Junior Hockey – 2010 2010 Pre-season Newsletter
Welcome to the 2010 hockey season. The arrangements for registration and pre-season coaching and trials are similar to those followed last year with some changes so please read all of this newsletter and the enclosed Junior Hockey Calendar carefully.
REGISTRATION
Registration is only by post, with payment by cheque and a closing date of 22 February 2010. Paper is annoying, but we anticipate e-registration & payment in 2011.
Turf restrictions mean the number of Junior players remains limited to 205 (as in 2008 and 2009). Players who were in Somerville in 2009 are guaranteed a place provided their registration is received by 22 February. Players on the waiting list will be given next priority. If your registration is not received, with payment, by 22 February you will not have any priority.
Post your registration form and cheque to reach: P.O. Box 9746 Newmarket by Monday 22 February.
Please take special care to include a clear email address as this is our primary form of contact.
THERE IS NO REGISTRATION DAY FOR JUNIORS AT THE CLUB
Fees
The Club Committee has set the same fee for all Junior divisions for 2010 at $180 per player. This is been able to be maintained through receipt of an Auckland City Council grant. Somerville Junior fees provide for uniforms, practice equipment, a coaching session and a game every week for two school terms. The fee also includes $15 for the team photo, handed out at the prizegiving on 11 September.
Email Addresses
Our prime method of communication is email. Please make sure your email address or addresses is clearly printed on the registration form.
Team Coaches
If you are interested in being a Team Coach please indicate this on the registration form. For the Minis & 6th & most 8th Division teams, this position involves responsibility for Saturday morning team coaching only. The mid-week practices will be conducted by Club Coaches but Team Coaches are welcome to attend these practices to assist the Club Coaches. For the 11th Division, the Team Coaches will generally be responsible for the mid-week practices as well as the Saturday coaching. Your help and involvement with your child’s team is invaluable to us and we will give you all the support we can. This includes a coaching resource folder, equipment, pre-season Coaches meeting and AHA training courses are available as set out in the attached Calendar and updated on the AHA website.
Managers
This is a crucial position involving a few tasks such as distribution of uniforms and information (by email), assisting the Coach during games (especially with substitutions) and reporting weekly match scores (by text message). If you would like to be the Manager of your child’s team, please indicate this on the registration form. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Umpires
It is very helpful to Coaches in the11th Division and in the 8th Gold Grade if parents are able to umpire the games. The on-field coach is the umpire for Mini and 6th grade games. If you are prepared to assist with umpiring please indicate this on the registration form. Training is available as set out in the Calendar.
We have a new turf! The old, frequently-flooded turf was replaced over December/January – the surrounds are still being worked on but it looks great and retains sensors that only allow watering when the turf is dry.
PRE-SEASON PRACTICES and TRIALS
These will be held at the Auckland Grammar Turf, Normanby Rd, Mt Eden on Sunday afternoons on 7th,15th, 21st and 28th March. The details for each Division are set out in the attached Junior Calendar.
Attendance by all players is highly recommended, particularly for 8th and 11th grade as all of these practices and trials are important in assessing and developing players’ skills. Teams will be selected based on players’ attendance and performance at these sessions. So please note on your registration form if attendance is not possible
Teams will be finalised and advised to you by email by 10 April. All players who played in 2009, and register by 22 February will be placed in a team.
MID-WEEK PRACTICES
These will be on week-nights throughout the season, starting in the week beginning 20 April. We get 2 practices before the first game! The practice venues and alternative days/times for each Division are included in the attached Calendar. The practice day and time for your team will be advised to you by email with your team. Regular attendance at these practices is essential for the progress of your child and their team.
MATCH DATES
The first competition match will be on Saturday 1 May and there will be matches every Saturday morning until 12 September, EXCEPT 5 June (Queen’s Birthday weekend), and July 3, 10 and 17 (winter school holidays). Make the most of your 4 no-hockey weekends and please do not register if you cannot commit to being at nearly every game – we have only 2 on the sideline for each team so it is very easy to be short in term 3 when children become ill. The draw for the first three matches should be published by Auckland Hockey by 23 April on the Auckland Hockey website: www.akhockey.org.nz. and is usually distributed by team managers.
UNIFORMS
Club shirts and shorts will be distributed through your Team Manager at the first or second practice (end of April). Somerville Club socks (navy blue with seven white bands) must be worn for matches and these can be purchased from Just Hockey in Enfield Street, Mt Eden. Somerville beanies, sweatshirts and fibre-pile jackets can be purchased at the Auckland Grammar Turf on Saturday mornings throughout the season.
GEAR
Mouthguards and shinpads are compulsory for all practices and matches. Players are not allowed to take the field without this safety equipment.
The Auckland Hockey Junior Handbook will be distributed to you by your Team Manager at the first or second practice. This Handbook is sponsored by Just Hockey and will contain a 10% discount voucher which can be used at Just Hockey.
TK, a leading international supplier of Hockey sticks and general equipment, has a sponsorship arrangement with the Club and we ask that you give first consideration to purchasing TK sticks and other gear, which is available at Just Hockey.
COACHES, MANAGERS AND UMPIRES BRIEFING
We will be holding a briefing session for Coaches, Managers and Umpires prior to the start of the season and will advise the date and time of this briefing during March. This will include aspects of umpiring that are specific to Junior Hockey and grade-specific coaching and team management guidelines developed by Somerville.
AUCKLAND HOCKEY TRAINING COURSES
Auckland Hockey offer early season coaching and umpiring courses applicable to all levels of Junior Hockey. These courses will give you a great start with coaching and/or umpiring.
SPONSORSHIP FOR PLAYER OF THE DAY RIBBONS
If you would like to sponsor the player of the day ribbons, handed out each Saturday to an enthusiastic recipient and pinned proudly to home noticeboards round the central suburbs, please Vicki Palmer-Neels at palmer-neels@xtra.co.nz. The cost is about $400.
Best Wishes for your Hockey this season
Robyn Simcock
Email: robyn@simcock.co.nz Club Website: www.somervillehockey.org.nz
Text: 021-300 470