New agreement reached with Players Association
A new two-year agreement has been struck between Hockey New Zealand (HNZ) and the Hockey Players Association (HPA) with a renewed focus on player well-being while maintaining the long-standing commitment to pay equity and gender equality.
The agreement, which runs through until September 2024, forms a critical foundation for a reimagined high-performance programme and provides flexibility for players while preparing them for the challenges of high-performance sport and preparation for a co-existence with, and then transition to, a successful life outside of hockey.
HNZ CEO Anthony Crummy believes that this new agreement sets a strong foundation for sustained success on the world stage.
“We want our players to be happy and healthy, and we know this enables them to perform at their best, so it’s pleasing to have reached an agreement which allows this to happen.
“We’re excited about the future of Hockey in New Zealand and our Vantage Black Sticks play a key role in growing our game.”
It also sees Vantage Black Sticks players receiving a share of 25% of all HNZ player generated commercial revenue, an increased percentage share from the previous agreement.
This contribution, when combined with targeted funding that HNZ receives from High Performance Sport NZ, will see men and women players receive a share of $2million over the two-year term ($1 million per year) through the Player Payment Fund.
An enhanced player contract model with intention to attract and retain the best players has been agreed. This model provides players with greater flexibility and acknowledges that hockey is not a full-time professional sport and players often have primary work, study, and life commitments they need to balance alongside their commitment to the Vantage Black Sticks.
Eighteen annual international contracts will be offered following a ranking process that considers each player’s availability for key events within the contract year, as well as an additional five to fifteen event contracts, per gender.
Players offered either an international or event contract can confirm their availability to the various events through the year, for example the upcoming men’s World Cup, while also having the flexibility to base themselves in a location which enables them to pursue their personal and hockey aspirations, without the previous requirement to commit to being based in Auckland.
A major shift reflected in this agreement is the recognition that the opportunity to play professionally overseas can form a critical part of a player’s hockey development.
HPA Executive Manager, Glen Sulzberger noted “this new agreement has facilitated the flexibility that players have sought for some time, whether within a career at home or hockey abroad, and is a great outcome that removes a huge burden players often faced when weighing up hockey versus their own future.
“We genuinely hope that more players will stay connected and available to the Black Sticks team as a result of this new agreement”.
A key principle of this agreement is the provision for a meaningful domestic playing programme. The details of an elite domestic competition will be developed in 2023, but it is anticipated this shift will increase the depth of talent across the country, engage sports fans across the country and enable the Vantage Black Sticks teams to perform consistently on the world stage.
Domestic contracts will be offered to identified players outside of the international and event contracted group, to align their development and availability across the domestic calendar, including the new elite domestic competition, the NZ ’A’ programme and the North vs South.
Significantly, this agreement also welcomes the introduction of a personal development programme that will be designed from the ground up with player interests at heart.
VBSW co-captain Megan Hull stated “it’s fantastic that player wellbeing is further prioritised through a new personal development programme that caters for the unique challenges that players experience in the hockey environment.
“There’s such great talent in this country and it’s really important to nurture that which I think this agreement puts us in really good position to do”
VBSM captain Nic Woods is positive about the new model.
“This agreement is a really exciting step forward for our sport that makes it easier to balance a healthy lifestyle with the desire to represent our country.
“We all hope this will reap enormous benefits to enable players to play at a high level for longer while also inspiring the next generation of Kiwi hockey players.”