This camp was the the first stage towards lifting the Pacific Islands NAs towards higher performance standards for both athletes and their management team. The other 3 stages are:

1. FIH World Cup Hockey5s Qualifier July  2023 (Venue to be confirmed within the week)

2. Pacific Games Nov - Dec Honiara Solomon Islands 2023 

3. FIH Hockey5s World Cup 2024  Oman  - OHF has 3 qualifying spots for both women and men.

The funding for the camp came from Oceania Sport Federations Organisation (OSFO) as a result of a  successful OHF application in September 2022. Oceania Hockey Federation topped up this funding to ensure the quality and experince for the participants was memorable 

Each NA was able to nominate 2 athletes 1 male and 1 female and 1 national Coach. 

The participants were:     

Fiji : Maxine Edwards, Catherine Thaggard, Terence Corrie, and Hector Smith

Samoa :  Etuale Pouafa, Faamausili Taiva Ah Young

Solomon Is : Sally Hiro, Paul Luiramo, and Allen Temoa

Tonga : Susana Mahe, Masalu Feiloaki, and Hiko Fungavaka

Vanuatu: Joana Yalou, Nasse Maltungtung, and John Iawila                                      

 John Iawila working with Pacifika participants

Part of the Camp involved fulfilling all the requirements for a FIH Level 2 Coach. This qualification is important as most Pacific NOCs have a requirement for national coaches to have a sport specific Level 2 qualification. The Camp program combined the Level 2 technical components, as well as looking at specific areas that raise performance levels - culture, player welfare, expectations, planning a program, and tactical awareness.

FIH Trainers John Mowat and Gill Gemming facilitated the camp with significant input from specialist presenters. Practical skills and small games were delivered by Sam Bartholomew, Assistant Blacksticks U18 Mens Coach. Former Blacksticks Goalkeeper Steve Graham presented on how to include your GK in a training while FIH Umpires Kelly Hudson and Rachel Williams led a very practical enjoyable umpiring session where everyone displayed their whistling skills and appropriate hand signals.

Each afternoon finished with Hockey5 matches so that the Coaches could be mentored. A highlight was the involvement with the new Tauranga Hockey Pasifika group of young hockey players. The participants ran 4 small games stations and this enabled them to put into practice what they had learnt. After a shared dinner together the participants answered questions about hockey in their nations as well as doing a cultural item.  

Final match against Tauranga Boys' College 

Thanks go to Tauranga Hockey Association for the use of their facility, Select Sports and Go Hockey ( see separate article), THA Pasifika Group, and Hockey NZ. Hockey NZ provided uniform and this gave each participant 3 training shirts and shorts. Auckland and Tauranga Masters players donated shoes.