HOCKEY st XI Inter City Hockey Champions.

Transcription

1 HOCKEY st XI Inter City Hockey Champions

2 INTRODUCTION Historically the most successful team sport in the College, St Cuthbert s has invested heavily in its hockey programme over the years. From the wet-dress artificial turf to video-computer technology as used by our International Black Stick teams. No stone has gone unturned in ensuring our players are given every opportunity to fulfill their hockey aspirations, however the most significant investment has been in its coaching staff. Success breeds success. St Cuthbert s has produced five Black Sticks in the last five years and is fortunate to receive ongoing support from all of its International Old Girls. Our 1st Xl is ranked in the top four schools in the country for the last seven years, having been national champions twice in that period. Our elite senior programme is regarded as the best in New Zealand. The College regularly produces between 20 and 30 Auckland representative players each year - last year there were 33. Hockey has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. These changes have seen an increased level of fitness and speed being major components of our sport. It is no surprise our College s top hockey players also turn out for our Cross Country and Athletic teams. STRUCTURE Junior hockey begins in Y4 and goes through to Y8. Senior hockey begins in Y9 and goes through to Y13. PEOPLE A trial schedule is placed on mpower in the first term. All players must attend trials including skill tests for juniors and fitness tests for seniors. The trial process determines player placement into teams for the start of the season only. Often there is a re-shuffle after grading rounds for junior players. Hockey is administered by the Hockey Director and Sports Coordinator. We also contract a Junior Technical Coach. With approximately 20 teams annually we rely heavily on volunteer support from parents, senior students and teaching staff to fill a variance of roles including coaching, managing, umpiring and organising for teams and events. Without the services of these people we would not be able to undertake the extensive programme that is on offer to our students. Fortunately the 1st and 2nd Xl have had Black Stick player/coaches since the year Our remaining senior teams are traditionally coached by contracted Premier player/coaches. Junior teams are coached by senior students and parents under supervision from the Junior Technical Coach and Hockey Director. Old Girl and 2012 FIH International Junior Player of the Year, Stacey Michelsen

3 JUNIOR HOCKEY - YEARS 4, 5 AND 6 Y4, 5 and 6 (Mini Sticks and Kiwi Sticks) play a modified version of the game utilising either a quarter or half pitch, depending on age and ability. Teams compete with six players (Y4) or seven players (Y5-6). We endeavor to rotate with teams of eight or nine to ensure cover for injuries or sickness whilst ensuring maximum field time for the players where possible. Grades can be All Girls or Mixed Gender. We enter teams where we feel they are appropriately matched. Grading rounds make up the first few weeks of the competition. Our Y4 teams are named after our Black Stick Old Girls. Last year these were King and Michelsen. Our Y6 team the Unbelievable Sticks is usually made up of solely Y6 players. The remaining Y5-6 players complete the Astro s, Hot Shots, Slick Sticks and Pocket Rockets teams. These can be mixed teams from both age groups. Development of technical skills takes priority over winning (take note parents). Players will not be asked to specialise in any given position. Teams do not play with goalkeepers and coaches are asked to ensure no player is given the task of goal tending. Match day is Saturday in the Auckland Hockey Association club/schools competition. Matches are allocated approximately 10am through to 12 noon, depending on venue (Auckland Central Zone) and grade. Matches are 40 minutes duration. YEARS 5-6 REPRESENTATIVE AND FIXTURE LIST Auckland Hockey do not select representative teams at this age group. All of our Y5-6 teams represent the College in the end of season Auckland Remuera Zone Primary School Field Day held at Auckland Hockey s Lloyd Elsmore Park and Auckland Grammar turfs.

4 JUNIOR HOCKEY YEARS 7-8 Y7 is an intake point for our College. Often The remaining Y7-8 players complete the joining our hockey programme are students Hunter, Rhodes and Clouston teams. These from other schools, some with proficient can be mixed teams from both age groups. hockey skills honed at club level. There are We enter teams where we feel they are also students who are complete novices who appropriately matched. would like to learn how to play. Match day is Saturday in the Auckland Y7-8 (Speedy Sticks) play full field 11 Hockey Association Club/Schools a-side. Depending on registrations we have Competition. five teams operating in this age group. Grading rounds make up the first three Our Y8 Robertson and Y7 Wigglesworth weeks of the competition. teams both compete in the Auckland Hockey Association Premier Girls grade. Matches are allocated approximately 8am through to 10am, depending on venue (Auckland Central Zone) and grade. Matches are either 40 or 50 minutes duration depending on the grade. All teams play with goalkeepers (if available). Coaching time is still orientated towards process rather than outcome. Tactical and physical aspects have more importance. JUNIOR TEAMS TEAM TRAINING START FINISH YEAR 4 King Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm Michelsen Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm YEARS 5 AND 6 Unbelievable Sticks Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm Hot Shots Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm Slick Sticks Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm Astro s Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm Pocket Rockets Wednesday 3.30pm 5.00pm YEARS 7 AND 8 Robertson Building Thursday 7.00am 8.00am Wigglesworth Building Thursday 7.00am 8.00am Rhodes Building Tuesday 7.00am 8.00am Clouston Hall Tuesday 7.00am 8.00am Hunter Tuesday 7.00am 8.00am OLD GIRLS HOCKEY CLUB Originally set up to ensure school leavers stay connected, the club also utilises current College players. The club team/s compete in the Auckland senior competition grades on Saturday and Sundays. Many of our younger players also use this as a stepping stone to premier club level hockey.

5 Federation Cup (2008) Winners (three current Black Sticks) SENIOR HOCKEY St Cuthbert s fields up to 6 Senior Open grade teams and 3 Under 15 teams each year. Open grade teams play on either Thursday or Friday nights depending on the grade. Our U15 teams play on Tuesday nights. The Player Pathway can be found on mpower. SENIOR TEAMS TEAM TRAINING START FINISH 1st / 2nd XI Monday 3.45pm 5.00pm Wednesday 7.00pm 8.00pm 3rd XI Monday 7.00pm 8.00pm U15a Monday 7.00pm 8.00pm 4th / 5th XI Wednesday 7.00pm 8.00pm U15 Blue / Green Friday 7.00pm 8.00pm

6 1ST / 2ND XI SQUAD This squad is unashamedly our elite player group. For these players hockey at St Cuthbert s is not so much a sport but more a way of life. As described in the Player Pathway, players attaining this level must meet certain fitness criteria - hockey is usually their priority sport. The teams compete in the College Sport Open A and Super City competitions. Our 1st Xl has been Auckland and Super City champions for the last two years and are current holders of the Parents Shield (Annual fixture versus Diocesan). Our 2nd Xl compete in the Open A competition against 1st Xl s from other schools and were unbeaten in At the end of the season the 1st Xl competes in the Federation Cup (top 16 schools nationally) and is one of only four schools in the country to have never been eliminated from this competition. The 2nd Xl competes for the Chris Arthur Trophy (National 2nd Xl Competition). The 1st/2nd squad trains all year round, stopping briefly for one month in October where the squad is reselected and retiring Y13 players culled. Pre-season trials in March determine the make-up of the 1st and 2nd Xl teams for the first half of the season. There is a mid-season trial to select teams for the second half of the season and national tournaments. 3RD /4TH / 5TH XI TEAMS These teams compete in the College Sport competitions on Thursday and Friday nights. The 3rd Xl in recent years is our development team which competes against other schools 1st Xl s. This team is made up of a combination of senior players pushing for 1st/2nd Xl status and some of our top U15 players. The 3rd Xl is often used as our go-to team for injuries and illness of 1st and 2nd Xl players. The 4th and 5th Xl s are a mix of senior students with a variance of participation values ranging from serious to social. Most players will have reached a reasonable technical standard having participated in the hockey programme for a number of years. U15A / BLUE / GREEN TEAMS These teams compete in the College Sport competition on Tuesday nights. The Under 15 grade is age protected. Most players will have played for four years, although there can be a small number of novices at this entry point. Technical skills have usually been bedded in by this age and players are asked for increased physical input. Representing the school and playing for fun are catered for. Old Girl Lizzie Thompson 2013 Black Stick

7 PRIZE GIVING, AWARDS, CEREMONIES Junior Prize Giving takes place at the end of the season. Usually scheduled on a Wednesday after school which is the designated practice day. Guest speakers are Black Stick Old Girls of the school. There is no Senior Prize Giving. Senior teams are encouraged to have a team dinner or outing to celebrate the seasons achievements. All team achievements (grade winners) are recognised at College sports assemblies. At the College Colours evening, senior individual representative achievements are recognised along with any Top 3 national team placing. Representative hockey players and the 1st Xl team are regular patrons of the College Colours evening. Old Girl Julia King 2012 Black Stick ANZAC FESTIVAL Beginning in 2000, St Cuthbert s hosts a 10 team, three day Anzac Festival during the Term 1 holidays. Elite secondary schools from all over the country compete along with our College s 1st and 2nd Xl s. Visiting teams stay in the boarding houses and a formal festival dinner with the guest speaker in 2013 being Black Stick coach Mark Hagar This was a highlight for the players. ANNUAL EXCHANGES (PARENTS SHIELD) The 1st Xl makes an annual road trip to Tauranga pre-season where they play Tauranga Girls College and Otumoetai College. Back home in Auckland a major event on the playing calendar is the St Cuthbert s v Diocesan annual fixture for the Parents Shield. This is hosted by St Cuthbert s every alternate year. It is a well publicised event with large numbers of supporters from both schools turning out to support their respective schools.

8 HOUSE HOCKEY (LUCY TALBOT SHIELD) House hockey is a fun/competitive competition utilising all year groups in the Senior School. House teams are made up of players from each year group and compete for the Lucy Talbot Shield (former 1st Xl captain and Black Stick player) in a 6 a-side modified version of the game. Pool rounds are contested after school with the finals played at lunch time in front of a large and vocal crowd. YEARS 7-8: FIXTURE LIST / NZAIMS / GAMES / AUCKLAND CENTRAL ZONE / INTER ZONE A selected team encompassing the best of our schools Y7 and 8 players represent the College at an array of events. We are currently the NZAIMS Games, Auckland and Inter Zone champions. We also play annually against Southwell from Hamilton and bi-annually against Arden from Australia. Y7-8 NZAIMS Games 2013 Winners

9 OLD GIRLS HOCKEY CLUB Originally set up to ensure College leavers stay connected, the club also utilises current College players. The club team/s compete in the Auckland senior competition grades on Saturday and Sundays. Many of our younger players also use this as a stepping stone to premier club level hockey. REPRESENTATIVE Selected students from the College are nominated to attend Auckland representative trials. Successful players complete a full representative programme culminating in National Championships. Last year St Cuthbert s produced 33 Auckland representative players across all age groups and there was no less than seven current and ex St Cuthbert s players competing in the NZ National Hockey League for various provincial teams. For more information visit Y7 and 8 U13 Collier Trophy 3rd term holiday period (Sept/Oct ) Y9 and 10 U15 3rd term holiday period (Sept/Oct) Y11, 12 and 13 U18 2nd term holiday period (April/May) Y 12 and 13 U May HIGH PERFORMANCE The College hockey programme supports opportunities for elite players to fast track their goals. The Scorcher programme, now in its 14th year, is for selected Y7 and Y8 players who show potential to play representative hockey to elite levels. Utilising Black Stick players, the Scorcher squads are given an advanced skill and fitness programme during the off-season. St Cuthbert s is also a partner school with Auckland Hockey. Our school turf is used for representative trials and training modules and last season hosted an U18 international/ provincial series with regional and state teams from Australia and New Zealand. EQUIPMENT All players must purchase their own personal playing and safety equipment. This should include; stick, shin pads, mouth and hand guards, appropriate footwear. Most players visit the Just Hockey Shop 29 Enfield St Mt Eden The College playing uniform can be purchased from Black Watch House.

10 Auckland NHL and 1st XI Coach Jess Ellis CONTACT DETAILS Mr Simon Norton Director of Hockey Miss Dannaka Dorrington Hockey Sports Coordinator T ext 7674 updated 11/2/2014