Training will start on Sunday 10th September at TRURO SCHOOL
Timings for Training
In order to accommodate everyone we will be training as follows:
- U8 – 12:00 – 13:00
- U10 – 12:00 – 13:00
- U12 – 13:00 – 14:30
- U14 – 14:30 – 16:00
Training information
- Players will be asked to wait outside the pitch until they have been marked as attending.
- Players will enter the pitch through ‘the cage’ and make sure they have been registered. Finishing players will be asked to exit through the other gate which is in the ‘right hand corner’ as you look at the pitch from the car park.
- Parents can continue to congregate on ‘the bank’ during sessions, it’s especially nice in the warm weather it
- Registration this season (and for future seasons) will be via the Truro Hockey Club ‘ClubBuzz’ site. This enables us to be fully GDPR compliant, operate ‘hands free’ registration and in time will help us with overall club administration.
- Players already registered will simply need to renew their registration and the system should have sent a link out prompting you to do that.
- Each player has to be registered individually but please use parental email addresses when setting up as it’s a two stage affair. You can change this later when the player is registered.
- The process is a tiny bit clunky but it genuinely only takes 5 minutes in total. The website is being updated and we may have use of a Club Buzz team management app as well.
How to apply for membership…
MEMBER SIGN UP TIPS
- Fill out the form here
- We will then approve your membership application
- Download the Club Buzz app
- You will then receive an email with a link to setup a password and login.
- From here you can login to the club buzz app. (RECOMMENDED) or our website
- Login and fill out your player details including medical & emergency contact info !!! ESSENTIAL !!!
- You can then use the app to chat to your team AND fill out your availability for fixtures
- You can also setup Direct Debit payments once you are logged in.
If you are experiencing further difficulties please contact Tom O’Boyle on: 07835 770489
Payment and subs
We have kept subs to the same rate as last year:
- £85 for one child
- £75 for further siblings
Club Administration
The club system, called ClubBuzz, will, in time enable us to administer the junior club in a more efficient way. In due course I will be able to schedule matches and teams on the system and players/parents can confirm availability online. More immediately it will enable me to communicate with you during the season with my weekly updates and also with regards to upcoming matches and competitions. We are looking to use their app to manage teams and availability too.
Hockey Kit and Equipment
We have decided to change the supplier of the hockey shirts and hoodies this season to Y1 Hockey. This is the same supplier that supplies the senior club and it will help with the ‘one club’ ethos that we are trying to promote.
The shirts come up a little small and as kids grow I would suggest ordering the size up.
Penalty (short) Corner Face Masks
Due to COVID we no longer supply penalty corner masks so we encourage parents to source them. Penalty corners masks aren’t a requirement, they are optional, but parents and players often feel more confident (plus I think the kids like wearing them because they look fierce in them.) It is worth noting that in 7 a-side games ANY child may be required to defend a penalty corner so if you wish your child to wear one then unfortunately this is a new cost this season. Thanks COVID!!
For any parents wishing to buy a new mask then they are readily available online. I would look out for brands like:
- TK
- Grays
- Mercian
- Gryphon
- Dita
Sites to check are:
This may seem like a minefield – and sizing can be tricky but Grays do a range of junior masks that fit the U8’s and U10’s. Brabo also do a Junior range that are quite lightweight
The TK 3.1 is what we used for the U12 boys and U14 Boys last season and they are great value for money too.
Masks should be clearly labelled – they can even be decorated or personalised with stickers so that children can distinguish them, provided that the decoration doesn’t affect the visibility or protrude from the mask (i.e. is flat – you can’t stick bears teeth or studs to them to make them more fierce!!)
Hockey Sticks
Most players in the club already have sticks but for anyone looking to buy new sticks for their children or for new players that haven’t got their own stick then here is a quick guide. Sticks are either made of wood or (more commonly these days) a composite of Fibreglass, Carbon and Aramid. Wooden sticks are great entry level sticks for very young players but they wear out quickly on Astro pitched and players soon grow out of them. However, they do have a ‘softer’ touch on the ball and can make life easier for new players when it comes to controlling the ball. Composite sticks are now the stick of choice for most players at most levels but they come in different shapes, sizes and composites.
Stick length is very much a personal choice – I was coached by GB legend Sean Kerly as a kid and he always said ‘Use the longest stick you can comfortably hold.’ – Other international players and coaches prefer shorter sticks.
Most U8’s and 10s start with 28” or 30” stick. By the time they hit U12’s that goes up to 34” or 35” and U14’s (most of whom are taller than me anyway) are playing with full adult sticks that tend to be either 36.5” or 37.5”.
Defenders tend to have longer sticks for greater reach, attackers tend to opt for slightly shorter and lighter sticks for greater speed and skill. Sticks also have different levels of ‘curve’ or ‘bow’ in them for specialist moves like drag flicks or 3D skills. For beginners at any age – the straighter sticks are the best as they are easier to control the ball with. I find players that move to a ‘large bowed’ stick too soon can actually hinder their development as opposed to enhance it.
Click here for a useful guide for anyone that is just starting out.
When it comes to composite sticks then U12’s will probably opt for a stick with slightly more carbon than U10’s which increases ball speed, but also makes control a bit trickier. Typically U12’s play with between 20 and 45% Carbon sticks. U14’s tend to increase that to between 60 and 80% carbon. There is no right or wrong – just personal taste that evolves as you grow. In addition to the big hockey stick names such as Kookaburra, Grays, Mercian, Dita, Adidas, Gryphon, TK and Slazenger there are some newer brands on the scene that offer surprisingly good sticks for what can often be really good value. James Frewer uses Beikou sticks and I use Vortex Sticks both of whom offer good junior ranges as well as senior ranges and I’m very impressed by both companies. Sunny, my youngest has had a Vortex junior stick for a couple of seasons and he loves it and I know that James’ daughters use Beikou sticks and find them light enough and really good to play with.
Don’t be afraid to buy second hand on eBay either, kids grow quickly and they grow out of sticks. Provided they are in good condition you can often grab a bargain – Ask James Frewer about the stick he bought on eBay from GB International player!!! If the handle grip tape is a little loose on a snd hand stick then you can pick that up for a few quid and you have a perfectly functional stick – plus it’s better for the environment because its re-using/recycling.
Shin pads
These are essential for hockey, football ones are fine, hockey ones are better. Ones that have ankle protection are even better. They are readily available online and in sports shops. Get the right size (varies by manufacturer) because if they are too big then they catch the knee cap and if they are too small then they don’t offer enough protection.
Gum Shields
As a coach I strongly advise that all players wear a gum shield that fits at all times during training and matches. Contrary to popular belief, it is not an ACTUAL requirement and I can’t enforce it. An ill fitting gum shield however will be more trouble than no gum shield because it will fall out and players will just chew it.
Buy the correct size (Junior for most kids) and follow the fitting instructions – most require being moulded in hot water and ‘sucked and bitten’ in place in the mouth. I still see kids with adult gum shields in their mouths and guess what? They don’t fit so the kids slide them around and chew them. They are readily available at sports direct or online at Amazon and all other sports retailers. If you child struggles with keeping a regular gum shield in then the Sisu range are worth looking at. They take a few goes to get the fit right, but you can reshape them in hot water. Once fitted they don’t come out unless you ‘clip’ them out with a finger nail. They also allow you to talk, breathe and drink with them in. I use mine for both Hockey and Roller Derby and it’s never let me down and Sunny, my youngest (a gum shield chewer) swears by his too. They do come in youth sizes.
Astro (training) Shoes
You can’t wear football boots on a hockey astro pitch. You can wear regular trainers but they offer little grip on a slippy surface. Astro trainers are by far the best solution and offer the best grip. Ones designed for hockey also offer the best foot protection – football astros will grip, but can be thinner and have a lower heel which can leave the foot exposed. Another option (which many senior players use) are trail running shoes – as they are basically the same as an Astro but often a bit cheaper. Look for ones with a ‘chunky’ tread.
Gloves
Not essential – but I swear by hockey gloves as I have had too many knocks on my knuckles from both sticks and pitches. Direct Hockey has a bit of a sale on at the moment. Don’t panic – they tend to come in Left Hand only (not a pair) as most players prefer to have their right hand free, and it’s the left hand that takes the knocks – but you can get some versions in right hand too – some defenders prefer to have both during a game. Again,most players prefer the ‘short fingered glove’ and I prefer ‘open palm’ so you can still feel the stick. ‘Skins’ or ‘Skinful’ layers don’t offer any protection apart from against the cold.
Base layers
Not essential, but they can offer a bit of protection for legs and knees of you slip over. They can also keep you a bit warmer in the winter months. Tracksuit bottoms are also perfectly acceptable.
Volunteers
As always we rely on you, the parents stepping up to the plate and helping out where possible. If anyone wants to help out as a coach then please let me know. The more we have the better training we can deliver. Smaller groups always work better than larger groups. I will need volunteers to run the register in each age group if possible – dead easy – just tick them in or add their name to the list if not already there (along with contact details). Other roles will become apparent as we move through the season.