Programme hones young hockey talent

THE Riverside Hockey Club in Durban recently completed its third successful Reach Programme, with approximately 160 players of mixed ability participating.

The Riverside Reach Programme, sponsored by Varsity College, this year included any Riverside youth members (between 12 to 15 years old) and players from other clubs who showed interest in furthering their tactical skills and knowledge. These players were provided with free resources and mentorship within a simulated senior team environment. This experience is designed to help to prepare them for the possibility of playing hockey at senior level once they leave school. The Riverside Reach programme was conceptualised, developed and organised by the Riverside Hockey Club's EXCO team.

This year’s programme saw eight Riverside squads competing over three weekends with four boys’ and four girls’ teams in each squad. The Reach teams were picked on an even-spread basis after a two-week period where skills tests were conducted. This enabled Riverside to evaluate each player from strongest to weakest and the teams were then mixed based on these rankings.

According to the club’s Programme co-ordinator, Derek Field, one of the key objectives of the Reach Programme is to identify promising boys and girls from the KZN club circuit’s U13 and U15 age groups and expose them to a very different standard and experience of hockey, which they may not necessarily experience at school. The four teams faced one another in three games over the course of three weeks and were separated into squads based on final test scores.

“The young players who participated this year were involved in 11-a-side tactics, aiding players to realise their potential, develop patience, self-awareness, confidence and decision-making skills. Most importantly, the Reach Programme is designed to encourage school-going players from Riverside to stay in the game beyond school, either striving to become a professional and or international player or a social player. This is achieved by exposing them to a professionally run series, which entices them to play for the right reasons – pure hockey enjoyment!” Field said.

Field added that the Riverside Reach Programme is growing in popularity and will become even bigger and better in the years to come. “The programme was well received by parents and participants alike and, thanks to our sponsor, Varsity College and the community at large, the programme is becoming a major success. It is continually growing as is evidenced by this year’s bigger squad and the participation by players outside of Riverside Hockey Club,” said a pleased Field.

Judging by the response from the players and the community, Riverside Hockey Club’s Chairman, Wayne Philips agreed that the Reach Programme is definitely an initiative that is doing great things for the sport and will continue to do so, while moulding the future of some fantastic players for years to come.

Contact the club via email at junior@riversidehockey.co.za for any information about becoming involved with the mini (3 to 12 years old) or youth (12 to 15 years old) hockey programmes at Riverside.