February 2025 is just around the corner and you know what that means! The Stand Out Cup returns!

As always, we are very excited to share out to the Hockey Victoria (HV) Community that the 2025 Stand Out Cup (SOC) team entries are now open. This event continues to grow and become more amazing every year due to the incredible support of the Victorian Hockey Community and their support of the LGBTIQ+ community. After the success of opening a junior grade in 2024, we hope to continue to grow this event with the Community once more.

The SOC is a key driver of HV’s commitment towards changing attitudes, promoting positive language and policies to ensure that LGBTIQ+ people feel welcome, comfortable and recognised in today’s game, the commitment from all Affiliates has made this an important day to celebrate diversity and inclusivity in Hockey. Joined once again by Proud 2 Play, a not-for-profit organisation that provide essential support to LGBTIQ+ community members, we will look to help raise funds and awareness for this crucial platform.

In 2025, team entries will operate a little differently than previous years. As we have grown, so has the quality, skill and competition on the day. Feedback from previous years has requested parity across grades and to ensure more enjoyable competition on the day. This has been emphasised in the C Grade competition which has previously been for social players/teams.  B Grade has also seen a large uptick in team entries as well.

To address and manage this feedback, 2025 will operate with 4 Senior Grades, along with 2 Junior Grades. Teams will enter their registration/s, but not elect a grade. Outlined questions will help determine which grade is most suitable. Hockey Victoria will also make contact with teams to discuss their grade placement and ensure they are comfortable with the allocation. We will account for previous years positioning and results, looking to assign teams to a grade that they can comfortably enjoy on the day.

Note: players aged 15 - 18 who can play in the Junior Grade, can also play in the Senior Grades.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, 23 February 2025
• Time: 9.00am - 4.00pm*
  • TBA - depending on fixturing. Targeted 4pm finish.
• Location: Footscray Hockey Club, McIvor Reserve, Fogarty Avenue Yarraville 3013

Event format:

All teams will play a minimum of 3 matches plus a final (if they finish 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th in their division). Hockey 5’s format with modified rules. 5 players on the field of play with no goalie and mini goals.

Gradings:

• A grade: A division recommended for higher level hockey players who would prefer a more competitive format on the day.
• B grade: A division recommended for hockey players who are looking for a less competitive format of the day.
• C Grade: A division recommend for hockey players who are simply looking for a fun day with friends and thier fellow opposition
• D grade: A social division designed for new or re-engaging hockey members, along with external organisations.
• 10 - 14 years Junior Grade: Aged for participants 14 years and younger.
• 15 - 18 years Junior Grade: Aged for participants between 15 and 18 years.

Rules;

• All matches will be played on modified pitches with Hockey5s rules.
• Updated: No goalies on the field. A on-field player can act as a makeshift goalie using their stick to stop a ball from being scored.
• Players can score from anywhere.
• New: When playing off a whistle, players must pass the ball 2 meters before having a shot on goal. 
• Ball cannot be raised above knee height.
• Players can only push the ball. No hitting or slap hitting.
• If the ball goes pass the baseline or over the barriers, it is the defending team’s free hit.
• Players taking a free hit cannot forcefully pass the ball through a defensive players body.
• Non-contact event. No intentional body contact allowed. Players can tackle with their stick only.
• Sticks should not be lifted above knee height at any time.

Eligibility:

The SOC is an all-gendered event. A, B C & D Grades are open for participants aged 18 years and older. The 2x Junior Grades are open to children aged between 10-14 years of age, and 15 - 18 years of age.

Team Entry:

Senior team entry fee is $349 ex. GST per team (5-10 players). Junior team entry is $249 ex. GST per team. Team entries close Sunday, 9 February at 11:59pm.

The team entry fee covers Participant Insurance, Pitch Hire, Umpires Fees and SOC merchandise for each participant within your team.

Team Entry Invoicing:

Team entry invoicing won’t occur until after the event (from Monday, 24 February 2025 onwards), meaning there is no registration fee at the point of registering a team. There will be a 14 day window to make payment from here.

Team Entries will close Sunday, 9 February at 11:59pm. Please restrict from over entering teams in the lead up to the SOC and then pulling out the week of the event.

Any team that pulls out the week of Monday, 17 February 2025 will incur a $150 late withdrawal fee. This means they’ll be a one week period Sunday, 11 February to Sunday, 18 February to withdraw without receiving the $150 late withdrawal fee.

As the funding from last year was only for 2024, Junior Grade Team Entry will not be free in 2025. However, this will be at a lower price than the senior competition.

We look forward to you joining us in promoting the importance of making sport a safe place for all!

There will also be plenty of activities on the day for the whole family to enjoy. 

We look forward to seeing you there!