Carmarthen Hockey Club has been shining bright in its local community, having engaged hundreds of school children over recent months.
Their initiative follows a similar effort last year, upon which the club has capitalised to increase its reach and engage more and more kids. The club’s volunteers have been pivotal to this year’s success, with six coaches taking time off their day-to-day work for school visits.
Carmarthen's Youth Development Officer, Charlotte Harries, coordinated the 23 sessions that ran in both primary and secondary schools, as the six coaches touched base with a total of over 600 children.
“We are very fortunate that we have quality coaches who are prepared to take time off from their day jobs to be able to go into schools and deliver these taster sessions for the second year running,” the club told Hoci Cymru.
“Going into schools and giving children who have never picked up a stick before the opportunity to try the sport is what it is all about. After last year's success, we really wanted to push ourselves this year, especially with our junior training moving to a new night due to the numbers in the club growing.
“Over 600 children picked up a stick, most for the first time, as we visited 23 schools across Carmarthenshire. This is approximately 200 or 300 more children than last year!”
The result of these efforts has been evident. Alongside the taster sessions in schools, Carmarthen HC created information leaflets and posters to hand out, as well as hosting a club open morning on the Sunday following the visits.
The club has since seen an array of new faces at its training sessions, as well as at the open day.
“It has been amazing to see new faces at our open day, training and games so early on in the season,” Carmarthen HC said. “It has been really nice, for the coaches especially, to see this and to know that the time they have given to the club has paid off and will put the club in a better position for many seasons to come.”
Carmarthen HC puts an emphasis on youth engagement, both in terms of the pathway to senior hockey but also cultivating a positive culture throughout the club.
“Carmarthen Hockey Club is a big believer that our juniors are the future of our club.
“Each season we see juniors progress through our age groups and eventually, when they are ready, start breaking into our senior teams. The development that these juniors make during this time has a massive positive impact on our senior teams. Due to this, the club recognises the importance of how important juniors are to our club, especially the future of our club.
“These juniors will not only play for our senior teams one day, but will also become Young Ambassadors who promote and advocate the club, and eventually become key committee members who will carry the values of the club through for many years to come.”
The club also puts huge importance on its role and opportunity for impact in its local community, explaining that its “massively important for us to engage with the local community and to get as many people in Carmarthenshire playing hockey as possible and keeping active.”
The school visits, and the club’s volunteers’ commitment to making them a success, is evidence of this.
“This engagement with schools has brought siblings, parents, and friends into the club already, so we are very thankful to all the coaches for the excellent work they have been doing in ensuring Carmarthen Hockey Club remains a massive part of the local community.
“During these visits, our 'Access to Hockey Fund' was also promoted to make sure that there are no barriers to anyone joining the club.”
Hoci Cymru is delighted to see this excellent work of clubs like Carmarthen in promoting hockey and supporting their local communities keep active.
Be sure to look out for your local club and get involved!