U16 Representative Programme

There have been two major changes to the U16 representative space heading into 2026.

The first change is the shift in age group from U15 to U16. The second is the introduction of a new U16 National Tournament by Hockey New Zealand.

Under Hockey New Zealand rules, each association is only able to send one team per gender to the U16 National Tournament. Canterbury Hockey will select one boys team and one girls team to attend this event.

Alongside the U16 National Tournament, will be the continuation of the U16 Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament that has been a huge success in recent years. This event will continue in the same format as the past with all South Island Associations attending. All players that wish to participate in this event, will be allocated to a team (including the players that trialled for the U16 Canterbury team to attend Nationals and were not selected).

Important note – It is a very short registration window, with registrations closing 11:59pm Sunday 2^nd August.

How the U16 Representative Programme works:

• Players who would like to be considered for either the Girls or Boys Canterbury team competing at the U16 National Tournament must attend trials
• Players who would like to be placed into a Canterbury team competing at the Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament, do not need to attend trials
• Any player that originally trials for the Canterbury team attending National Tournament and is unsuccessful, will be immediately placed into a Canterbury team to participate in the Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament
• All U16 team trainings will begin during the week of Monday 7 September

Note - There will be no trials for the U16 Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament teams. Canterbury Hockey will allocate registered players into these teams

U16 Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament

• Tournament dates & location: Monday 5 October to Friday 9 October 2026, Christchurch
• Player Eligibility: players must be Year 9 or above. Players must be aged 13 or older and under the age of 16 as of 1 January 2026.
• There are no trials for teams attending this event, players will be allocated to teams by CHA
• Teams will train once a week on either a Monday or Wednesday, starting week of 7 September
• The tournament will include teams from across the South Island, including Buller, Central Otago, Marlborough, Mid Canterbury, Nelson, North Otago, Otago, South Canterbury, Southland, and West Coast.
• Cost: $163

U16 National Tournament

• Tournament dates: Saturday 3 October to Wednesday 7 October 2026
• Location & cost: Boys tournament: Auckland, $990 & Girl’s tournament: Christchurch, $590
• Player Eligibility: HNZ rules communicate that players must be aged 14 or older and under the age of 16 as of 1 January 2026
• Teams will travel and stay together as a team throughout the tournament
• Teams will train twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting week of 7 September
• To be considered, players must attend trials
• Note – only one Boys and one Girls team will be sent to this tournament to abide by the rules set by HNZ

Trial information:

• Only players wanting to be considered for the team attending National Tournament need to attend
• Both trials will be held at Nunweek Park
• Trial 1: Monday 10 August, 5.00pm to 7.30pm
• Trial 2: Monday 17 August, 6.00pm to 8.00pm
• Players who trial but are not selected will be allocated into a team that attends the U16 Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament

Players who do not wish to trial for the U16 National Tournament teams, or who trial but are not selected, will still have the opportunity to be involved in the U16 Representative Programme through the U16 Alpiners Southern Regional Tournament.