Lots of excitement this week - with schools back (and a big congratulations for all our parents, careers and grandparents who have survived home schooling!) and the big one - the opportunity to sit on a bench with one other person and have a coffee ! But keep the faith and social distancing as all being well in three weeks we'll be turning housing and flats upside down trying to locate hockey kit to get back on the turf !

Our throwback memory this week is back to March 2016 when the Ladies 1 won North Premier Division and made history for the Club as we won promotion to the National League North Conference. Great memories for all involved and in how we've grown as a Club with the Men's 1s joining the women too.

So what about the hockey - get these dates in the diary and start the countdown !

Every sport has been waiting for the Government to share the full details of Return to Play will looking and feel like from 29th March 2021 - and we're still waiting ! England Hockey have put out an update his weekend to help clubs / players start to plan - BUT things can't be 100% finalised until the Govt detailed guidance is issued and EH issue updated guidance. See the latest EH Return to Play Update - 6 Mach 2021.

Importantly we're delighted that with the removal of the Tier based restrictions that we should be able to welcome back everyone who lives outside GM and haven't been able to play / visit the Club as travel should be permitted for exercise.

So, based on what we know - and subject to the final Guidance from EH - here are the immediate plans - and the good news is that there will be lots of hockey for all coming up! Once we get the final EH guidance we will confirm the Covid Safe requirements on sign up / sign in, pitch ration numbers and social distancing pre and post games.

Week Commencing 22nd March
- Covid support team Zoom briefing on the guidance and procedures we need to implement to play
- Academy Coaches Zoom briefing (tbc)

Week Commencing 29th March - the plans so far !
Tuesday 30th March:
- Academy (London Groups) training from 5.30pm - 6.45pm
- Club Training from 6.55pm - 8.10pm
- 1's / 2's Training from 8.15pm - 10.00pm
(it is likely we will still be limited to 30per group - so look our for details on availability and confirmation to book a place)

Thursday 1st April:
- 1's Training 8.00pm - 10.00pm

Saturday 3rd April:
- Timperley v Bowdon Challenge Games: Senior Teams; Badgers and Beavers
Sunday 4th April:
- Timperley v Bowdon Challenge Games: 1's , Masters and Under 10s / 12s
(schedule and number of teams to be confirmed with BHC depending on availability - see below about updating availability)

Tuesday 6th April to Friday 16th April
- Easter 121 / Small Group Coaching and Masterclasses at THC with Mark T and Albert is back. Follow the link for more details and to complete the enquiry Survey by 16th march if you are interested. Places are filling up so don't miss out

Saturday 10th April
- Local Friendlies for Senior and Badgers and Beavers

Sunday 11th April
- Academy Training 11.00 - 12.30pm

....and more dates !!
We'll be updating Pitchero Fixtures with more dates , games and tournaments but ones to look out for include:

- Senior Saturday Friendly Leagues from 17th April (tbc) for men and women
- Academy Sunday Tournaments (April - July)
- Men's Summer League provisionally from Monday 10th May (slip date 17th)
- Ladies Summer League provisionally from Tuesday 11th May (slip date 18th)
- Summer Senior and Masters Tournaments (June and July)
- EH Cup dates for Masters, Mixed, U14 and U16 and Ladies 1 and 2's

...and the big one we are waiting on is the National League fixtures for M1 and L1 and EH will be confirming as soon as they get the clarity from the Government about car sharing / travel.

So time to get some fitness, strength and conditioning and running in so you can bounce back fit and ready to play and avoid injuries !

Availability - update as soon as fixtures / training sessions are loaded
What we can offer will depend on availability so we need players to update their availability on Pitchero asap - and once fixtures / dates are loaded so we can plan and confirm with other clubs fulfilling fixtures. The best way to do this is to make sure you've logged into Pitchero and on your profile check your schedule and you'll see the new dates coming in from 30th March. (Note some fixtures on Pitchero are managed by leagues and we cant change them - thats way there are some fixtures there before 30th March - ignore them !)

Bowdon Challenge - Easter Weekend !
To help us plan with Bowdon how many teams we can field please make sure you update your availability by Friday 12th March so we can sort the 20+ potential games ! This is the postponed challenge we planned for New Year and in memory of our beloved Pat Marston so lets get a really good turnout for Pat and make it a really good way to get back to playing.

Share your views and how you're feeling about hockey
Complete the EH Return to Play Survey to help get a nation feel for how the #hockeyfamily is feeling about returning to play and inform EH support / plans (open to all players, umpires, volunteers, parents/younger players)

Have your say in the EH Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey - again EH want to hear the views of all involved in hockey and its broad reaching including access and socio-economic aspects and things like State Schools provision etc so don't miss out share your thoughts its doesn't take long to do

...so, sooooooo much hockey to come it will be like we've never been in lockdown - but this does require lots of planning and work by our volunteers so do support them as much as you can by replying promptly to comms, availability, invites etc

...and finally if you've not already signed up to easyfundraising - choose THC as your cause please take a look as this really is the simplest way to help raise funds for THC and it wont cost you a penny ! Do take a look especially if booking holidays, buying insurance, electrical or larger items as well as everyday items on line

Stay Safe and counting down the days till we are back at the Club !