Hockey club coach bids farewell

BALLYMENA Hockey Club are approaching their pre season with fresh enthusiasm and ambition despite losing their development officer, Simon Law at the end of July.

Simon had been with the club two years but has moved back to England to work in a similar capacity with Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University Hockey Clubs.

The club are sad to lose him and his commitment and contribution have been evident through his work in developing the clubs future stars as well as highlighting hockey in many of the borough’s schools. This year, Simon brought hockey to 1,200 different children in Ballymena!

With the new season soon approaching, the club have already set in place a new committee, new coaches and new co-ordinators. All will be revealed over the next month.

Pre-season training however, starts for senior ladies tonight Tuesday, August 3, at the Showgrounds from 6.30 pm to 8pm. Men's hockey will commence the following week. All existing and new members will be welcome.

This year the Ulster Hockey Union has raised the lower age limit for girls being eligible to play senior hockey to 15, in line with mens hockey and the other provinces. This is also mainly due to safety concerns and the ‘overplaying’ of young players.

However, Ballymena have 15 girls graduating from the junior academy into senior teams and hope to continue with the success of last season’s U12 and U14 squads as they enter teams into the changed U13 and U15 leagues.

Registering early ensures your child does not lose their space as these are offered on a first come first serve basis. Registration forms can be downloaded from the website www.ballymenahockey.com.

Mini and junior hockey will commence on Friday 17th September for P1 to year 9 pupils, with year 10 and Year 11 students training on a Tuesday night.