As part of the recently announced National Squad Relaunch, the time has come to call for players interested in being in those squads, with an expression of interest form below. The hope is that teams selected from these squads will have opportunities to compete in International tournaments in 2022, with squad activities to commence later in 2021. More information on these opportunities will be shared as soon as tournaments are confirmed.
Players are eligible to be part of any squad provided they are eligible to compete at an International tournament for Australia, and meet the age requirements. International eligibility can be checked here. For age group squads, players are eligible provided they are, as of the first of January 2022, between 14 and 18 years old (inclusive) for the U19 squad, and between 15 and 20 years old (inclusive) for the U21 squad, and are over the age of 16 for the open squad. Players can apply to be part of multiple squads if desired, with coaches of those squads, in consultation with the National Team Director, to determine the best program for the player in question on a case by case basis. Squad membership will initially be open, and then proceed on an invitational basis at the discretion of the Head Coach.
Any players looking to represent Australia internationally at any level are required to be members of the respective squad, but these squads can also present a development opportunity for players looking to elevate their game without necessarily looking to play internationally. Players in any squad are expected to attend all squad activities such as training camps, however this expectation can be waived on a case by case basis. As such, non-Australian based players who are eligible to represent Australia are encouraged to join.
More information on coaching appointments and squad activities will be published as it becomes available. Applications for coaching positions are still open. Additionally, any information on IKF tournaments, and Australian involvement in them, will be shared as soon as the picture becomes clearer. We look forward to seeing the next generation of the National team program in action soon.
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