way you’ll have a ready-made group of friends from the minute you step off the plane!
 

FAQs

Do you have to be a really good hockey player to attend the academy?
No. Players of all abilities can attend the hockey academy where they will receive quality coaching and play matches to improve their game.

Do players on the programme play matches for a club?
Yes. All players on the programme train with a club during the week and play matches at the weekends.

What type of visa should I obtain if I attend the hockey academy?
The programmes are intensive so most players don’t work during their time at the academy. We therefore suggest that you obtain an Australian Tourist Visa which your travel agent should be able to organise for you. If you plan to extend your trip and work in Australia then you should obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa. This visa enables you to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months.

Is it possible to attend the Hockey Academy for less than 6 weeks?
Yes, we are also able to offer a Flexi-Programme which is suitable for those wanting a shorter period than 6 weeks. Please contact us for further information to learn how we can design a program tailored to your needs.

Standard Accommodation

Choose our Standard Accommodation in Australia and you’ll live in a dorm room in a hostel or lodge. All our Standard pads are centrally located and provide easy access to public transport. This makes it easier to get to your sports club or coaching placement, as well as giving you the chance to try out all the bars, clubs and restaurants in the city centre.

At a glance:

• Top quality hostel accommodation
• Located close to transport and nightlife
• Shared with Sport Lived participants
• Meet travellers from around the world

Your place in Australia...

You’ll share a dorm room with other Sport Lived participants. You’ll get fully equipped kitchen facilities, a base for your belongings and large comfortable communal areas, so you can catch up with other Sport Lived participants and travellers from around the world.

NB: Illustrative accommodation pictures.

Premium Accommodation

Choose our Premium Accommodation in Australia and you’ll live in a 4 star apartment in the centre of town. Your sports club or coaching placement will be easily accessible by public transport and with lots of bars, clubs, restaurants and shops close by there are plenty of places to explore.

At a glance:

• 4-star fully furnished apartments (twin rooms)
• Located close to transport and nightlife
• Shared with Sport Lived participants 
• Relax! Most bills are included

Home from home...

Apartments are shared with other Sport Lived participants and include a 24 hour reception plus many mod-cons. Apartments are fully furnished including a TV, linen, kitchen appliances, washing machines, etc. They are also serviced weekly so you can spend your time having fun.

NB: Illustrative accommodation pictures.

Homestay Accommodation

We arrange for all U18 players attending the Hockey Academy to stay with a welcoming host family in Melbourne. You’ll live close to your hockey club and the academy venues making it easy for you to travel to all your sessions. Breakfast and an evening meal are provided leaving you with plenty of time to work hard on your game and enjoy all that Melbourne has to offer!

At a glance:

Quality homestay accommodation
Located close to sports club and academy
Daily breakfast and evening meal provided

Home from home...

You’ll have your own room in a beautiful house where you’ll live with a host family and other Sport Lived participants. Free Internet and two meals a day are also included in the price of the programme. 

Melbourne

First things first. Whether it be playing professionally, socially with mates, coaching or simply watching on the telly, Melburnians LOVE sport. It doesn't matter where you are - the heart of the city, a country town, or in the suburbs, you will not only find a pub with a TV screen, but also an enthusiastic Aussie crowd to watch the action. In terms of live sport, we have the famous Boxing Day test match, Aussie Open Tennis, Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup – Australia’s most famous horse race.

But there’s more than sport. Most importantly, the Melbourne people are an incredible bunch. There's a warm, community sense that vibrates through the city. The locals are typically laid back and welcoming. They love to show off their city and will probably insist on taking you out on the town, exchanging slang words and introducing you to their mates.

This city is famous as the home of culture in Australia and has amazing art exhibitions, markets, music and comedy festivals; shopping, nightclubs and trendy bars. Whatever your taste, you'll find places in Melbourne dedicated to people like yourself.

Top Things To Do In Melbourne

1. Travel the Great Ocean Road
2. Watch ‘the race that stops a nation’
3. Catch the ANZAC Day AFL Game at the MCG

What’s Included

Hockey Club
✓ Membership to a quality hockey club
✓ The opportunity to play and train with top Australian sports players

Hockey Academy Training
✓  Elite hockey coaching
✓ Access to the outstanding hockey facilities
✓ The development of your game through intensive Hockey Academy sessions
✓ Membership to a gym

Accommodation
✓ Shared centrally located accommodation
✓ Daily breakfast & evening meal (Homestay Accommodation only)
✓ Free internet

Overseas Staff Support
✓ Airport collection upon arrival
✓ Staff support throughout your stay
✓ Transport to the airport for your departure

Trip Essentials
✓ Sport Lived clothing
✓ Information pack upon arrival
✓ Introductory travel pass
✓ Sport Lived Australia handbook

Social Events
✓ Regular overseas social events e.g. surfing trips and tickets to great sporting events*
✓ Social events with your sports club
*The social events arranged for our participants are dependent upon the length and time of their programme. Our participants are informed of these social events during their programme. 

And finally…
✓ The sports experience of a lifetime!