SHC COLTS HANDBOOK

CONTENTS

Introduction (page 1)

1. Introducing the Colts Team (page 1)

2. Colts Age Groups (page 2)

3. Colts Kit (pages 2-3)

4. Our 'Home' Venues (page 4)

5. What Does Your Membership Fee Cover? (pages 4-5)

6. Squad & Match Selection (page 6)

7. Training Timetable & Sunday Schedules (page 6)

8. Communication (pages 6-7)

9. How Can Parents Get Involved? (pages 8-9)

10. Other Colts Hockey at SHC (page 9)

www.surbitonhc.com Introduction

Welcome to Hockey Club! Whatever your age or ability, Surbiton HC is the home for you.

The purpose of this handbook is to introduce you to the Colts team and explain how the Colts section functions.

1. Introducing the COLTS Team

Will Fulker - Director of Colts: [email protected]

Frankie Bryant - Assistant Director of Colts: [email protected]

Liselle Carey - Colts Administrator: [email protected]

Dawn Parry - Colts Fixtures: [email protected]

Gill Griffiths - Membership Manager: [email protected]

Beckie Middleton - Colts newsletter / media: [email protected]

Tracey McLoughlin - Safeguarding / Welfare: [email protected]

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1 2. Colts Age Groups

Our Junior players are divided into age groups for training and matches in accordance with Hockey’s age group bands and reflect the age that the child is on 1 September of the relevant season. With the exception of Mixed U8s, these age group bands incorporate two school years.

Players from Year 1 - Year 13 are considered to be part of the Colts section, although some of our older players may also play for adult teams.

With the exception of Mixed U8s, boys and girls are separated by gender into their relevant age groups.

Age Group bands and school years Eg: Under 10s: if they were under the age of 10 on 1 September 2021

3. Colts Kit

From September 2021 our new kit sponsor is Mizuno.

Junior players will still be able to wear the existing SHC kit for the 2021/22 season.

All kit can be bought from our kit supplier Tacklebag at www.tacklebag.co.uk

www.surbitonhc.com 2 Shirt Numbers Tacklebag also provides an option during the online order form to add shirt numbers. These are optional, however it is an advantage when entering the older age groups (U14 and above).

Please choose a high double digit or triple digit number. Tacklebag holds a list of all available numbers and will contact you if the number you’ve chosen is already in use.

What to Wear to Training & Matches New joiners should wear comfortable sports clothes for training and a white t- shirt with black or navy shorts / skorts for matches until they purchase official SHC kit.

Other Equipment Needed: Mouthguard - essential! Players are not allowed on pitch without one Shin pads Hockey stick - we have sanitised sticks available to borrow. Your coach can also recommend a suitable stick and stick retailer. Water bottle

Second Hand Kit Unfortunately, because we now have a new kit supplier we are not running second hand sales this season.

Further details about kit may be found here: www.surbitonhc.com/members-info/club-kit/

www.surbitonhc.com 3 4. Our “Home” venues

Our main venue is: Surbiton HC Sugden Road KT7 0AE

We also use satellite venues to host matches on weekends.

Kingston Grammar School Sport Ground Ditton Field (Blue Pitch) Summer Rd Thames Ditton KT7 0RD

Reeds School Sandy Lane Cobham KT11 2ES

Surbiton High Oaken Lane Sports Ground 85 Oaken Lane KT10 0RQ

5. What DOes YOUR MEMBERSHIP FEE COVER?

Details on membership fees can be found on our website.

The regular Colts hockey season runs for two terms, from early September until Easter. An annual membership fee (your ‘subs’) covers twice weekly training

www.surbitonhc.com 4 including matches throughout this period (excluding school holidays). New joiners are entitled to a couple of taster sessions before subs are due.

Mixed U8s have the option of taking out a membership that offers one session per week. **All other age groups are expected to attend the twice weekly sessions. If choosing the twice weekly option please choose a weeknight and a Sunday.

We also offer an optional Summer Programme membership, at an additional cost, which runs once the regular season has ended (i.e. from after Easter until the school summer holidays). This is open to members and non-members. More details will be shared in the Spring term.

Professional Coaching We operate a professional coaching structure, where all hockey instruction is performed by DBS checked coaches employed by the club. We do not expect or encourage parental coaching, but we do welcome assistance from parents with umpiring and / or the administrative management of their children’s teams.

School Holidays and Half Term Holidays Sessions will always run on the Sundays that straddle half term holidays. Weeknight training sessions do not run in half term or school holidays in normal circumstances.

Matches and Competitions All SHC Colts, regardless of age, are involved in competitive matches. These start as mini-tournaments for our youngest players during their GameTime sessions and progress to County, Regional and National Championships. Initially, children will play internal matches within their squads but every age group will play inter-club matches from their very first season at SHC.

In addition, Colts have occasional opportunities to play visiting international teams and SHC offers annual European tours for our boys and girls.

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5 6. Squad and Match selection

With nearly 1000 junior players ranging from complete beginners to junior international representatives, we have teams for every ability and enter multiple tiers in competitive and development leagues.

At the start of each season, new and returning players (from U12 and above) take part in a two week assessment after which they will be allocated to the most appropriate squad or team. This may result in some age groups being split across different training nights. This is to allow for pitch and coach availability as well as ensuring players are grouped at the most appropriate ability level.

Players who join mid-season will be asked to attend the relevant age group session where coaches will assess them before allocating them to a team / training squad.

Each age group has allocated parent admin managers to assist with the smooth running of the team. We always welcome volunteers, so please contact Liselle Carey [email protected] if you’d like to help out with your child’s team.

7. Training Timetable and Sunday Schedules

Please view these on our website: www.surbitonhc.com >> Juniors

8. Communication

We use a variety of communication tools.

Email We primarily communicate with our Colts members using email. Please note that Colts or clubwide communication will usually be sent using the bulk sender function supported by our Teamo database. Some email settings will block these

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6 messages, so ensure you place the [email protected] in your contacts and regularly check your spam folders.

If you suspect that you are not receiving relevant communication, please email Liselle Carey [email protected]

Teamo You will have downloaded the Teamo app when joining the club. All Colts membership details for the season will be held on the Teamo database – this also provides us with an app and a fully GDPR-compliant communications platform.

Your child’s Teamo profile tells you what registration group / squad and / or team they are in (once allocated). Training dates and times for each age group squad are detailed on the Teamo calendar which can be found in the dashboard of your app.

The Teamo App can also be loaded onto your desktop or laptop computer. Please follow the instructions from you mobile app’s dashboard to learn how to set this up.

Google Sheets Please note we do not use Teamo to record availability for Game Time or external fixtures - instead, please use your Google Sheet (if applicable to your age group).

Players will need to indicate their availability for matches in their age group Google Sheet. This will be shared with you by your coach, parent manager or the Colt’s administrator. A timetable of matches and team sheets will appear here too.

Other forms of communication Our website www.surbitonhc.com is comprehensive and is updated regularly. We encourage you to use this as your 'go to' source of information and check the website frequently - most information can be found here. Hover over the ‘Juniors’ tab at the top of the page to access various information about Colts hockey at SHC.

www.surbitonhc.com 7 The Colts Newsletter is issued weekly on Thursdays and will include relevant information about Colts weekend matches / training sessions as well as events, match reports and Colts content. If you’d like to have an article / photos included, please contact Beckie Middleton [email protected] Social Media Twitter: @surbitonhc Facebook: SurbitonHC Instagram: @surbitonhc SHC Magazine - three editions published per season

9. How can parents GET involved?

SHC relies on all our parent volunteers to enable us to deliver such a comprehensive hockey coaching programme. Contact Liselle Carey on [email protected] if you’d like to be involved.

Here are a few ways in which you can help. Become a parent admin manager for your child’s team Assist the coaches and junior administrator in ensuring the smooth operation of the team Become an umpire No qualifications are needed for younger age groups - just a basic knowledge of the rules and ability to blow a whistle! Sign up for an England Hockey endorsed umpiring course which are run periodically at SHC Join our fundraising team Attend a SHC social event, get to know other SHC members/parents and help support SHC fundraising. Sponsor SHC - various packages available or join our SHC Business Community Contact [email protected] to find out more Play hockey! We offer 'Back 2 Hockey' and Walking Hockey for adults of all

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8 ages and abilities. Check the SHC website for more details about how to get involved.

10. Other Colts hockey at Surbiton HC

SHC Camps - every half term and school holiday, we offer hockey camps, Masterclasses and private coaching. Members and non-members are welcome! Information and bookings: www.surbitonhc.com/colts/holiday- hockey-camps SHC Summer Programme - for members and non-members Runs every year after the end of the regular season in the summer term until the school summer holidays. SHC Indoor Hockey Programme - perfect for technical skill development - offered from November to January.

We hope you have many years of enjoyment playing hockey at SHC!

The Colts Team

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