32 Young Hockey Leaders from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands, Malawi, Tanzania, New Zealand and Germany have recently been awarded with a FIH Youth Leadership Certificate.

These young people have been selected for this prestigious award due to their significant contribution to the development of hockey in their country in the areas of event management, coaching, umpiring, journalism, youth representation and administration.

The National Associations have each found a memorable moment to hand out these certificates, putting their young leaders in the spotlight. Rhian Thomas, Youth Hockey Activator (ambassador) in Wales, receiving her leadership certificate from Philip Carling, Chairman of the Sports Council for Wales and DCC Chair Anne Ellis in Cardiff at an U16 Four Nations tournament with Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.

Germany used the U21 8 Nations tournament in August to hand out the certificates. In the break of the match Germany-England 12 Youth Hockey Promoters received their certificates from Wolfgang Hillman and Gabrielle van Doorn, FIH Development Manager.

Congratulations to Craig Sinclair and Sarah Cowan from Scotland, Rhian Thomas from Wales, Alan McLoughlin, Amy Young and Caroline Kelly from Ireland, Olivier Veldkamp, Dignus Heijning and Sophie Boltje from the Netherlands, Chifundo Nguku and Verina Mbendera from Malawi, Jay Bharat Lodhia from Tanzania, Aaron Inwood, Anton Hoggarth, Bevan Nichol, Jareth Cocking, Jeremy Lydiard, Nathan Telford, Lani Jackman, Sarah Linehan, Sam MacDonald, Nick McGregor from New Zealand and Thomas Häuser, Martin Volmerding, Jan Richter, Eric Bartsch, Patricia Weiß, Juliane Hermes, Moritz Augustin, Lucie Düring, Charlotte Schmid, Anja Haase, Sarah Ewald, Luisa Kröckel and Lorenz Nußberger from Germany.

Countries that are interested in nominating their young leader(s) for a Youth Leadership Certificate can get in touch with their Continental Development Officer or with FIH Development Manager Gabrielle van Doorn.

More information on the Youth Leadership Certificate programme can be found on the development-youth section of the FIH Website by clicking here.