Riverside Reach Programme develops hockey skills
The programme is designed to prepare youngsters for the possibility of playing hockey at senior level once they leave school.
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, included Riverside youth members, 12 to 15 years old, and players from other clubs who showed interest in furthering their tactical skills and knowledge.
Players were provided with free resources and mentorship within a simulated senior team environment. The 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 exco team.
This year’s programme saw eight Riverside squads competing over three weekends. The squads consisted of four boys’ and four girls’ teams. 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 different standard and experience of hockey, which they may not necessarily experience at school.
Field said, “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 professional or international players, or even social players. 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 that the Riverside Reach Programme is growing in popularity and will become even bigger and better in the years to come.
For information about becoming involved with the mini (three to 12 years old) or youth (12 to 15) hockey programmes at Riverside Hockey, you can contact the club via e-mail at junior@riversidehockey.co.za.
