North West Secondary School Hockey is hosting trials at the NWU Hockey Astro in Potchefstroom on the following dates:
• u.18 Boys and Girls – 8 March 2020
• u.16 Boys and Girls – 15 March 2020
• u.14 Boys and Girls – 5 April 2020.
All trials will start promptly at 09:00 and end at 15:30. The cost to participate is R50. The registration will close seven days before the allocated date provided above. Follow the link to the registration form: https://tinyurl.com/nwhockeytrials.
About 40 players will be selected to form a squad. The squad will continue training throughout April, May and June. During the training sessions, it will be divided into an A-Team (16), B-Team (15) and non-travelling reserves (± 8).
Once the teams are selected, it is important to note that the non-travelling reserves will continue training with the B Team. This is in case a player from either team withdraws before the tournament – the non-travelling reserve will be prepared to join the B Team respectively. Even if there are no withdrawals/injuries, the non-travelling reserves do get a chance to train at a higher level and understand what it takes to do better in the following year.
If players cannot attend trials, they must still register for them, medical- or funeral letters must be emailed to northwesthockeytrials@gmail.com before the trial date. These players will then be accommodated during the first practice. Please understand that medical issues and funerals will be the only excuses accepted. Any other reasons must be communicated directly to Jacques before the trials.
Extra information:
• It is vital that all players are at the venue at least 45 minutes before the trials start for roll call, financial payments and finalising teams. Players should all do a basic warm-up before the fitness test starts, and then be on turf at 09:00.
• If players attend the trials without having registered online or registered late, they will pay an extra penalty of R50. (Please note that this is only for 2020. In future, no late registrations will be accepted).
• Before the players participate in the matches, they will do a fitness test – the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Test. Players should be achieving 1520–1960 metres (male) and 960–1280 metres (female).
• After the fitness testing, there will be a short break, after which the matches will start.
• There will be a 30-minute lunch break for all stakeholders, after which the games will continue.
• Towards the end of the trials, there will be a separate goalkeeping trial, which will test the goalkeepers in various exercises.
• The match format will be seven-a-side, including a goalkeeper, which is played on a half field or a full-size astro from sideline to sideline. Players should make sure they play with the same number for each game.
• Matches will be 15 minutes one way with a five-minute changeover between them.
• There will be two seven-a-side matches on one turf with rotating selectors.
For more information contact Jacques Nel on northwesthockeytrials@gmail.com.
