A weekend of hockey, heat and high spirits in Tamworth

The New Balance Regional Challenge brought the best of junior hockey to Tamworth for an unforgettable weekend of competition, growth, and fun! As the grand finale of the Centre of Development (COD) program, this event gave young athletes the perfect stage to put their skills to the test.

Players from all across the state made their way to the Tamworth Hockey Centre from Friday, February 28th, to Sunday, March 2nd, for one of the biggest events on the Hockey NSW calendar. With over 430 players, officials, parents, and supporters filling the town, the event brought a welcome economic boost to Tamworth, with more than 350 visitors coming from outside the region.

Unlike traditional tournaments, the Regional Challenge isn’t about winners or losers – it’s about development, and who knows? The next international hockey superstar could have been on the field, just like Matt Dawson, who once played in this very event before going on to represent NSW and Australia!

Tamworth will continue to host this action-packed carnival for the next three years, ensuring more young players get the opportunity to sharpen their skills. With both 7-a-side and 5-a-side hockey matches on display, participants enjoyed plenty of ball possession, with Hockey 5’s – a fast-paced format gaining popularity in Europe – becoming a key feature of the weekend.

While the excitement was high, so were the temperatures! With the heat soaring past 30 degrees each day, Hockey NSW took early action to ensure player safety by adjusting match times and increasing drink breaks. However, by midway through Day 2, the extreme heat forced a cancellation of the afternoon matches, a decision made in line with the Hockey Australia weather policy. A massive thank you to all players, parents, and supporters for their understanding. By Day 3, play resumed as planned, proving once again just how eager these young athletes were to showcase their talent!

The weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of volunteers, officials, and umpires. A fantastic group of 10 Umpire Coaches and 44 Umpires ensured all 288 matches were covered, with many young umpires blowing the whistle for the first time in an organised match. This event continues to be a crucial stepping stone for developing the next wave of officials across Hockey NSW.

Hockey NSW would like to extend a huge thank you to our amazing volunteers, coaches, umpires, and umpire coaches – without you, events like this wouldn’t be possible! A special shoutout to our event sponsor, New Balance, for their generous contribution of $4,000 worth of product vouchers for participants, coaches, volunteers, and officials. Thanks also to Dubbo and Scone Hockey for the use of their Hockey 5’s boards and to Click in Focus for capturing all the action over the weekend.

We can’t wait to do it all again next year in Tamworth – see you in 2026 for another incredible Regional Challenge!