Dear Parent(s)

Firstly, welcome to Brooklands Hockey Club. We are proud of our heritage and have worked hard over the last 15 years to build our juniors section into a thriving, family friendly club. We have exciting development plans to take the juniors even further, and I am pleased to share theses plans with you.

Our vision is to encourage more children to become involved in hockey and to do this we wish to broaden our program to create more opportunities for children to try hockey and become involved at the club. We will therefore be focusing on enhancing and expanding our junior club coaching program, increasing and expanding our age group teams and providing additional training opportunities for our junior players. This season we will be taking part in the new England Hockey Junior Framework competitions structure at all age groups from U10 to U18.

England Hockey are introducing a new Talent System Framework, which starts with clubs becoming accredited Talent Centres. Brooklands HC have started consultation with England Hockey to ensure we gain this accreditation next year as this will be a vital part of our success in years to come. We have started to develop stronger links with local schools to encourage more children to come along and play. In addition, we are also reviewing our current coaching program to ensure that the quantity and quality of coaching sessions is maintained and improved. We hope this will ensure that your children continue to experience high quality, fun training sessions and that the number of sessions caters for current and future junior club players.

How our Teams and Training Sessions Work/ Progression through the club

We run U18, U16 & U14 teams on Sundays and 7-a-side age group teams on Sundays for U12 down U8’s. This approach allows players to progress through each section, from minis to juniors, Beavers and Badgers and on into senior teams. Our aim is to ensure progression of skills at each level and to move players at the right time in the right environment, giving opportunity for everyone to play.

Players may also be selected for England Hockey Cup competitions at U18/U16/U14/U12 age groups for Boys & Girls. These squads will be selected on ability, but where possible we will enter two cup teams in an age group if we have enough players, to give players a more competitive level of hockey.

Our aims and coaching objectives for each junior’s stage is explained in more detail here, which we hope you find helpful to understand how your child will progress through the club.

Boys & Girls U18/16/14 – Competitive Hockey
Our Aim:

1. Challenge appropriate players to play a higher level of competitive hockey.
2. Use England Hockey Junior Leagues & Cup competitions to select players to challenge for National titles.

Badgers (U16’s) – Preparing for Senior Hockey
Our Aim:

1. To introduce our junior members to a more constructive game with a higher level of pace & tactical awareness.
2. To prepare our players for senior level hockey.
3. To HAVE FUN and enjoy playing hockey.
4. The squads are mixed ability of Boys and Girls who are encouraged to attend our mid-week training sessions.

Beavers (U14/13/12s) – Building for the Future
Our Aim:

1. To introduce our junior members to regular competitive 11-a-side matches and to put into practice the skills learnt from 7-a-side hockey.
2. To develop a squad that can progress to Badgers and then on to senior level hockey.
3. To HAVE FUN and enjoy playing hockey.
4. Progression from 7-a-side hockey.
5. The squads are mixed ability of Boys and Girls who are encouraged to attend our mid-week & Sunday morning training sessions

U12’s & U10’s – Developing Hockey skills
Our Aim:

1. To introduce our junior members to match play scenarios & develop more advanced skills.
2. To prepare players for Beavers level hockey.
3. To HAVE FUN and enjoy playing hockey.
4. Squads for 7-a-side Junior leagues & Cup competitions are selected throughout the season & aim to give ALL players the opportunity to play.

Mini’s (U8’s) – Introduction to Hockey
Our Aim:

1. To introduce our mini-members to hockey
2. To HAVE FUN and enjoy playing hockey.
3. To prepare minis to move into U10 groups through a variety of skills-based, fun training sessions.
4. Offer opportunity of friendly small-sided games (4v4) against other local clubs

Tots (U6’s) – Introduction to Hockey
Our Aim:

1. To introduce our youngest members to hockey
2. To HAVE FUN and enjoy playing hockey.
3. Brooklands Junior Club Core Values - a positive attitude towards development, good behaviour, hard work and respect for all. All underpinned by our junior code of conduct.

Weekly Training Sessions are at the Astro pitch, Brooklands Sports Club from September to April

• Tuesday - 17:30 - 18:30: U14 training (Y6-9)
• Thursday – 17:30 – 18:30: U14 training (Y6-9)
Those playing/training with adult teams can still attend but should make senior training their priority.

Sunday mornings

• U12 (Y6 & Y7) & New starters (up to 14 years old): 9-10:00
• U10/U8/U6 (up to Y5): 10:00-11:00

Who’s Who
Our Team managers are -

• U16/U18 Parent Coordinator: Annie Hanley
• U14 Parent Coordinator: Mike Huckle (boys) Sarah Newman (girls)
• U12 Parent Co-ordinator: Steve Brittle
• U10 Parent Co-ordinator: Andy Phillips
• Badgers Coaches: Sarah Newman / Iain Campbell
• Beavers Coach: Steve Brittle

Fixtures Program:

• Beavers/Badgers Saturday (Home and Away) across the North West, dates between September and the end of March.
• U10 – U18 Junior leagues & cups Sunday.

Membership: All Junior players playing regularly in junior Brooklands HC teams are expected to be Junior members of Brooklands Sports Club – this does allow members to play other sports at Brooklands e.g. Lacrosse, Cricket or Tennis. This fee provides for the maintenance of the facilities. Membership and joining details are available on the Brooklands Sports Club website
https://www.brooklandssportsclub.co.uk

Usually players start to play in competitive tournaments at U10 level, so we would ask that all players from Y4 upwards become Junior members of Brooklands Sports Club.

U8 players will be expected to register through our Pitchero database; but will only be charged on a pay-as-you-play basis for matches & training.

All players of Brooklands HC need to be registered with Pitchero via www.brooklandshockey.co.uk. This is our platform for communication, training & fixture availability & team selection, and payments for training & matches.

Training and Match Fees: Match fees will be collected for each game. This provides for the match teas after the game and other expenses. Training fees for weekly coaching sessions are pay as you go – all paid online via our Pitchero site

Holiday Hockey Camps- advertised on our website running various programs thorough the school holidays

If you have any questions, then please do get in touch. Furthermore, if you know of other children who would like to play junior hockey, please feel free to forward this to them. We’d love to welcome new children, families and friends.

Kind regards

Junior Coaching team
For new player or general enquiries regarding Junior hockey please contact Steve Brittle on
stevebrittle1976@gmail.com