NAGS call ups

Congratulations to Zara Rose, A.J and Max Garner who have been invited to England Age Group Squad assessments in November. 

School Games Medal Winners.

Zara Rose and England Blues girls won gold, Chris Gladman and England red girls won silver and Josh Beardwell and England red boys won bronze

GK Coaching

Specialist GK coaching is available on Mondays from 20:00 to 21:30

Umpiring

A number of you — mainly candidates — have said that they’d happily umpire but they’re nervous that they don’t have a sufficient grasp of the rules. Instinctively, you’re not going to have a complete grasp of the rules, but by virtue of having attended an umpiring course you will know more than 95% of players on the pitch, you just don’t know it. Also, there’s a lot to be said for just making a decision and, whether right or wrong, making it with as much conviction as you can.  Blow what you see, a short moment after you see it.  This goes a long way.

There are a number of resources available which will help your knowledge of the rules and confidence of carrying out your umpiring: -

1. The Umpires area of England Hockey website — https://hockeyhub.englandhockey.co.uk/umpires . The site includes a half-hour rules-recap test, that will remind you of loads of stuff you’ve forgotten. There are short modules on situations on the hockey pitch that people find difficult (for instance, the lifted ball, umpiring stick tackles and communicating decisions well). 

2. FIH Rules of Hockey app — http://www.fih.ch/inside-fih/our-official-documents/rules-of-hockey/. Download the app and you can leave your rule book at home and check official FIH rules on your smartphone. There is a video on the app and you can even take a rules test, the perfect way to spend your morning commute.

At OLHC we have County and Regional pool Umpires, some of whom have completed the England Hockey Club Umpire Development Training course. If you’d like a mentor presence on the side-line for your games to give you some support, as well as some tips and advice post-game that’ll improve your umpiring, just drop us a line.

If you have any questions at any point that would help you, I’d encourage you to contact us. I almost certainly won’t be able to answer, but I’ll be able to put you in touch with people with a much broader rules knowledge than me who almost certainly will (and will secretly love talking about it..,). 

Essex County Hockey Association have composed three clear and well-written reports, which can only leave your umpiring in a better state and are well worth a read - attached below. Their subject and summary of their content are as follows: 

1. FIH Rule changes: New rules or clarification of rules by the FIH for their 2017 rule book 

2. Pitch side behaviour: How to effectively handle bad behaviour by both players and spectators  

3. Players suspensions — Guidance: Clarification over which infringements warrant which cards, and the vital nature of showing cards to maintain control of your game 

Going into the season, we would encourage you to umpire if you can. We always struggle for umpires, with numbers about 15% down on last season. Our club is reliant on members volunteering their time if it is to run successfully, and umpiring is just one way members can achieve this. As Derek Higgins might have said: first year, enjoy your hockey; second year: think about ways of giving back; third year: get stuck in! 

Just Giving

Liam Peoples is doing a 100km run on 9th September raising money for Parkinson's UK. In short, the route starts at Putney Bridge @ 6:45am and follows the Thames Path finishing in Henley. Liam estimates it will take around 12-13 hours if things go well, so it's a long old day!  To read Liam’s story click on the link shown https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thepeoples100k

Membership Renewal

Thank you to everyone who has already renewed.  Please do not forget to return the short membership form  http://www.oldloughtonians.co.uk/membership_form to the club with your payment after you have checked your details online.

Without the form the club will not know that you have renewed and that you are eligible to play.

Social Members

In answer to those who have asked, Social membership is only £40 for the whole year and there is therefore no further discount for early payment.

Discounts

If anyone has any questions about how to apply early payment, family or other discounts please check with membership@oldloughtonians.co.uk

Availability and Expectations

Message from the Men’s Club Captain – If you are planning to play for any of the men’s sides can you please complete the spreadsheet found by clicking on the following link

https://goo.gl/forms/3k6CGZv9oXYafclG3

Website

When you renew your membership could you please add a photograph to your profile page.

If you would prefer not to then that is of course fine but it does help members to be able to put a face to a name.

You can control how and which club notifications you receive by editing your notification settings in your profile:

http://olhc.clubbuzz.co.uk/my_profile   

Items for HH to office by Monday 10 am please