Men's Event

• Argentina
• Australia
• Belgium
• Great Britain
• India
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Spain

Women's Event

• Argentina
• Australia
• Belgium
• Great Britain
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• China
• USA

The teams that were selected to play in the first FIH Hockey Pro League were not simply the best national men's and women's teams in the world. Instead, we used a much broader set of criteria as part of our application process.

We set out our participation criteria very transparently, encouraging a range of nations to apply. The aim of the process was to ensure the quality of the League and the highest possible standard of events right from the start.

The criteria were developed around meeting the three main objectives of the new event portfolio: to generate a massive change in TV and media coverage for hockey; create big, bold, packed and loud events and to make a step change in future revenues for the sport.

In December 2016, we sent application documents to the top 16 men's and women's hockey nations as listed in the FIH World Rankings. We were clear that the teams would be chosen by a specially selected FIH Event Portfolio Implementation Panel.

National Associations were required to submit extensive information in order to be eligible, with sustainability the key aspect of the Leagues' long-term vision.

Alongside this process, we held extensive discussions with national broadcasters regarding exposure and media coverage of hockey within each of the selected nations.

We asked for detailed financial modelling, projecting budgets for both the participation in matches overseas as well as hosting matches in their homeland. Details about marketing proposals for promoting the League plus commercial strategies aimed at generating income were required, alongside evidence of financial sustainability.

We also considered which nations could best offer the perfect stage for these teams to shine. With a requirement to host 'Big, Bold, Packed and Loud' events in line with the FIH's 10-year Hockey Revolution strategy, venue selection and experience of hosting previous events was also included amongst the criteria for entry.

There was no bidding fee associated with League participation so nations did not need to worry that selection would simply be offered to the highest bidder.

The deadline for applications was the 30th April 2017 and there was an overwhelming response from National Associations wanting to be part of this league.

In all there were 13 Women's teams vying for 9 spots and 12 Men's teams competing for their 9 places. It was an incredibly competitive process and gave the panel some hard decisions to make in choosing the teams.

Whilst it has not been easy, we know it's been a thorough and robust process - assessing applications against the defined criteria:

• Broadcast and Media coverage
• Financial sustainability
• Commercial vision
• Legal compliance
• Proposed venues
• Match Experience and Sports Presentation
• Organisation and personnel
• Marketing strategies
• Motivation and Legacy
• Team performance history
• Previous event hosting

We formed our Event Portfolio Working Group in December 2014 to develop a set of recommendations to put to the Executive Board.

But before we made any decisions or recommendations, we knew it was critical to agree some principles that would ensure we made the right decisions for the right reasons, keeping us on track when it came to the most difficult or issues.

Our Principles were:

1. Stand-out events: We had to create events that would produce the maximum drama possible and be able to cut through the noise - events that will really get noticed.

2. Simple and meaningful: The players, fans and our commercial partners needed to understand, engage and get involved with the events as easily and spontaneously as possible.

3. A predictable, regular calendar: We felt it was essential that everybody involved in hockey should be able to plan ahead and develop new habits - particularly our fans who wanted to see more of the games they love.

4. Opportunities to seeWe wanted fans to be able to see their team playing more often so they can build allegiance to their 'home team' and their 'home players'.

5. Focus on rivalriesThis was about increasing the number of games played between nations “with historical sporting rivalries” - and also ensuring we were playing the quality type of matches that most fans really wanted to see!

From the outset we agreed that every event in our new portfolio had to meet not one, but all of the principles we drew up.

Our consultation process…

Never in the history of hockey have we consulted so thoroughly with so many people from different stakeholder groups and different backgrounds in different countries. We held meetings, workshops and conference calls, presenting early drafts and many, many amended drafts - including concepts that were completely discarded along the way.

Three years of research, consultation and development with more than 600 individuals, including athletes, National Associations, Continental Federations, major broadcasters, the International Olympic Committee, individuals at Continental Federation congresses, officials and umpires, FIH Committee and Panel members and FIH staff.

In addition to this, we invited Deloitte (international specialists in audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management and tax), to provide extensive support in developing the financial modelling for the new portfolio of events.

The FIH Hockey Pro League will leverage - and make the most of - one of our most important, powerful and under-used assets: 'The power of home'

All have played and/or umpired hockey. Most of them are still very active in the game ranging from coaching at the top level to playing at veteran’s level! Members come from all over the world.

Creating a Home & Away Global League is a hugely significant and exciting step for us to take because:

• It means we can hold far more home matches than ever before
• It's like taking our most valuable asset and increasing it - overnight - by over 500%

At last we can say - with total conviction - 'Hockey's coming Home'! Every match played in the FIH Pro League will be a home match.

The reason this is so important is that home fixtures provide us with a chance to drive loyalty and passion, to develop those strong allegiances that will last a lifetime, to hold more meaningful matches and encourage new habits amongst our fans.

We see the evidence of this in other sports the world over and we see it for ourselves when home teams are playing in our existing events.

The impact is huge. With more spectators and more local fans, our events are suddenly more attractive to broadcasters and commercial partners and so we are able to generate more income. At the same time, it means playing fewer matches because we stop playing the matches that we know have minimal value.

We know it's what our fans want. We know that “Hockey is best at home”.

The teams selected substantially benefit from the increased number of home matches as part of a more consistent hockey calendar. With more opportunities to see their heroes in action throughout the year, national teams' fan base and followers are expected to grow over the years. This will not only increase the commercial value of the sport through ticket sales, hospitality and merchandising, but also commercial interest in the teams and their athletes through increased sponsorship opportunities.

It is predicted that the increased commercial potential of implementing the new structure will generate more value for the sport, which will filter down into all levels, including new and developing hockey nations, from elite to grassroots level.

So we firmly believe the FIH Hockey Pro League is an amazing concept for hockey - chosen because it fulfils the principles we laid out and because of the potential it has to deliver so many benefits to the sport.

We want to send out a message to those millions of general sports fans around the world to say: we invite you to 'come and have a look at Hockey!'

The FIH Hockey Pro League raises the profile of all the teams involved, building a wider, more committed and loyal fanbase who has so many more chances than before to see their team in action at home.

When you add to this the essential element of more national TV broadcasters as well as Watch.Hockey - and with that, more sponsorship, it's easy to see the impact this new League has on the players.

FIH is working hard to amplify the impact of all the participating teams, within the markets of the participating nations and also globally.

The FIH Hockey World Cup - Men and Women - continues to be held every 4 years. After all, this is our tournament - we own it - and it's become one of the most prestigious prizes that exists in Hockey - it's right up there alongside winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Essentially the World Cup hasn't changed its purpose or its place in our calendar. It remains all about sporting excellence, qualifying for the next round and achieving the glory that can only come from winning a World Cup.

Furthermore, in order to promote competition between teams from different continents every year, FIH will launch in 2022 the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, an annual event for the highest ranked teams not competing in the FIH Hockey Pro League. It will be an 8-team tournament, played in one venue per gender (Valencia, Spain for Women and Potchefstroom, South Africa for Men). The winner of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup will be invited to join the FIH Hockey Pro League in the subsequent season (while the team finishing last of the FIH Hockey Pro League will be relegated).

Every year, competing teams of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup will be decided on the basis ofinvited based on the FIH World Rankings at the end of the previous year's FIH Hockey Pro League.

We are confident that the increased commercial potential of the FIH Hockey Pro League will generate substantially more value for the sport overall, which will filter down to all levels, including new and developing hockey nations, from elite to grassroots level.

Of course, this will take some time, but we believe the benefits will be measurable and wide ranging.

The 'power of home' is not just about where our games are held but has been fundamental to our discussions with broadcasters to establish a number of long-term 'home broadcasters'.

These are channels committed to broadcasting and promoting the League, enabling fans to watch consistently and always know where the FIH Hockey Pro League is being broadcast.

This marks a step change. In the past, broadcast has moved around making it difficult for fans to find hockey when they want to watch. At last, everyone now knows who the broadcaster/channels are in their home market so that fans can catch every minute of every match.

Furthermore, the games are streamed live on Watch.Hockey in every market where a broadcaster is not showing the match. They’re also available on replay. This is a fantastic opportunity for hockey fans to access “Hockey at its Best” easily, either on their mobile phone or laptop.

The FIH is also committed to substantially upgrading our web presence, allowing us to give fans more of the information and interaction that we know they love. The website provides a load more stats, game data, match previews and reviews that we know Hockey fanatics cannot get enough of. Our social media platforms are packed with live, regular, unique and engaging content before and throughout the FIH Hockey Pro League, going deep behind the scenes allowing fans to get to know the athletes better.

We invite you to watch the matches - live or on replay - and follow all news about the FIH Hockey Pro League on all FIH digital platforms. Stay tuned for Hockey at its best!