Hockey · Most Improved
Hockey Most Improved Award
A hockey most improved award recognises the player who has moved on the furthest over the season, not the best player in the side. In hockey that progress is easy to see: a junior who could barely trap the ball in September now hitting a confident reverse stick, or a returning adult who has worked their way up from the 5th XI into a higher team.
A few ways to make it yours
The designer
Design yours
Upload your club crest, type up to four lines and see it on the glass.
Simple pricing
End of season award prices: £8.99 small · £13.99 large
Mix sizes and designs freely. One delivery charge per order.
Minimum 5 awards. Delivery £10.00 per order.
Hockey end of season awards: who decides and what they look for
This one is almost always the coach's or captain's choice rather than a vote. Coaches tend to look at specific skills, such as receiving on the reverse, the quality of the push pass, tackling technique and reading of the game, plus attendance at training.
For senior teams, moving up through the club is a good marker. A player who started the season in the lower sides and finished it playing regularly in a higher team has a strong case.
Why it matters most in juniors and development teams
Junior hockey starts with small-sided formats for the younger age groups, and players develop at very different rates. A most improved award in each age group, U10, U12, U14 and so on, gives recognition to children who are not yet the strongest players but have clearly worked hard.
Many clubs give one to every junior squad, and some give separate boys' and girls' awards where the section runs both. With a minimum order of 5 and mixed designs allowed, a junior section can usually cover every group in one order.
Wording ideas
"MOST IMPROVED PLAYER" or simply "MOST IMPROVED" works on line 1. Put the age group or team on line 2, such as "U12 Girls" or "Men's 5th XI", the name on line 3 and "2025/26" on line 4.
For goalkeepers, some clubs use "MOST IMPROVED GOALKEEPER", which is a nice touch in a junior section where keepers often learn the position from scratch.
If the award is for a specific skill the coach has noticed, you can say so on line 2 instead of the team, for example "Defensive Play" or "Reverse Stick". Keep it short, as a few words read better on the glass than a sentence.
Fitting it in alongside other awards
Most improved sits well beside players' player and top scorer, because it rewards a different kind of season. Small blocks suit it for squad awards. If you also have a club-wide junior award, a large block makes the distinction clear on the night.
When you present it, a sentence from the coach about where the player started and where they finished goes a long way. Parents remember it, and so do the players. For juniors especially, it can be the award that keeps a child in the sport for another season, so it deserves a proper moment rather than being rushed through between the big prizes.
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Award ideas for hockey
Good to know
Questions
Can we order most improved awards for every junior age group?
Yes. Add each age group as its own award with "same crest, new name", or paste the full list of names using the bulk option. Every award can carry a different team and name.
Is most improved a good award for a senior team?
It works well in senior hockey too, especially for players returning to the sport or moving up through the teams. It recognises effort and progress rather than raw ability.
Can we leave the season off the award?
Every line is optional. Many clubs include the season for the record, but a title, name and crest on their own also look tidy, and the design shows on screen as you type so you can compare.
Is there a minimum order?
The minimum order is 5 awards, and they can be any mix of sizes and wording. Small blocks are £8.99 each, large blocks £13.99, with £10.00 delivery per order.
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Club secretaries
Ordering for the whole club?
Finish one design, then reuse the same crest with a new name. Or paste a list of names and add every award in one go. Whatever the number of awards, there is one delivery charge per order.
Ordering for a club