711 schools join PHF Hockey Programme nationwide

A total of 711 schools across 54 districts have become part of the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) School Hockey Program as part of efforts to revive hockey at the grassroots level.

According to the PHF, Karachi and Toba Tek Singh lead the registration with 114 schools each, followed by Rawalpindi with 89 and Rahim Yar Khan with 68 schools. The program includes 53 schools from Jhang, 36 from Sahiwal, 33 from Chiniot and 32 from Faisalabad.

Under the initiative, under-15 boys and girls hockey teams will be formed in registered schools. The PHF said participating schools will receive sports equipment, coaching and opportunities to take part in regular competitions.

The federation is also working on the training and certification of school hockey coaches to strengthen the coaching system and aims to provide young players with a structured pathway from school-level hockey to district, provincial, junior and national teams.

The PHF said the registration of 711 schools is only the beginning, with plans to establish a nationwide school hockey network and bring more schools from underrepresented districts into the program and they will continue district-wise monitoring and take further measures to increase school registrations under the program.