Geelong Winter Hockey

Winter Hockey runs from April to September, with school holiday breaks for junior teams.

Ages for junior teams are taken at January 1 of the current year. All junior teams in the local GHA competition are mixed, with boys and girls in the same team.

The Geelong Hockey Association local competitions offer divisions for people of all ages, with beginners welcome at any level. Junior beginners who are not more than 12 months over the specified age limit may be permitted to play in a lower age group.

Geelong Hockey Association local competition

The 2025 winter season will begin for junior and senior teams on April 26/27.

Notes for team managers

Please read the following information:

Local rules for Geelong Hockey Association competitions

Borrowing players from other teams:

  • GHA Rules allow junior teams to borrow 2 players from another club/ team as long as they have 7 of their own players to begin the match, and the loaned players will make a team of not more than 11. See By-Law 5.4.1
  • If one player volunteers to play for the opposing junior team, the player is permitted to swap back to their own team at half-time.
  • The rule does not apply for senior teams.

Double up rules:

  • Double up rules will apply as per the By-laws.
  • A player may play regularly as a goalkeeper in one division and as a field player in another division. This will not count as a double up.
  • Any further requests for exemptions to the double up rules should be submitted to the Match Committee for consideration.

Match format

Senior men’s and women’s competition matches are played as 4 quarters of 17 minutes plus 2 minutes for quarter time breaks and 5 minutes at half time.

U16 competition matches will be played as 4 quarters of 10 minutes each plus 2 minutes for quarter time breaks and 5 minutes at half time.

U14 and U12 competition matches will be played as 2 halves of 25 minutes each plus 5 minutes half time.

Rules of the Competition

Under 16 Competition

Rules for the 2025 U16 Competition can be found here…….

Under 10 Competition

U10 games are 7 a side on 1/2 field, with 2 halves of 25 minutes plus 5 minutes half time.

The games at Stead Park will be played with boards (as used in summer hockey) to divide the full field into two halves.  Teams should ensure that these boards are removed quickly at the end of the game so that the next game can begin on time.

The U10 game will be played using the normal rules for hockey, with the following exceptions:

  • The ball may be played off the sideboards and still remain in play.
  • On a penalty corner, the players of the defending team who are behind the centre line must not cross the centre line until the ball is played by the attacking team at the top of the circle.
  • Corner hits will be taken from a spot on the sideline 5 metres from the backline.

Note:

  • There is no limit on the number of goals which each player may score
  • The ball may be passed using a push, hit or slap shot
  • The ball may be lifted to any height as long as it is not dangerous
  • Goalkeepers are optional

Under 8 Competition

Under 8 games are 7 a side on 1/4 field, with 2 halves of 20 minutes plus 5 minutes half time.

Teams should set up goals for their game using either the normal goals or cones. All goals/ cones should be removed or returned to normal position quickly so that the next game can begin on time.

The rules of the U8 game can be found here.

Umpires for GHA local matches

Umpires for the winter season senior matches are rostered by the Geelong Hockey Association Umpires Committee.  For junior winter season matches, each team is responsible for supplying one umpire for their match.

Umpire payments for 2025 are

  • D1 men and women $60
  • D2 men and women $50
  • U17 $30
  • U14 $25
  • U12 $20
  • U10 $15

Any member who is available to be rostered for senior matches for the 2025 winter season should complete the details on this form.

Senior Umpires Roster can be found here.

Enquiries

Canteen roster for Stead Park

The canteen at Stead Park is operated using volunteers from participating teams, led by a canteen manager. Teams are rostered to supply a volunteer when they are playing on pitch 1 – junior teams during their game, and senior teams for the game after.

Check the canteen roster here.

Extreme Weather Policy

The Hockey Victoria Extreme Weather Policy will apply to all activities conducted by the Geelong Hockey Association.

How can you join a team?

Contact one of our clubs to find out what teams are available for you.

Contact clubs

Representative Hockey (HV Comp)

The Hockey Geelong Sharks teams participate in Hockey Victoria’s Junior and Senior competitions, representing Hockey Geelong and providing the opportunity for participation at higher level competition:

  • U14 and U16 Mixed and Girls | Friday nights, home and away
  • Men’s Premier League and Premier League Reserve | Saturday and Sunday afternoons, home and away
  • Women’s Vic Premier League and Premier League Reserve | Saturday and Sunday afternoons, home and away
  • Men’s Pennant C | Saturday and Sunday afternoons, home and away
  • Masters Men 50+ | Wednesday nights, home and away

Home games are played at Stead Park – Pitch 1

How can you join a team?

Stay up to date with announcements of representative coaches at the start of the year. Visit the news page.

Contact the Association directly for specific enquiries at [email protected]

Join a team