Junior Academy
The new term will commence on Sunday 13th January 2013 for our youngest members in the Junior Academy. We will take some new members at this time, but please register your child online before you turn up.
The sessions run from 8.45am until 10am. You need to wear sports clothes and have a mouthguard and shin pads (absolutely essential). Children are grouped into ability and are taught by a mixture of qualified coaches, hockey playing parents and older Colts, so there is plenty of help available. From time to time the children take part in mini tournaments, matches and games. Parents will be advised if their child is selected for games and we try to ensure everyone has a chance to play during the season.
If you have not registered you child but are thinking about it, then please register them online. No child will be allowed to play on Sundays without being registered in advance.
SHC clothing is sold by Tacklebag and there is a link on the front page of this website to their online shop. Tacklebag will be at the Club from time to time so keep an eye out for notices on this website. Most of our younger members don’t actually require much in the way of SHC kit, but the SHC hoodies and socks are the most popular! We have “Canterbury” kit. (Read more about kit requirements below)
Parents are welcome to stay and watch their children, or have a bacon roll and coffee in the clubhouse.
Our Sunday sessions don’t stop for half term holiday – just the weekday training for the older children - so please keep turning up!
Will Fulker is in charge of all the Colts coaching for the Club and will direct the coaches for the Junior Academy too. eso please contact Will if you have any questions about the format of the sessions on 0738 338543 or will_fulker@hotmail.com. Niamh Stewart is the manager of the Junior Academy and can be contacted on academymanager@live.co.uk.
Our Academy Programme
Our thriving Junior Academy section caters for complete beginners through to Under 10′s. This is up to and including Yr 5 at school. However this year our Yr 5s can opt to join the U11-U16 category and have a weekday training session too if they wish. Please advise the membership manager if you choose this option.
As our Junior Academy involves a number of very young players, we constantly adapt the programme to suit the levels of ability and development of those involved. As per England Hockey Board’s guidelines, this means that we focus on “physical literacy” (i.e. agility, coordination and balance), as well as stick and ball work. The use of fun games and play, is a critical element of each child’s development.
By setting good foundations for athletic performance at an early age, we optimise their ongoing development within the sport (for those involved in teaching or coaching sport, this is the first rung in what is known as “LTAD” or Long Term Athlete Development – for more information about LTAD, click here for the dedicated section on EHB’s website).
Our Academy programme brings together elements of England Hockey’s Quicksticks syllabus, as well as incorporating game play, which we find is the best way to harness children’s enthusiasm for the sport and develop the core skills which are critical to their long term development. We organise and participate in a number of mini festivals. Details of forthcoming fixtures and tournaments will be provided on this page.
Weather Watch
Our Junior Academy players (and parents – sorry!) need to be early risers!
Our weekly training slot on Sunday mornings kicks off a jam-packed day of Colts’ training and fixtures. Due to our early start, this means that in periods of extreme weather conditions, such as severe frost or snowfall, we may make alternative arrangements or, if absolutely necessary, may postpone a session.
Please check here if you are unsure as to whether your session is taking place. In such instances a pitch inspection will take place on the day no later than half an hour before the scheduled session start time. Any changes to the programme will be posted on this page on the day in question.
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Kit & Equipment
Please ensure that your child is suitably attired for training sessions. Trainers or astroturf shoes are a must! Children should bring with them a change of clothes in case of wet weather (and a drink in case the weather is kinder to us). During the colder months, children should also have a rain jacket, tracksuit trousers and a warm top.
All Academy members must have a mouthguard and a pair of shinpads. Children will not be permitted to take part without both of these items.
We a number of junior hockey sticks available at the club which our Academy members can borrow. However, regular members are encourageds to purchase their own as our stocks are limited. Sticks are not available from all sports shops so you may have go to a specialist store to purchase one, although there are plenty around. Sticks come in a range of sizes. When buying a stick for your child, as a general rule of thumb the stick should come up to their hip bone.
The club also has a number of small goalkeeper kits available to borrow.
Click here for more information about the Shop and Club Kit. Alternatively, click here to order your kit online.