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 Welcome to Westleigh JuniorsWestleigh Hockey Club's aim is to provide a safe fun environment for juniors from the ages of 7 to 18 for both boys and girls to learn to play hockey. The club have had great success in our long history bringing juniors through into the men’s league teams. In the past few years Westleigh have started up two junior clubs. This has allowed the club to coach players from their very first "push of a ball". It has also highlighted the club to local schools. Through this work Westleigh have grown both clubs with the aim so they can participate in junior matches and tournaments. Juniors who join the club will learn the basic skills and rules of hockey with fully qualified coaches who are all CRB checked. They will then put these skils to practise in small matches at the end of each session. First MatchesPlayers who have learnt the basics will then represent the club at many of the junior tournaments around the county and Midlands. We also organise friendly matches against other local clubs. These are played according to Mini Hockey rules. This is a half pitch 7-a-side format which is less tiring but involves more game play for all players taking part. The length of games is also shorter. 2nd StepAs players progress they will be taught further skills and team play. They will be given the chance to take turns with umpiring at training and build confidence by taking the warm ups. All supervised by the coaches. Mini Tournaments will still be entered including County tournaments. Players will be involved in Badgers hockey at 13 years of age which is an 11-a-side full pitch format which involves senior players playing alongside. There are rules on senior players so they can’t score. The main aim is for adults to give the juniors structure, support and teach them positional play on a full pitch. 3rd StepPlayers will be invited to trial for senior league teams. Juniors can start playing senior hockey from 14 years. The club currently have 4 men’s, 1 mixed and a partnership building with Bosworth Ladies who train with Westleigh. Players will normally start in the 4th team where many teams put out a combination of older adults and junior players (very much on the lines of Badgers hockey). Players on their own merit will be selected for higher teams according to the club's selection policy. High AchievingPlayers who show talent for hockey will be put forward to the England Hockey’s Joint Development Centres. These are run around the county and are the first step in finding the next Olympic star. Current stars at the club have competed for the British Asian side against the current U16 England side. We had one player, Sabaz make it into the Midlands training squad. Players coming through the club's league teams and showing levels high enough will be invited to train with the 1st and 2nd team squads at our senior training session. This year the club employed Imran Yousef a former Pakistan International. Juniors showing leadership qualities will be given the chance to help with training sessions for younger players alongside the coaches. They can then be put forward to gain a full vocational leaders course. The club will also encourage players to become umpires. These players can then umpire at junior tournaments and possibly get selected to umpire at higher levels. Westleigh's Simon James got selected from 54 individuals to umpire at the National Finals at Cannock. InterestedBelow are the details for our junior clubs: For ages 7-12 boys and girls Winstanley Community College Training starts September, on Monday nights 7-8pm Soar Valley Community College Mondays 6-7.30pm The club run in accordance with England Hockey Child Protection Guidelines and have a Welfare officer. The club is currently going through Club First Accreditation with England Hockey For further details contact: Junior Development Officer |
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