States schools are targeted

HOCKEY is to target the States schools. For some reason the sport in the island has always been associated with Elizabeth College and Ladies' College and has never been a big hit with the non-private secondary schools. But new junior hockey co-ordinator Andrew Lindsay is keen to see the 'jolly hockey sticks' image of the team sport shaken off.

A new outreach initiative sponsored by Cooper Brouard is being launched and letters have been sent to all the island's secondary schools. There will also be training on Friday afternoons.

Looking to build on the great work that development officer Becky Hubbard has done over the past few years, they are also hoping to get more girls at a younger age playing the sport.

'It's a problem but it's a nice problem in that we've not been able to get the other kids in,' said Lindsay.

'We've got two aims this year - first is to get more schools playing hockey. There are some good children particularly at Les Beaucamps and the Grammar School. And the second is to get the girls' under-13 league set up.

'We're trying to take the sport forward by establishing more competitive hockey for the children. We're just very positive about it all.'

Starting next term for Years 5 and 6, the programme will see coaches go into a school once a week to give taster sessions in the sport.

After five weeks, a mini tournament will be held at Foote's Lane. It is hoped that between 500 to 600 will be involved and that some of them will join the highly successful junior sessions on Sunday mornings for Years 6 to 9.

The sessions begin on Sunday 16 September and for October Guernsey hockey are looking to introduce a boys' mini-league structure at these mornings. There will be an U13 and an U15 league with six sides in each. A sponsor is in the pipeline.

'It's all very well training and training but you need games, otherwise it gets boring,' said Lindsay.

The best U15 boys will not be involved in the leagues. Instead they will play against selected opposition every Sunday.

And the PWC Schools of Excellence scheme will continue given that it has produced some very good young players over the last couple of seasons.

In his plans, Lindsay is looking to copy what cricket has achieved. The development structure of the summer sport, which is run by Jason Shambrook, is widely regarded as the best in the island.

'We're looking to replicate what cricket has done,' said Lindsay. 'It's done some great things. It's almost a role model and that's what we're aiming for.'

For more information, contact Hubbard on 259553 or at hockey.development@cwgsy.net.