Age Groups: The Junior age groups are U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16 - they are aligned to academic school years (i.e. based on age on 1st September) as requested by England Hockey.  JDC and JAC (previously county) training is based on age on 1st January. 

Junior training was due to finish on Sun 28th Mar, during the recent lockdown.  The season will now be extended so training will restart on Fri 9th Apr for U14s and Sun 11th Apr for U8s, U10s and U12s and will run through to end of May, finishing on Fri 28th and Sun 30th May 2021 - full details are on Teamo

Winter Training (Newport astroturf) - The Juniors Diary will be updated for the 2021/22 season.

Times for sessions from the start of the season (2020/21) are below and will continue throughout the season.

U8 mixed (Yrs 2 & 3) - 9:00 to 9:50 am - entry and exit at gate nearest equipment shed

U10 Boys (Yrs 4 & 5) - 10:00 to 10:50 am - entry and exit at gate nearest Wade pavilion
U10 Girls (Yrs 4 & 5) - 10:10 to 11:00 am - entry and exit at gate nearest equipment shed

Please note change of times -

U12 Boys (Yrs 6) - 11:10 am to 12:00 pm - entry and exit at gate nearest Wade pavilion
U12 Boys (Yrs 7) - 11:10 am to 12:00 pm - entry and exit at gate nearest equipment shed

U12 Girls (Yrs 6) - 12:10 to 1:00 pm - entry and exit at gate nearest Wade pavilion
U12 Girls (Yrs 7) - 12:10 to 1:00 pm - entry and exit at gate nearest equipment shed

Friday (U14's): We will start training Fri 11th Sep 20

U14 Boys (Yrs 8 & 9) - 6:00 to 7:10 pm

U14 Girls (Yrs 8 & 9) - 7:20 to 8:30 pm 

U16s will join Adult Training:
Boys - Wednesday evenings (by default)

Girls - Thursday evenings (by default) 

Girls - Tuesday evenings (by invitation)

If sessions are cancelled (e.g. due to frozen pitch), we will update the Teamo appication or we will send an email.  If you are in doubt, please call your coach.

Communication
We send most communication via the Teamo application or via e-mail (i.e. team selections).  Please keep your details (especially email) up to date via LoveAdmin.

Club Kit
All children should wear safety gear (mouth guard, shin pads and left hand astro-glove) for all training sessions and matches.  England Hockey recommends custom mouth guards, available from dentists.  There is no need for parents to spend much on kit, apart from essential safety gear.  Hockey sticks can also be borrowed.  For advice on buying kit, please speak to any of our coaches.

• Training: Wear either club kit (see below) or plain t-shirts / sweatshirts and shorts / skorts / tracksuit bottoms (please ensure these are named in case they are left behind).  Long socks should be worn to hold shin pads in place.  Trainers are satisfactory, although astro shoes will give better grip.  Please ensure children dress warmly in the winter months, this can include hats, gloves and tracksuit tops / bottoms.
• Matches: Purple shirts, navy shorts / skorts and gold socks.  To order kit please go to Club Kit on this website, club socks can be purchased directly from the clubhouse (size 4 upwards), for smaller sizes we suggest plain yellow junior football socks from any supplier.

Matches
We aim to give all U10 and U12 children a chance to participate in matches through the Essex League and North Essex League tournaments and also with Cambridgeshire tournaments for U8's.  With our efforts to accommodate large numbers in each group, we hope parents will appreciate that fixtures will not always be available for all children.

For U14s we field teams for the majority of matches from a core squad of the stronger players, however we will still include other players in matches.  By introducing an element of competition for team places we aim to encourage players to focus on training and other aspects of the game, such as fitness.  We are conscious that players are still maturing at this age and we aim to strike a balance.  We appreciate your support with this approach, but if you have particular concerns please contact one of the coaches.

Parents should transport their children to and from matches, although parents may choose to share lifts.  We always welcome support from parents at matches.  

Dates and venues of matches will be added to the Juniors Diary, which is still being updated and so is not yet available.  We would appreciate offers of help with umpiring, timekeeping and refreshments.

Subscription Fees
Fees for the whole season are £80 per child but are discounted for families with more than one child in the Junior section (i.e. up to and including U16 as at 1st Sep).  2 children = £140, 3 or more children = £190.  Children over 16, but still in full time education, will need to join the senior club – the fee is £80 but the discount does not apply.

We will refund half the membership cost if you cancel your child’s membership prior to the Christmas break.  The subscription for children joining after Christmas is £45.

Waiting Lists
In most recent years we have been unable to accommodate all children wishing to join, however with growing popularity we may have to use waiting lists for some groups.  If your child is no longer going to play at the club, please let Jackie Webb know so that we can offer the place to another child.  

Moving to Adult Teams
Some older children will be invited to play in adult teams.  Usually, children start playing adult hockey when they reach school year 9 or 10 (N.B. England Hockey do not allow children under 13 to play in adult leagues).

U14 coaches will liaise with development team captains (Men’s 7th / 8th XI and Ladies' 5th XI) to identify suitable children to play adult hockey.  As with all senior teams, we will play stronger players more regularly to maintain strength and continuity within the team, therefore newer players are more likely to be rotated and will play less often.

Junior Contacts - 

Coordinators:

• Junior Coordinator - Vicky Crowden
• Membership - Jackie Webb
• Child Welfare - Richard Brown
• Head of Junior Coaching - Andy Mackintosh

Coaches: TBA

• U8 Mixed - Richard Brown
• U10 Girls - Andy Mackintosh
• U10 Boys - TBA
• U12 Girls - Andy Mackintosh/ Ant White
• U12 Boys - Paul Birch
• U14 Girls - Vanessa Hill/ Andy Mackintosh
• U14 Boys - Duncan Campbell/ Rob Kerrison
• U16 Girls - Vanessa Hill
• U16 Boys - Anthony Colclough