Dear Youth Player,

Gwent Hockey Club would like invite you to join us for 2016 / 17 season. This season is going to very exciting with a newly laid astro pitch at Cwmbran Stadium (November 2016). This will enable the older youth and seniors to have a better training experience and improve our skills and hopefully our level of competition.

To enable you to learn and develop the necessary skills, youth training sessions take place on the astro turf at Rougemont School, Malpas Road, Newport NP20 6QB, as follows.

GIRLS / BOYS / MIXED
Age Group / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / THURSDAY
(School Years) / Start Back 7th Sept. / Start Back 8th Sept. / Start Back 7th Sept.
U9’s (years 3 & 4 ) / 5.30pm to 6.30pm
(a supervising adult must be present)
U11’s (years 5 & 6 ) / 5.30pm to 7.00pm / 5.30pm to 7.00pm
U13’s (years 7 & 8 ) / 6.00pm to 7.30pm / 6.30pm to 8.00pm
U15’s (years 9 & 10 ) / 6.30pm to 8.00pm / 6.45pm to 8.00pm
Seniors / 8.00pm to 9.30pm / 8.00pm to 9.30pm

Qualified and DBS coaches will supervise Training sessions at all times.

New Players are always welcome whatever the age and ability,.

Players should either come to the appropriate training session or contact the Youth Manager (details at end of this letter). New players are insured for 3 taster sessions (Hockey Wales Insurance), no payment necessary until you decide to join.

Please could all parent (s) / guardian (s) impress on their son / daughter that they should stay within the fenced area throughout the training session and until they are collected at the conclusion of training.

Safety and Equipment

All players must wear gum shields and shin guards for their own protection during training and playing matches. It is the parent(s) / guardian(s) responsibility that players have and wear their protective equipment for each training session/match. Coaches will not allow players without protective equipment to take part in matches. At training any players who do not have protective equipment will be limited to taking part in the fitness training part of training only.

Gum Shields & Shin Guards

Players can either use mouldable gum shields which can be purchased from sports shops and then fitted at home or a dentist fitted gum shield can be purchased. Edwards Family Health Centre offers Gwent Hockey Players a discounted rate for fitted gum shields, please contact Edwards Family Dental Health Centre, 12 New Street, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, NP44 1EE, phone: 01633 484984 for details.

Shin Guards, Players can either use football shin pads which wrap around the leg or you can purchase hockey shin guards (recommended), these can easily be found on line

Hockey Sticks

The club does have a stock of sticks available for use at training, however it is recognised that Players usually want to purchase their own hockey sticks. These can be purchased from a number of sports retailers or online websites (eg amazon, millets, sports directory etc). Please note that using the right sized stick (as determined by the players height) is crucial to players being able to play the game, the following table provides guidance on the most appropriate length stick for the height of the player:

Height (imperial) / Height (Metric) / Stick Length /
Upto 3’9” / 1.14m / 28”
4’ / 1.22m / 30”
4’9” / 1.43m / 32”
5’ / 1.53m / 34”
5’7” / 1.70m / 36.5”

The quality of the stick is also important the better the player becomes. A stick will approximately last one/two seasons due to the playing surfaces of astro pitches( they get worn very quickly). The better quality sticks have less vibration when hitting, different weights depending on player’s position (defence or forward) and different bows (stick angle). Sticks vary in price from £20.00 (sports direct) up to good quality sticks £200 plus available from good sports shops. If you are unsure please just ask.

Youth Membership

Youth membership this season will be £80 for the first child and then £40 for each additional child (if a parent is a member then each child is £40). You can also pay by standing order monthly. Membership forms can be found on line. Membership fees must be paid in order for the Player to be able to attend training and be eligible for selection for matches. Please endeavour to have membership forms complete and submitted and payment arrangements made no later than the October 22nd 2016.Youth do not pay match fees for youth matches but will be charged if they play senior games.

If you cannot pay by this method other arrangements can be made. Please ask

Matches

When representing the club in matches every effort must be made to wear the correct kit. Kid is available to purchase on the web site. Players must provide their own black shorts or skirts.

Matches are played on a Sunday approximately once a month 10am to 1pm. A schedule will be emailed to you at the beginning of the season.

Club Contacts

Youth Manager / Child Protection Officer
Louise Riley / Sara Wall
Telephone No 01633 870859
Mobile No. 07759009525 / Telephone: 01633 882578
Mobile: 07533977687

Café at Rougemont

The Café can be used by members of the public using Rougemont facilities.

Arrival & Collection of Children

Please could parents/guardians ensure that all players arrive at training on-time with their protective equipment, a drink and appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.

Finally please could parents/guardians collect their children promptly at the end of their child’s allocated training session. Please collect your son / daughter from the fenced area at the appropriate time.

Online

The club has a website which can be found at:

Club Website www.pitchero.com/clubs/gwenthockeyclub

Also, the club has a Facebook group: Gwent HC http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=98330857346

The Facebook group is particularly useful for coaches, parents and the older Youth players to communicate with the club and each other. However, it should be remembered that the page is ‘open’ and personal details/information should not be disclosed on this page.

Twitter @GwentHockeyClub

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