Redditch Hockey Club to create legacy for the sport

REDDITCH Hockey Club is celebrating following a successful bid from England Hockey as part of their Commonwealth Legacy project.The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last summer was a spectacular show of sport, where both England hockey teams won medals, and the women secured the gold.Redditch’s head junior coach Becki Clarke said: “Having the Games on our doorstep was fantastic, it gave people the opportunity to go and watch new and different sports, live, including hockey.“We know hockey doesn’t get the profile of other sports, but through our project we are looking to change that, by changing perceptions, inspiring the next generation, breaking down barriers to participation and giving people across the town lots of opportunities to come and try hockey.”

The project, due to start this week, will run until late spring and include a number of different strands, working with local schools, families and inactive adults.It will also enable the club to train three new coaches who will be available to support the school outreach work and the club in the future.

Becki added: “When looking at hockey in the town, it became obvious there was little to no opportunity to play at high school.“Our focus has been to change that by introducing after school clubs, fixtures, a high school festival, and to work with the PE staff to provide equipment and confidence to deliver hockey in curriculum time and continue clubs in the future.”The activities will start at Trinity High, Arrow Vale and Ipsley Middle School, as well as introducing a festival after Easter for all high schools in the local area to come and get a taste of hockey.Starting in April, Redditch Hockey Club will deliver a series of free family taster and adult Back to Hockey sessions aimed at beginners who want to try the sport for the first time, return to playing or just have fun being active together.These will run alongside their successful social Rock up n Play sessions where anyone can come along, join in, and play some games of hockey.Email [email protected] for more information.