Hockey juniors get coaching

Press, 9 May 1978, Page 37

Hockey juniors get coaching

The Junior Advisory Council of the New Zealand Hockey Association, formed last year to promote all aspects of the game at primary school level, Is not letting the grass grow under its feet. Coaching schools have been arranged for the North and South Island teams chosen after last year’s Hatch Cup primary schoolboys' tournament In Christchurch. Last week-end the North Island team was in Palmerston North for a three-day clinic under the eye of the New Zealand coach, Mr Brian Maunsell, and the national director of coaching, Mr Pieter Jongejan. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the South Island team will gather in Christchurch for similar coaching under the guidance of Messrs Jongejan and Ross Gillespie, coach of the victorious Montreal Olympic team. It Is intended that these schools will be held annually.

At this year’s Hatch Cup tournament in August a New Zealand team to tour Queensland in May next year will be chosen. The council has been aided in its aims to improve schoolboy hockey by the approval of a levy of 50c on each schoolboy player at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association in March. It will enable it to pursue its aims of promoting hockey at beginner level at primary schools, the coaching of junior coaches and players, and the encouragement of junior umpires and the support of national schoolboy teams. The council comprises Dr B. Penfold (Christchurch) who is chairman and the N.Z.H-A. liaison officer, and seven regional delegates: Messrs B. Moore (Auckland), V. White (Wanganui), N. Holland (Manawatu), D. Alexander (Hawke’s Bay), J. Nicholas (Marlborough), R. Loader (Canterbury) and R. Crimp (Otago). Mrs B. Simmonds (Christchurch) is The secretary.