England Hockey has announced a new policy that will ban transgender women from participating in the female competition. The new policy will come into effect on September 1, 2025, just before the start of the next season which runs from October to April.
England Hockey started to review the previous policy back in July 2023. It described its research as “comprehensive,” and the governing body utilised advice from the Sports Councils’ Equality Group before deciding to change the policy.
England Hockey stated: “Whilst specific hockey-based evidence is still somewhat limited, based on the existing research available, competitive hockey requires the physical capabilities of strength, endurance, speed and acceleration as key factors for success.” Therefore, hockey is considered a “gender-affected sport.”
It also expressed: “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.”
England Hockey has created two competition categories: Female and Open. The Female category “is for those participants recorded female at birth which includes trans men (whose sex is recorded as female at birth) not undergoing hormone treatment. Once a trans man or non-binary participant has commenced hormone treatment then they will no longer be eligible to participate in the Female category.”
The Open category welcomes all, including transgender and non-binary players. This category is open to all including those participants recorded male at birth, recorded female at birth (regardless of whether they have undergone hormone therapy), and those who identify as transgender or non-binary.
Participants will be unable to play across both categories in a single season (unless they become no longer eligible to participate in the Female category during a season).
As well as the two playing categories of Female and Open for hockey, England Hockey also offers a mixed hockey format of the game. This format consists of a team of 11 players from a squad of 16. At any time during a match a team will consist of a minimum of five outfield players recorded female at birth and eligible for the Female category.
The new policy does not apply to “anyone aged 11 or under, who does not reach their 12th birthday in the current season. Therefore, they should be 10 or under on 31 August of the preceding season.”
The policy states that to be selected for an England or Great Britain women’s international team, only participants recorded female at birth and eligible for the Female category will be considered. Should Hockey Wales and/or Scottish Hockey have different selection eligibility criteria then this policy will take precedence for Great Britain team selection.
England Hockey’s current policy remains in place across the sport in England until 31 August 2025.
Similarly, the Lawn Tennis Association has banned transgender women from particular domestic tennis and padel tournaments. Furthermore, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced last month that transgender women who underwent male puberty are prohibited from competing from the 2025 season onwards.
Athletics, cycling and swimming have also introduced new policies along similar lines.
England Hockey’s new and full Trans & Non-Binary Participation Policy can be found here: Trans and Non-Binary Participation Policy - September 2025.pdf
