Hockey Club Quicksticks Programme gains funding and momentum

The University of Warwick Hockey Club has been successfully running a hockey training scheme in the local community for the past few years, offering children the chance to engage with hockey at an early age. However, the nature of the sport and the equipment required to partake in the training had limited the development and expansion of the scheme.

This year, due to successfully receiving an award from the University Development and Alumni Relations Office, supported by Warwick Sport, we have been able to purchase the equipment necessary to implement a new England Hockey initiative called QuickSticks. With brand new sets of sticks, balls and cones we embarked on a training programme in two local primary schools. This will culminate in a tournament at the university, in which the two schools will have a chance to play against each other, as well as watching the hockey club members playing in a full match. The schools will also be given a full tour of the university in order to expose the students to the opportunities available to them in higher education.

The training scheme introduces the students to basic skills and match awareness, through fun drills, challenges and small games. With club members fully trained in the QuickSticks training techniques, and the students provided with shin pads and mouth guards provided by Warwick Volunteers, the new Hungry for Hockey format provides the students with a safe, fun and rewarding introduction to hockey.