15th October 2009
Hockey recruits helping sport survive in Carmarthenshire
Hockey is making best use of young activators in Carmarthenshire following a recruitment workshop recently run at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli.
The WHU activator programme provides young people with unique opportunities to develop their coaching, umpiring, sports administration and development skills. As Activators they are encouraged to put what they have learned into use in their local clubs and communities as well as working to support the local Hockey Development Officer in schools and colleges.
They can support the Primary Schools Dragon Sport hockey initiatives; assist with the Under 13 and Under 15 skills centres for secondary pupils. Activators also support Welsh Hockey Union at all levels of tournaments from top internationals to the primary schools fun tournaments.
The Welsh Hockey Activator programme was launched in 2002 and is open to young people from 16 to 21 years. The students attending the programme at Parc y Scarlets were from Tregib, Maes-yr-yrfa, Bro Myrddin, Dyffryn Taff, Coleg Sir Gar and Gorseinon College and Carmarthenshire Council Hockey Development Officer Rae Ellis said the programme had notable successes. One, former pupil of Bryngwyn and Coleg Sir Gar, Rebecca Davies, was a runner-up at the World Youth Hockey Promoters Festival held in Canada last year.
Rhian Thomas, a former pupil of Amman Valley was awarded the FIH Youth Leadership Certificate in 2007 and currently Alison Jones, a former pupil of Maes yr Yrfa is currently working with the 5 x 60 officers at QE High, Bro Myrddin and Tregib. She helps deliver hockey sessions and has assisted Welsh Hockey with their Annual trip to Amsterdam also securing a coaching experience trip to Barcelona last July.
County Executive Board member for Leisure Services, Cllr Clive Scourfield, said: "The recruitment of these young activators is crucial to Welsh Hockey and Rae. The students help by volunteering with different initiatives run through out the county and without them hockey would certainly struggle. In return for all their hard work we offer them the opportunity to go on coaching and umpiring courses with the opportunity to travel."
