Season 2014 – 2015Information Note
August 2014
Dear Parent (and Player)
Match and Training Information
This information note is the first of the 2014 -2015 season and all the coaches at Highland Hockey Club welcome everyone back to training, whether you are returning from last year, or whether you are joining the club for the first time.
Mark (Watson) is back this season as lead coach, ably supported by his coachesin particular, Martin Gent (a recognisable face for all those who’ve progressed from Inverness Juniors!!), and Ian Rudd, who looks after the administration.
The accompanying Club Welcome Pack gives players and parents information on the club.The Registration Pack includes all the forms that need to be filled in to register a player and provides the club with the requisite information about the player. This information enables the club to register all of our Youth players with the Scottish Hockey Union, ensures we have a medical database to consult if injuries should occur at training or away at matches and tournaments, and commits all our members to the highest standards of conduct when representing the club. I hope you will all continue to observe these guidelines and help us develop a ‘family club’ we can all be proud of.
For those joining at the start of the season all forms starting at Appendix 1 (pages 15 to 19) of the Welcome Pack should be returned to Ian Rudd, Youth Academy Administrator ASAP and no later than 15th September 2015. For those joining after the start of the season all forms should be returned as soon as possible after receiving the forms. This is to ensure that the player is registered with the SHU and is covered to train and play any matches.Those players in the first men’s or women’s teams who are still at school are eligible to be considered as junior coaches provided they attend to assist Mark and Martin with coaching. As such they will be exempt from fees for the Youth Academy. Mark and Martin will determine who they are.
We are continuing to develop the club and the increasing numbers of players at the Under-14 age group will mean we are able to compete in a number of tournaments and competitions in the spring. Training will continue to prepare and develop players for these local and national competitions. For those players graduating from the Under-14 age group we can now offer senior hockey with our men’s and ladies second teams competing in the senior District Leagues. This reflects the growing membership of the club at both the junior level and also at the senior and veteran levels of the club, and gives an opportunity for our younger players to play regular team hockey in the North District Leagues and have a progression for their talents. As ever, our aim is to develop the players’ skills, but more importantly making it fun, and plan to do this through a mixture of training, matches and tournaments. I hope the players will work with us to make this mutually beneficial.
Training and Match Schedule
Our training schedule aims to provide for all the elements of the coaching strategy and will depend largely on the weather and impending matches and tournaments as to the format and content of individual sessions.
Training will continue to be between 6:00pm and 8:00pm on Fridays at the Bught Astro-turf pitch, Inverness, and I remind all parents that having completed a facility risk assessment, the club expects parents to be responsible for their children outside the pitch before 6:00pm and after 8:00pm. Access to the pitch and training will only commence when two coaches are present, and therefore parents will remain responsible for their children until they are allowed access to training. I hope players and parents will be understanding of this policy and remain vigilant when arriving and leaving training. Additionally, can I remind all players and parents that shin guards and gum guards should be worn at all training sessions and matches.
See Welcome pack for Friday evening training dates, cancellation policy etc.
Membership and Training Subscriptions
Following, the club’s AGM, the cost of membership remains at £12 for Youth Academy players (under-18). However, in the event of a Youth memberplayingadult hockey with one of our senior men’s or women’s team, an additional payment of £14 will be required for league registration purposes.(These players will also pay £3 per senior teamtraining session that they attend).
Training fees remain the same this year and cover our costs including pitch hire and floodlights. In order to minimise administrative work and time at the beginning of a session, it is appreciated that parents pay annual membership and training fees at the beginning of the season, at £70 (a saving of more than 10%) ie £12 subscription plus £58 pitch fees for the 33 or 34 sessions. In addition to reducing administrative work and disrupting training sessions whilst we do the ‘banking’, the benefits of a one off payment will enable the club to identify its budget for the year, and plan accordingly to improve playing kit and training equipment, subsidise increased match travelling costs, and subsidise our social events and activities.
The club is aware that this represents a significant outlay, but hopes that parents understand the significant benefits this will bring. An option of 3term payments has been introduced to spread payment and to accommodate those players who join part way through the season. Children wanting to try out the Youth Academy are welcome to two free taster sessions and then will need to decide if they wish to join the club and pay the membership subscription and training fee. Those joining part way through a term will pay the £12 subscription fee and the pitch fee for that term (£22) and that of any remaining term.
With increasing membership, increasing match commitments, more detailed coaching requirements and social activities planned for this year, it is becoming necessary to seek help from parents in administering and running the Youth Academy. Although, I do not envisage any parental commitment being too onerous, any help would be greatly appreciated and help coaches concentrate on coaching the children. I have therefore attached a sheet detailing a list of jobs / roles that will help make the club run more effectively, and hope you will consider volunteering. Our aim is to develop a ‘family’ club and hope you can contribute to that aim in some way.
If you have any queries on any aspect of the club, please do not hesitate to contact me (07818 061464).
Yours in sport
Mark Watson (Youth Academy Co-ordinator)
Volunteering Opportunities at Highland Hockey Club
We are grateful of the support you already give to the club by supporting and encouraging the children at training and matches. Their enthusiasm and behaviour are a credit to you and the club.
However, as the club continues to evolve, and our ambitions to develop a family club that provides players, parents and their families the opportunity to develop their potential within a friendly sport, the need for more help continues to grow.
We have identified a number of voluntary tasks that will help the club run more effectively, and allow the coaches to concentrate on developing the playing potential of the players. We understand the time commitments of parents and would greatly appreciate any support available.
Please complete the following if you are able to contribute in any way, and return it direct to me or with your subscription payment.
Assistant Child Protection Officer
Membership Administration
Social Events Organisers (an event per term)
Other (Please specify ……………………………………………………………..)
I do not envisage any of the above being particularly onerous, and would be happy to discuss the tasks / roles in more detail if you wish. Please do not hesitate to contact me at training on a Friday evening or on 07818 061464 or our Youth Academy Administrator, Ian Rudd on 01463 239892
Mark Watson
(Youth Academy Co-ordinator)
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