Club School Links Growing Your Junior Section

What do you do in schools? Errr……..

What you want your schools to do… Buy a Quicksticks bag ment_resources/index.php?cat_id=48 Offer hockey as a tool to deliver primary school PE curriculum objectives Take part in area hockey competitions See your hockey as a positive role model in the community Provide you with players and income!

The Market Parents are keen for their children to be active particularly due to media pressure Children like to play and be in groups

The Competition Indoors – the internet Football Rugby

Football Pros Many clubs Easy to play/practice High media profile Investment High Cons Little in way of structured progression – few play as adults Contact sport frequent injuries

Rugby Pros Good development structure Player retention high Teams streamed by ability Cons High injury rate Girls opportunity limited many clubs still struggle with the concept

Hockey Pros Equal opportunity for both boys and girls Player retention high in adulthood Astroturf tend to be in restricted access locations Less injuries Variations in the game Weather less of an influence Cons Astroturf required Kit relatively expensive

Why choose Hockey? Safer sport (relatively) Equal opportunity for both boys and girls – good socially interactive environment Sport retention into adulthood is high

What you need to do Go to source – schools – Provide coaching resource and deliver sessions in schools* – After school hockey clubs – Train teachers to deliver hockey as part of the general PE curriculum* – Get teachers to play e.g. Rush Hockey* – Offer Hockey to holiday clubs* – Quicksticks festival**

Quicksticks Festivals Hold 2 per year – years 5/6 (Nov.),3/4 (Mar.)

Quicksticks Festivals 16 teams round robin cross over format Medals for winning teams – sponsored by hockey club PE GCSE students provide umpiring and “run” event under BHC supervision

262 Children 14/19 Primary Schools Attended Bicester Quicksticks Festivals In 2013 – 14

Club Resource Members - Retired, Shift Workers, Coaches, Teachers Money – Time – School day, school holidays, weekends – YEAR ROUND!!!!!!

Think outside the astroturf!

Strategies - Partners Local Council – have sports participation targets School Sports Partnerships Early Intervention Hubs Local Radio (internet?)

Strategies continued Shopping – Get on the high street at weekends and talk to the public – Major supermarkets would be happy for you to promote sport outside their doors by agreement

Talk to the public!

The Cage Stick it on your High Street and encourage the public to “have a go”! Recruited 27 new players using this Expensive – costs £530 to hire but as unique good publicity option for sponsors Contact England Hockey to borrow

Speed Gun Make your own 3m x 3m heavy duty pop up gazebo Golf Speed gun Camera tripod 3m x 4m cut of exhibition grass Old hockey all in! Use Rush/Quicksticks balls Hockey balls will kill your gazebo!!!

Tools Mascots – Kids love them – They break down barriers making it easier to start a dialogue Information – short and concise to lead the parent to a website or your location. – Use double sided leaflets to provide more detailed information include adult playing opportunities and your work in the community

Utilise all England Hockey Initatives

Networking Use – Local newspapers – Local Council and district sports development – Facebook – Twitter – Local Blogs – Sponsors – Support local events – Your players social networks – England Hockey – your relationships manager is there to help

Club events Have special events occasionally – Bring a friend – invite junior members to bring a friend – Go bowling – Start junior season with club day – juniors in the morning, adults in the afternoon – Host a junior festival Publicise with school mailing lists

Bicester HC Bicester 8 senior teams (4 ladies*, 4 mens) 1 council run sand dressed No clubhouse

Result for BHC Junior section grew from 30 – 127 in three years Expect to grow junior players this season First ever junior team reached regional finals in 2014 Projected junior section of 200+ by 2019 Growth of junior section has influenced the provision of a new (another) pitch and clubhouse for 2019 Cherwell Community Hockey Coach – collaboration between 3 rival hockey clubs, district council & EH

Summary GET INTO SCHOOLS Contacts from sports development Arrange Quicksticks Festivals This is part of your development strategy Have fun!

Contact – Happy to Help Lucy RoweChris Birch Club Development Officer Bicester Hockey Club