16th December 2008
Carmarthenshire Activators Leading the Way
Rae Ellis, Carmarthenshire Hockey Development Officer, is delighted with the impact her six new Youth Hockey Activators have been having in the County.
Kira Davies, Kaiya Mallaburn and Ruth Williams have all helped Rae with the running of Dragon Hockey in Primary Schools and with the U15 Skills Centre at Llanelli Leisure Centre, whilst Alison Jones and Ruth Morgan have both been involved in loads of hockey development initiatives. In fact, Ruth Morgan who attends Ysgol Tre-Gib, Llandeilo, was recently nominated bv her school's 5x60 Officer for the Carmarthenshire GEM Award (Going the Extra Mile).
Rae was happy to highlight the contribution both Alison and Ruth have been making to hockey in Carmarthenshire:
"Alison Jones has religiously attended all the Junior club coaching... sharing the lead with the Under 15's... Has been Head Coach at Two Under 15 Development Centres within the Carmarthenshire UA., which meant that over a 6 week period, Alison was coaching on a Tuesday at Ammanford - Wednesday at Llanelli and Thursday's at Tre-Gib. She also umpired at the Inter UA tournament at Brecon and volunteered to Umpire at the South Schools County Tournament U 14 & 16. Alison also volunteered to be the Manager of the South West Wales girls Under 16 hockey squad, and has turned out for all the squad sessions. Alison is always willing to help out and learn to improve in any way she can.... plus she is still first choice senior member of the Dinefwr A'r Fro Hockey club and is still playing and training herself!"
"Ruth Morgan volunteered to work within her school to help run the Boys year 7/8 5 x 60 hockey lunch time activities.... The girls also from Year 7 / 8 also wanted a lunch time club so the 5 x 60 officer set up a club for them... again Ruth Volunteered to help run this. An Under 15 girls Development /Skills centre was then set up for an after school session for a period of 6 weeks with a tournament at the end of this time again, Ruth also volunteered to help out at these sessions assisting Alison Jones. Ruth also volunteered to help out at the tournament this time volunteering to Umpire.
Because of the demand for hockey now at Tre-Gib, a community club is being planned to start next Feb / March with Ruth already signed up to volunteer and help out... Because of Ruth's commitment within the school, Ruth was nominated by the 5 x 60 officer for the Carmarthenshire GEM (Going that Extra Mile) Volunteer of the Year 2008 and her prize will be an invite to the Carmarthenshire Sports Personality of the Year Award which is being held in January 2009".
Matt James, WHU National Development Manager, declared:
"It is always pleasing to hear about young people making a difference for Welsh hockey, whether it is at their school or in their club. The WHU's Youth Activator Programme provides young hockey people with an opportunity to show what they can do, and the Carmarthenshire Activators have certainly raised the bar this year. We enrolled 27 new Activators last July and there are similar examples throughout Wales now."
To find out more about the Youth Hockey Activator Programme or to become one yourself please contact either your local Hockey Development Officer or Matt James at the Welsh Hockey Union at matthew.james@welsh-hockey.co.uk
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