Wellington U18 Representative Trials
The Wellington U18 Representative Trials provide eligible players with the opportunity to be considered for selection into Wellington teams competing at the 2026 National Under 18 Tournaments.
These trials form part of Wellington Hockey’s representative pathway and are designed to identify players with the skill, attitude, and potential to perform at national level, while continuing their development within a high-performance environment.
Trial Overview
The U18 trial process consists of open trials followed by invitation-only sessions, allowing selectors to assess players across multiple environments and game scenarios.
Trials will include a combination of:
Individual skill-based activities
Small-sided and full-field game scenarios
Match play situations
This structure enables selectors to evaluate technical ability, decision-making, physical application, and how players perform within a team environment.
Selections are based on observations across the entire trial period, not a single session. Players are encouraged to focus on consistency, effort, and coachability throughout the process.
Trial Dates & Times
All trial sessions will be held at the National Hockey Stadium. Both boys and girls trials will be run at the same time.
Trial 1 – Open Trial
Sunday 22 March
9:00am – 12:00pm
Trial 2 – Open Trial
Wednesday 25 March
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Trial 3 – Invitation Only
Monday 30 March
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Trial 4 – Invitation Only
Wednesday 1 April
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Players are encouraged to attend both open trials where possible to give selectors the best opportunity to view performance across multiple sessions. Following these sessions, selected athletes will be invited to attend Trials 3 and 4.
2026 National Tournament Information
Girls U18 National Tournament: Palmerston North
Boys U18 National Tournament: Tauranga
Tournament Dates: 5 – 11 July 2026
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for selection in the 2026 U18 representative teams, players must:
Be under 18 years of age as at 1 January 2026
Be 15 years of age or older as at 1 January 2026
Meet all Wellington Hockey and Hockey New Zealand eligibility requirements
Please note: Players selected for the National U16 Tournament later in 2026 cannot compete in both the U16 and U18 National Tournaments.
Selection Process
Selection into the Wellington U18 teams is based on (but not limited to):
Performance across trial sessions
Game understanding and decision-making
Technical execution and physical application
Attitude, coachability, and contribution to team culture
Selections reflect readiness and team balance at this time. Development pathways remain available for players across all stages of progression.
For full details on the selection framework, please refer to our Trials & Selection Process page.
Register for Trials
All players intending to trial must register via PlayHQ as this helps Wellington Hockey plan effectively for the trial process.
Need More Information?
If you have any questions about the U18 trials or the representative programme, please get in touch with Pip Henwood at pip@wellingtonhockey.org.nz.
