England Hockey has announced a significant policy change that will prohibit transgender women from competing in the female category starting next season, establishing a new framework with two distinct competition categories: female and open.
The governing body’s decision, which takes effect from September 1, follows a comprehensive review of their transgender participation policy initiated in July 2023. The review considered guidance from the Sports Councils’ Equality Group (SCEG).
“Based on the current available evidence – and that hockey requires the physical capabilities of strength, endurance, speed and acceleration as key factors for success – hockey is considered a gender-affected sport,” England Hockey said in their announcement.
The organization further explained, “Based on this evidence, we have determined that the Trans and Non-Binary Participation Policy should restrict trans participation in order to secure fair competition. We are committed to supporting all affected players to ensure they find the right path for them to continue to participate in hockey.”
Under the new structure, the open category will welcome all players, including transgender and non-binary individuals. The policy revision aims to “ensure everyone can participate in the playing of hockey in a fair way,” according to England Hockey.
This development follows similar policy changes by other major sports organizations. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) recently modified its rules regarding transgender women’s participation in certain female domestic tennis and padel tournaments in Britain. The LPGA Golf Tour made a comparable decision last month, while the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that players who have gone through male puberty will be ineligible to compete in the top two tiers of women’s cricket from 2025.
The trend extends across other sports, with athletics, cycling, and swimming governing bodies having implemented similar restrictions on transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions in recent years.
England Hockey’s previous transgender participation policy had been in place since 2012 before this latest update.
