Dalefield hockey players Dane Lett and Ben Van Woerkom have been identified as potential Black Sticks.
That's the word from Wellington national league coach Sean Dancer, who also doubles as Black Sticks assistant coach.
Lett and Van Woerkom are among an elite group of players from within the greater Wellington region, agedbetween 16 and 24, taking part in a summer hockey programme organised by Dancer through the Wellington Hockey Association.
Former Wairarapa players Tara Hall, Holly Gaskin and Amanda Pottinger are also involved.
Dancer said the idea of the programme, which started in October and finishes this month, was to give youngsters seen as potential national representatives the chance to develop their skills to the point where the transition from inter-provincial to international competitions would become more comfortable.
"Right now, there is an enormous gap in that transition process and we are finding it can take up to six months for players to adjust from one level of the game to the other," Dancer said.
"Obviously that can have an adverse effect on how we perform internationally as a team.
"Bridging that gap is absolutely vital and programmes like this are a positive step along that path."
Black Sticks head coach Shane McLeod is one of a number of high-profile coaches who have had hands-on participation in the training sessions.
Dancer has been delighted with the way the players have responded to the challenge of meeting the standards expected by coaches of that calibre.
"They are being given expert advice in every aspect of the sport and loving every minute of it," he said.
