Welcome
S & Y Presidents Report for the Season 2010/11
JACs & JDCs
Firstly I want to pay tribute to all our hardworking volunteers.
My Executive Committee are extremely committed and contribute greatly in a variety of ways. I would single out Jane Jelley, for all her hard work as our Administrator and Deirdre Sanders and Nicky Collett as well for their organisation particularly of our Leagues & Competitions. But of course there are others who also contribute.
We are much indebted to Wendy Allum for continuing to control our accounts, not forgetting John Shepherd our Scrutineer.
There are another group whose contribution is immense and that is our wonderful parents. They not only pay for the privilege but their support for their youngsters in ferrying them about and turning up at all times is fantastic. So a huge thanks to them all. In some households the logistics are a joy to behold.
Our Team Managers & Coaches do an exceptional job and we are very grateful for the contribution that they all make. They are. Neal Edwards, Chris Palmer, Ketan Mavani, Bev Mason and Pauline Marriott, Janet Hickman, Jan Parry, Nicola Davenport, Nikky Bower and Jane Taylor.
I also must say a big thank you to the many teachers and their helpers who support our events
Finally, thank you to our sponsors Notts Sport- who deal in projects and the installation of Hockey pitches and Eazzee who give great assistance with providing T shirts for our JDCs and a whole range of other kit.
We have our own webshop—it may be worth a look. www.leicschoolandyouth.org.uk. It is open for you to purchase any of our merchandise. It is also possible for your club to have its own itemised kit.
This season we had just 6 Junior Development Centres, as opposed to 8 last year and we plan to have 5 next season starting in September.
We, along with Warwickshire are the only Midland Counties to compete at all the 10 age groups. Our numbers may have been down this year but we need to improve our nominations from the JDCs, so that there is a commitment from those nominated by the JDC coaches to attend.
To date Amelia Milton, Abi Stepenson and George Thompson have been involved at a higher level than JRPC and I am delighted for Amelia Milton who has made it to NAGS. (National Age Group Squad)
I reported to you last year that we had 64 youngsters through to JRPC (Junior Regional Performance Centre). This year the number selected for JRPC is 80.
AND wait for it---- this year three of our Leicestershire & Rutland age group teams WON their Midlands groups. The Girls U-15’s The Girls U-16’s and the Boys U-14’s ALL WON THEIR Competitions.
The will be 5 JDC Centres next season at 1. Loughborough 2. St Margarets 3. Hinckley 4. Great Glen 5.Uppingham.
Final arrangements have yet to be made, please watch our website for the details. Each Centre will accommodate all age groups.
Two things that we made progress on was the quality of the Coaching. We introduced Helen Jelley, Philip Rhodes, Mik Brooks and Henry Harrison, James Taylor and Jamie Hooper to our coaching panel and all have done extremely well.
The second area we made progress on was the appointment of Gaynor Nash as Head Coach of our JAC. Gaynor, in her own inimitable style has made a big contribution to the progress we have made.
I was interested in the circulation of the our AGM information to the Mixed Section. It mentioned that S & Y should be directing youngsters to the Mixed Section.
It also mentioned that less than 1% were ‘high flyers’. As you have seen we are producing large numbers of quality players.
Not sure how one defines high flyers but this year 80 have been selected for JRPC training. I believe this to be phenomenal achievement for such a small County as LRHA.
We are producing many youngsters for our clubs. It is up to the clubs to take advantage of this.
- What do the clubs have to offer?
- Is the Club Clubsfirst accredited?
- Do they have junior coaching sessions with qualified and CRB registered coaches.
- Do they have junior teams and play matches against other clubs junior teams.
- What facilities does the club offer?
- Are they affiliated to England Hockey?
These factors may determine which is the most suitable club and what best fits the plans and ambitions of our youngsters.
CORE SKILLS
We are running Core Skills sessions again this year and they will be at St Margarets Pastures, starting on the 19th of May. I would commend it as a vehicle for individual youngsters wanting to improve their skills.
Quicksticks. & Mini Hockey
We also support Quicksticks along with LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND SPORT and Mini Hockey.I would like more activity in these areas.
OLYMPIC TICKETS
Because of our valued support of England Hockey and the Single System with have been supplied with 8 Olympic tickets for the Hockey events (for purchase). Coaches and Managers will go into a ballot for these tickets.
Conclusion
In conclusion could I say that the S & Y Section has become a very good unit. This is greatly due to the continued support of my Exec., for which I am most grateful and the fact that there have been very few changes in personnel over the 4 years of our existence. All but one of last year’s Exec are to continue next year and that provides great stability and makes progress a real possibility.
DAVID CAWTHORN 25/05/11
David Cawthorn President LRHA Schools & Youth
