The Hockey Academy South athlete academy is a three-tier structure.

Elite Academy
Athletes selected into the Elite Academy each year will generally fall into one of the following categories:

• Hockey New Zealand Black Sticks squad member
• Hockey New Zealand Junior (Under 21) Black Sticks squad member
• Other athletes identified by the Hockey New Zealand national programme as being on the cusp of selection to either of the above squads (e.g national development squad member)

Development Academy
Athletes selected into the Development Academy each year will generally fall into one of the following categories and have not been included in the Elite Academy in that year:

• Canterbury National Hockey League player
• Canterbury Under 21 player
• Hockey New Zealand Under 18 Black Sticks squad member

Futures Academy
Athletes selected into the Futures Academy each year will generally fall into one of the following categories and have not been included in either of the higher tiers of the athlete academy:

• Canterbury Regional Under 18 player
• Players identified as being on the cusp of Canterbury Regional Under 18 selection

Service Delivery
Players selected in the athlete academy are provided access to hockey-specific coaching to develop hockey skills and sport science / sport medicine support services.  Access to these services will vary across the three tiers of the athlete academy.