GAME ON: The St Georges Basin defence looked strong in last year’s competition with goal keeper Walter Stannard at the helm.
TEAM nominations look good for a strong Shoalhaven hockey season in 2013. Southern Highlands team, Burrawang, will return to defend the men’s title.
The big news from Shoalhaven Heads is that it will have two women’s teams and a men’s team.
Players who want to return to hockey in the Shoalhaven, or for anyone picking up a stick for the first time, it is not too late to register.
The advantage of playing hockey in the Shoalhaven is that all training and matches are played at the one, centrally located field at the Bernie Regan Sporting Complex, North Nowra.
There is no need to travel up and down the coast for games, and no uncertainty with wet weather, as it is played on an all-weather synthetic grass surface. There is a mixed junior competition played on Saturday mornings, making life simpler for families, with boys and girls of different ages able to play in the same team.
There are also plenty of opportunities for children to be involved in representative sport.
The Shoalhaven Hockey Association sends representative teams to major tournaments and state championships, from U11s to veterans.
For those with children who want to try a new sport, the good news is that your child can give hockey a go without having to give up his or her current Saturday sport.
There will be a new Hookin2Hockey program running throughout the season on Thursday afternoons from 5.15pm to 6.30pm under lights.
The program starts on May 9 and will include a mixture of skills training sessions and modified games.
It is specifically aimed at younger players and juniors who have not played hockey previously.
The cost is $30 to register. For an extra $25, you can purchase a kit that includes a new hockey stick, ball and shin pads.
Although the Hookin2Hockey program will not involve club affiliated teams, you will need to register for the Hookin2Hockey program through a club.
If other members of your family are interested in playing in the junior (mixed) or senior (men’s and women’s) competitions, the 2013 Shoalhaven hockey season starts from Saturday, March 23.
Games will mainly be played on Saturdays with juniors on Saturday mornings.
New players and teams are welcome.
Shoalhaven Hockey has a new look executive committee in 2013.
Australian masters representative, Aaron Lloyd, has stepped in to the role as club president. He is supported by club vice president Vaughan Macdonald (St Georges Basin club), club secretary Gary Lees (Allsorts club), and club treasurer Greg Pullen (Bluejays club).
For further information and competition details, please see the Shoalhaven Hockey website http://shoalhavenhockey.org.au, call Aaron Lloyd on 0423881331, or Gary Lees on 0416210074.
Individual club contacts and training times are as follows.
Allsorts Hockey Club:
Training - Juniors Monday 5.30pm to 6.30pm, seniors Monday 6.30pm to 8pm.
Contact Aaron Lloyd on 0423 881331, Raylene Perry on 0401 397777 or email allsortshc@shoalhaven.org.au
Bluejays Hockey Club:
Training - Juniors Friday 4.30pm to 5.30pm, seniors Tuesday 6.30pm to 8pm.
Contact Greg Pullen on 4421 4861, Juanita Mackay on 44221 780 or email bluejayshc@shoalhavenhockey.org.au
Burrawang Men’s Hockey Club:
Contact Nathan Roberts on 0421 478687.
Kangaroo Valley Hockey Club:
Training - Seniors Tuesday 5.30pm to 6.30pm. Contact Sharon Gomez on 0418 299692
Or Sergio Gomez on 0417 434471.
Shoalhaven Heads Hockey Club:
Training - Seniors Thursday 6.30pm to 8pm.
Contact Elle Price on 0401 800938 or email headshockey@hotmail.com
St Georges Basin Hockey Club:
Training - Juniors Wednesday 5.30pm to 6.30pm, seniors Wednesday 6.30pm to 8pm.
Contact Kirsty Ashby on 04017 63638, Vaughan Macdonald on 4422 9878 or email basinhockey @gmail.com
