Nelson’s first under-14 boys and girls pre-season hockey festival has wrapped up after four sunny, high-energy days on the turf, with the focus firmly on fun, learning and participation.
Held last week, the festival brought together teams from across the region in a deliberately supportive environment, giving many players their first experience of full-field hockey.
The event was structured as a festival rather than a tournament, with no overall winners and no prizes on offer. While match scores were recorded for learning and development purposes, the emphasis remained on skill development, enjoyment and team spirit.
Nelson Hockey general manager Fabian Amor says the festival marked a significant milestone for the association.
“This was the first time Nelson Hockey Association has run a U14 Boys and Girls pre-season festival. The event was deliberately structured as a festival rather than a tournament, with the primary purpose of giving most of these players the opportunity to experience full-field hockey for the first time in a supportive and enjoyable environment.”
To round out the week on a light-hearted note, all players received Easter eggs at the conclusion of the festival.
Nelson Hockey entered a mixed team into the festival, featuring players from Nelson, Richmond and the Tasman region.
Alongside the festival, officials’ mentoring was delivered on turf by Jan Wilson, who worked directly with junior umpires during matches.
Junior hockey for the 2026 season begins shortly, with secondary hockey starting on Friday, 1 May, followed by primary and intermediate grades on Wednesday, 6 May.
