The Lower South East Hockey Association will be running a brand new program showcasing the sport to youngsters and encouraging them to get outside and be active.
The five-week Hookin2Hockey program, starts next Friday and aims to introduce new players to the sport.
It also gives juniors and parents alike the chance to trial hockey and be introduced to clubs before the season starts.
All equipment is provided by the league, with players only requiring their own mouth guard to participate.
With the help of the Hookin2Hockey course, junior co-ordinator Ali Shephard hopes to see the junior competition thrive this year after a couple of tough years due to COVID disruptions.
Lower South East hockey, like all sports, has had to face many challenges throughout the pandemic,” she said.
“But we have managed to maintain our junior competition every year, even playing a 10 round season for the kids in 2020 when most other sports were cancelled.
“In 2022 our renewed focus is building our junior grades up again, being both under 12’s and under 15’s and we look forward to welcoming as many new players as we can through this great new initiative.”
Participants will benefit from the best junior coaches in the league and will have the opportunity learn everything from the basic skills for beginners through to match play and more advanced drills for those that have had some previous experience.
Hookin2Hockey is just $35 for five sessions, which will be run on Friday nights from 5-6pm on the turf pitch at Blue Lake Sports Park.
LSEHA president Lochie Nisbet said Hockey SA and LSEHA are hoping to break down the perception that hockey is an expensive sport.
“With the use of sports vouchers, most kids can play a whole season of Under 12’s for as little as $10-$20, with no weekly match or spectator fees with clubs providing full uniforms as well,” he said.
“LSEHA also recognises and accommodates the kids that also play netball and football, scheduling junior competitions at times that avoid clashes so that kids can try both sports in their junior years.”
At the conclusion of Hookin2Hockey the league is hoping to also run Let’s Play Hockey, which is a more games-based program from Friday, April 1.
The program is expected to run every week excluding Good Friday until the end of the month.
It will be based for new players (5-12 years old) or existing under 9’s, which would give kids nine weeks of experience before the season starts if they chose to participate in both programs.
To register for the program please go to www.hockey.org.au/hookin2hockey or contact Ali Shephard for more details on lsahajuniors@gmail.com or 0408 899 719.
