It is with great pleasure that we can announce, that Swiss Hockey is now part of the EuroHockey Youth Performance Group (EHYPG) – a collaboration of leading European field hockey nations with a clear goal:

To narrow the gap between top nations and up-and-coming countries in European youth field hockey and thus further develop the sport, increase competition and make hockey and its tournaments even more attractive.

Within this group, experienced field hockey countries are pooling their knowledge, structures and competition formats in order to offer smaller nations better development opportunities. For Swiss Hockey, this is an important step in the further development of our youth competitive sport and our international positioning.

Unique opportunity: participation in top tournaments

One concrete result of this cooperation is the invitation of our junior national teams to the traditional 6- and 8-Nations Cup tournaments. These take place annually in top field hockey nations such as the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and are normally reserved for the strongest nations.

Thanks to the EHYPG, Switzerland now also has access to this high-class competitive environment. This is an outstanding opportunity for our players to compete with the best in Europe.

Our teams in action

For these tournaments, the opportunity was deliberately created for up-and-coming nations to participate with older age groups to ensure an optimal learning environment.

• U16 Boys→ Participation in the U15 tournament in Valkenswaard (NED) – The other participants are: Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland & England
• U18 Boys → Participation in the U16 tournament in Wavre (BEL), in the brand new World Cup stadium – The other participants are France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, & Austria
• U18 Girls → Participation in the U16 tournament in Ludwigshafen (GER) – The other participants are Germany, Ireland, Spain, Austria & Poland

More than just games

Participation in these tournaments means far more than just results. The focus is on development, experience and inspiration.
Matches against top nations offer:

• a higher pace of play and intensity
• valuable international experience
• individual and team development
• the development of mental strength and competitiveness

A message from Jair Levie (Head of Competitive Sports) to our players and staff

We wish all players and staff members every success and, above all, great joy at these tournaments. Play with pride for Switzerland. Enjoy every minute on the pitch. And come back with valuable experiences that will inspire you and others.