Live abroad, grow as a coach, play a part in shaping the future of European hockey.
An exciting new opportunity is opening up for ambitious young hockey coaches to take part in the Erasmus ICE Pilot Project, a fresh exchange programme designed to strengthen youth hockey development across Europe.
The pilot phase, running from October 2025 to May 2026, will place selected candidates for one month with one of two host clubs: Hockey Club Salzburg (Austria) or Hockey Club Pragovka (Czech Republic, Prague).
These clubs are already prepared to welcome participants with the possibility of alternative locations being considered.
The aim is to give recently graduated young professionals the chance to gain international coaching and development experience, while helping local clubs expand their youth setups, strengthen coaching structures and create sustainable growth plans.
Participants will develop a tangible technical plan – such as a youth development framework, coaching manual, or training program – tailored to the host club’s needs and will deliver youth-focused training sessions, mentor and support local coaches.
They will also act as ambassadors for their home nation and club, helping to build stronger international connections within the sport.
To support them in this challenge, candidates will receive mentorship from both a local and federation/club mentor, a pre-departure workshop on intercultural communication and youth development, and a practical toolkit to guide their project work.
Room and board will be provided.
The long-term vision is that, after this one-month pilot, the programme will expand into a four-to-six month exchange across multiple European countries. Pilot participants will be given priority to continue in the extended programme, potentially in another host nation when aspired.
The project is being supported by partners including the KNHB, England Hockey and EuroHockey, with a shared ambition to grow the game at grassroots level and create pathways for the next generation of coaches.
Applications are open until October 5th 2025, with early applications encouraged.
For more details or to apply, candidates can contact EuroHockey’s project lead gino.schilders@gmail.com / +420 602788933
** For those interested in a national team coaching adventure, note that Gibraltar is currently looking for a coach for their men’s national team. Interested candidates can contact the above email.
