The Senior Competition comprises of the following grades, played on Saturday & Sunday.

Premier League & Reserves / Vic League 1 & Reserves

The highest level of competition in Victoria, Premier League & Vic League 1 Entry is a whole club philosophy to grow the game and see the top 12 teams in both Men's and Women's Leagues compete for the Premiership Cup.

Rounds: 22 Round Home and Away Season (including four midweek matches)

Days of Play: Saturday & Sunday

Finals: The top 6 fight it out over 3 weeks for the coveted Grand Final places to claim the ultimate prize.

Vic League 2 & 3

Under pinning the Premier League & Vic League 1 is the Vic Leagues 2 and 3. This structure allows the Senior team for all clubs to compete against teams of their level. These leagues consist of up to 10 teams, with each side playing each other at least 2 times.

Rounds: 18 rounds - Home and Away structure

Days of Play: Saturday & Sundays

Finals: Top four battle it out in a 3-week Finals Series.

The crowned winner from each League Senior team, being offered the opportunity for promotion. 

Pennant

For experienced, developing or new players, with Pennant A – E standards in the Men and Women it provides clubs with competitive hockey for all levels of senior players.

Rounds: 18 rounds - Home and Away structure

Days of Play: Saturday & Sundays

Finals: Top four battle it out in a 3-week Finals Series.

Metro

A great level of competition for the beginner player or junior starting out in Seniors, the Metro Competitions are offered as a regionalised competition playing against teams of the same level.

For experienced, developing or new players, with Pennant A – E standards in the Men and Women it provides clubs with competitive hockey for all levels of senior players.

Rounds: 18 rounds - Home and Away structure

Days of Play: Saturday & Sundays

Finals: Top four battle it out in a 3-week Finals Series.

League Cup (Pre-season)

Started in 2023, the League Cup is a pre-season tournament hosted by Hockey Victoria for our Premier League and Vic League grades, with the aim of providing certainty, excitement and competitiveness in scheduled pre-season matches, as clubs look to warm up for the Winter Season.

The tournament delivers a modified exciting format of hockey over the course of a weekend, where teams have the chance to test themselves prior to the start of the Winter Season. Teams compete in a series of pool matches and then knockout matches for the League Cup, plus the cash prize and bragging rights that comes with it. 

For more information, view the League Cup Guide.

If you have any questions regarding the Senior Competition, make sure to email cperry@hockeyvictoria.org.au.

Open Grades

Rather play during the week than on the weekend? Then our Open grades are for you!

Played on a Monday night around Melbourne, there is plenty of opportunity to get involved.

Masters Grades

Our masters competition are age-based to ensure that you are having a fun experience against those in your same age bracket! With grades from A to D grade, all the way from 35+ through to 60+, they'll be the right age-group and standard for you.

18 round season, played on a Monday or Wednesday night.

Venue Based Grades

Played at the same venue every week, our venue based competitions are a great opportuity for new players or those who want to participate more casually to get involved and have a hit!

18 round season, played on a Monday night.

If you have any questions regarding the Midweek Competitions, make sure to email ddeefholts@hockeyvictoria.org.au.

Draft Grading Process

As a starting point for the 2025 gradings we have produced draft gradings across all Midweek Competitions. In doing so the following principles have been applied:

• 10 team grades
• Regionalising grades where possible (dependent on team entries)
• Promotion of teams as required based on performance
• Relegation of teams as required based on performance

Requests for re grading, additional teams or withdrawal of teams are due by 11:59PM Sunday, 2 March 2025 and must be submitted here.

Junior Hockey is provided to allow all juniors the opportunity to play in competitions of their level and age groups across, U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and Under 18s.

Under 14-18 are played in Home and Away Series, predominately on a Friday Night. Under 8-12s are played, in most cases, on Saturday Mornings.

Shield

The premier competition for each Junior age group, Teams will play the top teams across Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Teams for the Shield Premiership. These grades are played as Boys and Girls Only.

14 Rounds with the premiership to be decided by the top 4 across 2 weeks of Finals.

Age Groups: Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s

Pennant

This level of competition allows juniors to play in a more regionalised competition, generally North West, South East Based. It is offered as Girls and Boys Only Grades.

14 Rounds with the premiership to be decided by the top 4 across 2 weeks of Finals.

Age Groups: Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 16s

District

A great entry level competition for juniors, this grade allows clubs a great opportunity to grow and provide a mixed grade.

14 Rounds with the premiership to be decided by the top 4 across 2 weeks of Finals.

Age Groups: Under 14s, Under 16s, Under 18s

Half Field

The half field Competitions are developed to play on smaller fields with smaller teams. Promoting more touches and greater participation rates for engaging juniors. Part of our pathway to play, it is a fantastic opportunity for Hook in to Hockey Participants to enjoy weekly, term-based competitions. There is no premiership for Half Field Competitions. These competitions are also played as Boys or Mixed and Girls Only competitions.

8 rounds per term.

Age Groups:  Under 12s

U8 & U10 Venue-based Competitions

The U8 & U10 competitions are venue-based competitions that run in Term 2, 3 & 4. Perfect for juniors transitioning from Hookin2Hockey, or if you're completely new to the sport, these sessions see players work through some training components before being placed into organised matches.

8 rounds + 1 carnival round per term.

For more information on the U8 & U10 offerings, visit the U8 & U10 Offerings page.

Age groups: Under 8, Under 10s

If you have any questions regarding the Junior Competition, make sure to email jmay@hockeyvictoria.org.au.