Parents
Here we are again, planning for a new season. I hope that you are all having good summers and are enjoying the break.
We regard last season overall as a success although we recognize there are areas for improvement. We have listened to comments from the children themselves and also from parents and coaches . There seems to be a fairly unanimous view that we need to increase exposure to game play (tactics, teamwork and rules) along side the skill work. Another comment was that we needed something specific for goalies. Also we grew in numbers, which is great for us, but this meant that the groups were sometimes larger than anticipated.
So what are the aims of Epsom colts? To develop children, players, between the ages of 7 and 17 in the in the game of hockey. To improve equally the skills of all players, whatever their standard. We believe that when the players take to the pitch they should feel like, look like, play like and act like a team. We aim to provide an environment where friendships can blossom or new ones develop, from whatever background. But it is our overriding aim that the players enjoy themselves.
Therefore we have now split the training into 5 sessions over two locations. This is intended to allow us to work more closely with individual age groups and hopefully concentrate more on those tactics, teamwork and rules by having smaller groups playing more games. Skills are important but we feel that it is only through playing games that the players learn to put them into practice. We therefore intend to introduce more game situations into the training sessions alongside the drills for skills. Further, we hope that we will have at least one regular coach for all the groups, so that they know the individual children and will know their strengths and weaknesses.
We also plan to run specific goalie training sessions.
Coaches
We will have a new lead coach in place for September. We have approached an individual and we are hopeful that we will have an agreement. We have retained our enthusiastic legion of other coaches who will help deliver the sessions to each group, though we welcome any additional support. The role of an assistant is mostly to do with control and ensuring the players follow the coach and less to do with hockey knowledge and skill. All parents are therefore well qualified!
Training
Training will be at two sites this year, Blenheim High School and Epsom College, on the following dates: Sunday 13 September to Sunday 20 December (no training 25 October for half term) Sunday 10 January to Sunday 28 March (no training 14 Feb for half term)
We have organized the groups according to the teams they will represent this season, so please read the time table carefully. Our sessions on a Sunday will now run at the fol lowing times:
Blenheim High School
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U8 + U9 boys + girls |
U10 girls |
U10 + U11 boys |
U11 girls |
U12 + U13 boys |
U14 boys |
U16 boys |
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Session 1 9.00am-10.15am |
Y |
Y |
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Session 2 10.15am-11.30am |
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Y |
Y |
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Session 3 11.30am-1.00pm |
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Y |
Y |
Y |
- Longmead Road, Epsom, Epsom, Surrey KT19 9BH
- Astroturf, Changing, Parking, Disabled Access, No Refreshments
Epsom College
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U12 girls |
U13 girls |
U14 girls |
U16 girls |
U18 girls (poss) |
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Session 1 10.00am-11.30am |
Y |
Y |
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Session 2 11.30am-1.00pm |
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|
Y |
Y |
Y |
- Longdown Lane South, Epsom, Surrey KT17 4JQ
- Astroturf, Changing, Parking, Disabled Access, No Refreshments
Note – age is at 1st September 2009 – please ask if you are not sure.
Matches
We have entered teams in the following leagues: U14 development girls (2 teams), U 14 girls, U16 girls, U18 girls , U14 development boys, U16 boys.
We will also be playing in the usual U9 mixed, U11 boys and U11 girls festivals.
We will send out fixture lists shortly (as soon as we have them) but they will also be available to view on fixtures live.
Subscriptions
This year we are looking to hire more experienced coaches, specialist coaches for goalkeeping and to provide more focused coaching in smaller groups. The result is that we expect our costs to increase this year, primarily as we need to hire two pitches for training. This has meant that we have had to raise our subscriptions from last year. We do not think that we should pass on the full costs whilst we are still implementing our changes so we are increasing the subs by £20 this year and propose to do the same again next year if this year goes well. The subscription rates cover the entire season but we feel still give s excellent value for money at about £2 a week. The rates depend on the session attended and are:
£70 for the 9 am and 10.15 am sessions (11⁄4 hours)
£80 for the all other sessions (11⁄2 hours)
We offer a £10 discount for second and, for this year, £20 for subsequent siblings. Please talk to us if these rates will be difficult for you or if you are in receipt of any benefits. We would like everyone to play who wants to. We would point out that all the assistant coaches are volunteers.
Important Dates
In keeping with past years, we will be holding our popular Christmas and end of season tournaments at our clubhouse in Woodcote Road. These will take place on Sunday 20 December and Sunday 28 March. Details will follow nearer the time but please put the dates in your diaries.
Kit
As usual, we will be selling hooded tops, polo shirts, socks and hoodies. Inline with our belief that we should all look like a team, we encourage everyone, and in particular those involved in playing matches, to buy hoodies, polo shirts and socks. We are also investigating introducing shorts, skirts/skorts and tracksuits this year. We will be sending out a kit order form shortly for you to complete and return, but if you want one now, please send a note to Richard Skinner.
Volunteers
It takes a lot of time to organise the training and games. Please let us know if you can help organise the teams this season or help us with the register or anything on Sundays or if you would be prepared to run or help with the refreshments for our Christmas and end of season tournaments.
We will send out a reminder shortly together with a subscriptions form before the season starts.
Click here download Kit order form
Click here download Subs payment form
If you are interested, have a child who may be interested or are willing to help during the season, please contact Mark Sydenham or call 01372 739936
