Welcome to another season at Winscombe Ladies Hockey Club! 

Junior Training sessions will take place at Sidcot Astroturf starting on Monday 11th September and will run up to and including Monday 11th December (excluding 23rd and 30th October for half-term). Sessions will commence again on Monday 8th January and run up to and including Monday 25th March (excluding 12th and 19th Feb for half-term). This is a total of 22 possible sessions.

This season our session will be for school years 5 – 8 from 6:15 – 7:15 pm on Monday Evenings

This Season we are pleased to welcome Rachel Clawson as our Lead Junior Coach. She has just finished her Masters in Sports Psychology after a BSc in Sports Psychology and Coaching and she has a level 2 in Hockey Coaching. Rachel is working as a full-time hockey coach with RO Coaching, they already coach at Sidcot School. She is very excited to help build a positive and supportive environment for children to learn in and can’t wait to get started! We will also have representatives of Winscombe Ladies Hockey Club there as volunteers to help and take registration etc.

MEMBERSHIP AND TRAINING FEES 

Annual Membership fees are incorporated into the two block training fees. Combined membership and training fees are £45 for each of the two blocks of sessions, one payment of £45 to be paid for the sessions run before Christmas and a second payment of £45 for the sessions run after Christmas.

For new members to the club, the first 2 sessions are free of charge as taster sessions to give you time to decide whether you want to continue.

Payment for the first block should be paid by 9th October 2023. A reminder for the second​ block payment will be sent out in the New Year with the deadline being the 5th February 2024.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

All members (including existing members) are required to read our policies and complete our membership and medical form, which are attached to this email.

Membership Form: https://forms.office.com/r/12cZqHQd6G

The membership and medical forms need to be completed prior to your child’s first session. The first payment of £45 should be made by BACS transfer as follows:​

Sort code 09-01-50 A/C no 03404994

Ref – use your child’s surname, and initials followed by JM&T (​example:  Jones A JM&T )

CLOTHING, KIT, AND EQUIPMENT

Please ensure your child wears appropriate clothing for the weather/sport. Shin pads are essential, as are tracksuit bottoms/leggings, jacket/waterproof, and gloves especially as the nights get colder.

We try to keep sessions moving but at times we must stop to explain exercises and we do not want anyone getting cold. If we consider anyone to be inappropriately dressed, we reserve the right to say they can’t train. Trainers or Astro boots are to be always worn. Please bring a drink (clearly named) and ensure long hair is tied back. Gum shields recommended but not essential to begin with.

Sticks – we have a few sticks that new members can borrow temporarily. If you are buying a new stick, as a size guide they should be level with the child’s hip bone.

Toilets – the nearest toilets are in the pavilion at the top of the sports field which is a good 200 metres away in the dark. We ensure that all junior members are accompanied by an adult if they need access to the toilets, but we would appreciate you encouraging your child to go before attending the session.

IMPORTANT

Our policies and procedures are continually updated, and it is important that you read these, but key points to remember are:

• Please ensure your child arrives on time but is never left at the venue before a coach arrives​.        
• Junior members are not allowed to leave the pitch area until an adult arrives, so it is important they are collected on time too. Please note that collection is from the pitch gate – we do not allow junior members to walk across the field or down to the car park to meet a parent/guardian.  
• We understand that some of you share lifts, but it is important that we, as well as your child, know who is collecting them.  
• When dropping off, please ensure all junior members are signed in on the register. For safety reasons, it is important we know how many and who are in attendance. If you arrive late, please see a coach/helper before leaving your child.
• If we are required to cancel a session (for weather concerns or any other unforeseen circumstances) we will endeavour to send an email by 2 pm. 

Junior members will have the opportunity to purchase our branded hockey kit, and a link to the kit form will be provided on membership.

Club Welfare Officer 

England Hockey believe that all young people have the right to be safe and enjoy their involvement in hockey and is committed to promoting the welfare of all young people in our sport to protect them from harm alongside the hockey family.   

The Club Welfare Officer is primarily responsible for promoting good practice within the club, to be a named point of contact for young people, parents, coaches, and volunteers, and to follow the correct England Hockey safeguarding procedures if a concern is raised. A link to the England Hockey Safeguarding Good Practice is attached below within this email. 

Our Club Welfare Officer is Chloe Davis and she is currently a primary school teacher so is very familiar with safeguarding and child protection issues. Should you wish to contact Chloe, her mobile number is 07964191244. 

England Hockey Safeguarding Good Practice: England Hockey Safeguarding Good Practice.pdf

For any general information, queries, or concerns, please contact the coaching team,

winscombehc@outlook.com .We will endeavour to get back to you within a week and any urgent queries being replied to as necessary.

The club would like to thank our kit sponsors Thatchers, and our facility providers Sidcot School for their continued support. 

Good luck for the season and enjoy your hockey!