National U15 School Hockey Championship and Talent Hunt Program Announced
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has launched a nationwide initiative in collaboration with various government departments to promote and develop school-level hockey.
Program Overview:
- Purpose: To foster hockey talent at the school level, identify promising players, create a national talent pool, and provide a structured pathway for young athletes to reach the national team.
- Organizers: PHF, Provincial Sports Departments, School Education Departments, Inter-Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC), and Provincial Educational Boards.
Event Details:
- Dates: January 2027 (Provincial championships), February 2027 (National Championship)
- Venue: Islamabad (National Tournament)
- Qualifiers: Top 4 teams from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir will advance to the national tournament.
Structure:
- Regional Rounds: January 2027 – Schools compete at district and divisional levels in each province.
- National Championship: February 2027 – Selected regional teams from each province compete for national honors.
- Talent Pool: A "National Talent Pool" will be established, comprising top performers from across the country, ensuring diverse talent selection.
Awards:
- Team Rewards: Top 3 finishing teams receive trophies, medals, and development support.
- Individual Recognition: Special awards for Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, Best Defender, Best Midfielder, and Best Forward.
Program Timeline:
- January 2027: Provincial championships and talent identification.
- February 2027: National Under-15 School Hockey Championship.
- March 2027: Training camps for the national talent pool.
- April 2027: High-performance development camps.
- May 2027: Final preparations and squad selection for Pakistan Under-15 (Boys and Girls) teams.
