HOCKEY
OAKLANDS WOLVES HOCKEY ACADEMY
CREATING & DEVELOPING TOP HOCKEY PLAYERS
About
The Wolves Hockey Academy aims to develop each player to become the best they want to be.
We combine elite sports training with vocational or A Level courses to create the rounded performer.
You will be enrolled in a training programme that will advance your skills in the following areas:
- Skills coaching
- Strength and conditioning training
- Physiotherapy
- Performance Lifestyle mentoring
A typical day will combine training in the morning with academic study in the afternoon. Players have the option to attend and play for their existing hockey clubs, but can also play for St Albans Hockey Club, who are an on-site affiliation of the college.
Our Academy operates as one programme. The programme is aimed at talented hockey players aged 16 years and over who are already playing at a high standard with their school, club, regional or national age group team.
Students will be passionate about hockey and highly motivated to achieve excellence in their education and sport. Rest days, physiotherapy and mentoring are also scheduled into your Wolves Hockey Academy programme.
Choose from the wide range of A Level, BTEC and Foundation Degree courses available at Oaklands College.
You can expect daily training sessions and club level competition from our base in St Albans, Herts. On-site residential options are possible for academy students not from the area.
WHAT YOU NEED...
The entry requirements for the A levels and BTEC courses can be viewed alongside the course listing within the course guide or through the course finder on our main OAKLANDS COLLEGE website.
The hockey programme is timetabled to work alongside your lesson timetables, to maximise achievement both on court and in the classroom.
Students joining the academy will also be required to purchase the Oaklands Wolves Sports Academy kit bundle, more details regarding this can be provided upon application and enrolment.
WHAT YOU WILL GAIN...
In addition to their involvement with St Albans Hockey Club, coaching, training & supporting activities will be timetabled into each student’s week. Hockey Academy Students will benefit from:
- An integrated academic & Hockey Academy timetable
- International standard hockey facilities
- 1:1 and small group hockey coaching
- Strength & conditioning training
- Video analysis
- Technical & tactical development
- Fully equipped performance gym
- Physiotherapy
- Sports mentoring
- Collaborations with other sports academies
- Work experience at local and England Hockey events
TESTIMONIALS
Click below to view some of the written testimonials from Hockey professionals, as well as former and current players.
Andy Halliday...
“After growing up in the local area and playing, coaching and enjoying my hockey in St Albans, it is inspiring to see the growth and nurture of a hockey academy at Oaklands College, the home of St Albans Hockey Club.
In these times, maintaining a club with the depth and stature of St Albans is a challenge. One of the priorities is to preserve the provision and opportunity to develop young hockey talent in the area. Under Simon Archer’s leadership, the Oaklands Academy provides a fantastic chance to combine study and sport in an excellent setting.
For the modern day athlete, on and off field development is vital. At Oaklands, the high attention to detail provides important tuition and guidance in the ancillary areas of strength and conditioning, physiology, and diet and nutrition. All are now highly contributory factors in athlete development, both cognitive and physical skills.
Since its inception in 2017, the academy is already seeing representation in Junior International hockey and in both Mens and Ladies National League squads at St Albans.
With Simon and his team of specialists providing excellent coaching and tuition, Oaklands Academy is a great starting point on the pathway for any aspiring young hockey player.
My only regret is that this excellent opportunity wasn’t around some 40 years ago when I was growing up!”
Andy Halliday – England / Great Britain Men’s Hockey Team Manager
COURSES
Athletes can study almost any of the courses available at Oaklands College. Please note, choices may be limited due to timetabling and training commitments.
BUSINESS – find more on the Oaklands College website
SPORTS – find more on the Oaklands College website
PUBLIC SERVICES – find more on the Oaklands College website
A LEVELS – find more on the Oaklands College website
ACADEMY BOOKLET
COACHES
Meet our coaches…
SIMON ARCHER
HEAD OF ACADEMY, HOCKEY ACADEMY
Simon has coached Hockey for over 12 years, coaching both goalkeepers and outfield players with specialist one to one training and small group training sessions. Simon was recently appointed Head Coach of Wales Masters Ladies. As well as coaching players to England Hockey level, his career highlights date back to 2014, where he played in New Zealand, working with St Bede’s College. Simon has played at both National League and Premier level in both the UK and New Zealand. An ambassador for STX Field Hockey, Simon founded the Oaklands Wolves Hockey Academy and his invaluable experience has helped produced some talented players to date.
JOHN HURST
HOCKEY ACADEMY SPECIALIST VOLUNTEER, HOCKEY ACADEMY FORMER ENGLAND GK COACH
John played for England both indoor and outdoor, as well as playing for Great Britain. A member of Team GB at six Olympic Games and five Commonwealth Games and former manager of England and GB Women between 2013 & 2016, John is a key ambassador of Oaklands Wolves Hockey Academy. With over 100 international appearances in Champions’ Trophies, European and World Cups, John’s knowledge and gold medal winning experience is paramount to the success and development of our students.
PATRICK ESSON
OSTEOPATH, HOCKEY ACADEMY
Pat is an osteopath currently working with both the Hockey and Athletics Academies. Pat graduated from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine after achieving a first-class honours degree in Sports and Exercise Science. A graduate of the prestigious OSCA mentorship programme, Pat transfers his invaluable experience from working in a variety of sports including rugby and elite level sprinting. Pat supports Hockey Academy students by assessing, treating and rehabilitating and injuries that may occur throughout the season.
JOE ELLIS
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING LEAD, HOCKEY ACADEMY
Joe is the Lead Strength & Conditioning coach across multiple academies at Oaklands College, having spent six years working with the Oaklands Wolves Academies. With a MSc in Strength & Conditioning from Chester University, Joe supports students by leading gym sessions focusing on enhancing and maintaining their condition, ensuring they are at their best physically for a gruelling and competitive season of hockey.
TEAMS
Oaklands Wolves Hockey Academy players have the opportunity to play for the St. Albans Hockey Club (SAHC). SAHC use the college facilities to train and play competitive matches, however, if a player does not want to play for SAHC, they do not have to, players can still play for their respective clubs in-line with their studies.