Hockey NSW Centre of Development players will participate in a three-day carnival showcasing the Illawarra. Photo: Click InFocus.
The Illawarra will host hundreds of young hockey players and their families this summer for a development-focused carnival expected to boost the region’s economy and local interest in the sport.
The Illawarra South Coast Hockey Association has been selected to host the 2026 New Balance Regional Challenge, an annual event which marks the culmination of Hockey NSW’s development program for players in under 12 and under 14 age groups from across the state.
“Given the attractions of the Illawarra area such as its beaches in the hot month of February, and the fact that the Illawarra South Coast Hockey Association has a magnificent facility and proven in the past their ability to hold big hockey events and tournaments, we felt that it was timely and appropriate that we brought this carnival down to Illawarra,” Hockey NSW CEO Richard Griffiths said.
The non-competitive tournament is about more than talent, it’s an opportunity for young players to put into practice the skill-building activities they’ll develop throughout eight- and 10-week programs over the summer, with a strong focus on fostering a love for the game and promoting sportsmanship and camaraderie.
With as many as 600 players and their families expected to attend, the event is set to showcase the region’s sporting facilities and tourism attractions.
“We want to give them a good experience beyond the pitch itself,” Richard said.
“We want them to enjoy their time on and off the pitch and we just think Illawarra gives families and their children an opportunity to get away from the playing component and enjoy the spoils that Wollongong has to offer.
“There’ll be three days of plenty of activity, plenty of visitation, plenty of local motels being booked out and restaurants – the economic contribution by this carnival will be significant to local businesses and the local economy.”
The event also helps promote the sport and inspire people of all ages to get involved.
“It showcases hockey to the local area and helps people see hockey as a viable sport,” Illawarra South Coast Hockey Association chairperson Craig Arthur said.
“It’s fantastic for people to see what hockey actually entails – it’s one of the least injury-prone sports so it’s an opportunity to see that.
“It’s also a chance for people who played at a younger age to watch and consider coming back and having another go; it’s a good social outlet for people.”
Craig said that as well as being an all-weather sport, hockey in the Illawarra provided many opportunities for inclusivity, with boys and girls playing alongside each other in junior competitions, as well as some women also participating in the senior men’s competition.
Men’s and women’s competitions also cater for players from teenage years and beyond, with some still playing in their 80s.
This reach is also shown through the region hosting the NSW State Championships for the over 44s and over 59s age divisions next April.
With these tournaments and championships attracting players from around NSW, these events are as much about social bonds as they are developing skill, something Craig saw first-hand as his sons rose through the representative pathways.
“My boys have been well exposed and made great friends with many people across the state because of the higher level of hockey that they have played,” he said.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to play against the next level as well as a good way for them to develop friendships outside the region.”
The 2026 New Balance Regional Challenge will run from 27 February to 1 March 2026.
To find out more about Hockey NSW’s development programs visit the Hockey NSW site, or to learn more about hockey and clubs in the Illawarra, visit the ISCH website.
