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All change for hockey!   ....Step 4 'Return to Play' is here (almost) !

All change for hockey! ....Step 4 'Return to Play' is here (almost) !

Shelagh Entwisle8 Aug 2020 - 00:15
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EH has announced the news we've all been awaiting for so find out what it means for hockey at THC and plans for next week !

The wait is over - England Hockey announce move to from Step 2 to Step 4 Return to Play.

With government approval, competitive hockey can now resume - both training and matches - and pre-season and friendlies can get fully underway, and EH Championship matches for O35 and O45 Women. Returning to League Hockey is Step 5 and a decision on this will be made over coming weeks as there are a wider range of factors.

We've a new schedule planned for the rest of August and from 1st September with lots of hockey planned and opportunities for those comfortable. or able to return to play, to get back back on the pitch - hopefully with something for everyone !

This is great news and we know how much everyone has been looking forward to getting back to playing properly !

.....BUT.....and there is a BIG BUT ....

There are a complete new set of guidelines and requirements to be put in place to make this work for everyone - not just at THC but across the whole hockey family and all clubs. We can't just jump to Step 4 without meeting all the EH requirements and we need your help to do this - and until we have have TSC approval too.

We are currently reviewing what we will need to put in place at THC ad TSC to make returning to hockey safe for everyone and hope to get everything signed off and updated by the end of the weekend - and we need everyone to help us make this work - so please........NO MOANING or BEING EXPERTS about what should or shouldn't happen! To play hockey safely ,which is what we all want, things are going to have to be a little different!

Here's a heads up on some of the Step 4 things directly affecting players in addition to social distancing, and where we need you help to make this work......

Every participant (ie player, coach etc) is going to have to complete an individual online Participation Agreement before they can play of train (Under Step 4) that will link to the NHS Track and Trace systems and processes. Will we send out more information about the processes but here's the link everyone will need to complete. This needs to be done asap - but do read what you are signing up to not just tick the boxes ! Link to EH Individual Consent Form.

Attendance registers will need to be taken for each training or fitness session and or each match and these have to be submitted to EH within 24 hours - so please help us with the admin around this once we share more details of how we will put this into practice at THC. This will also include how we manage session numbers and we'll be getting details by the end of the weekend.

Personal equipment - hygiene and housekeeping ! Over the next few days you can help but getting your personal equipment named / labelled including sticks, water bottles, hockey face masks, to help avoid people picking up or using the wrong kit ! We recommend everyone bring their own sanitiser too. There are personalised 'safe bundle' bags in the TSC Pop Up Shop. We also advice to by their own hockey face mask and name it, more on this over the next week.

We also have to appoint and register a Covid Officer with EH to allow hockey to move to Step 4 and we will be doing this over the weekend. So even before we get near hitting a hockey ball there is a lot of information and guidance to take on board and digest for players, coaches, parents, umpires and the THC and TSC. So more important news items will be shared so please keep in touch via all the normal channels so you have all the key information - and NO rocking up at sessions if you've not completed the player Participation Agreement and Attendance. Whether you agree with it or not its got to be done so lets enter into the spirit of getting everything in place asap and as smoothly as possible !

Here's what's planned for week commencing 10th August ......

NEW TSC / THC Operating Rules on Return to Play Step 4 to be introduced

Two NEW Fitness sessions
- Club Fitness Tuesday 18:45 - 19:45 session
- Return to Fitness daytime session on Wednesday's from 10:00 - 11:00 with Rick Poole
More details to follow on how to book in / register and

Tuesday Night Training Sessions (August only)
- Mens and Women's 2's Training 18:30 - 20:00
- Mens and Womens 1's Training 20.15 - 22:00
Player communications and invitations will be send out via coaches / captains

Thursday Training / Pre Season Sessions (August only)
18:00 - 20:00 (men on one pitch, women on the other pitch)
- Men's Club 7's / Games (M3 - M7 players not involved in M1 - M2 training)
- Womens Club 7's / Games (L3 - L5 players not involved in L1 - L2 training)
Details will be shared on how to book into play, sorting out teams and match times. These sessions are aimed at getting people playing again and back into hockey before club coaching formally starts on Tuesday 1st September
- Men's 1s and Womens 1 Training 20:15 - 22:00

Saturdays (August Only)
Will be a combination of friendlies from 22nd August, coaching with Mark and Albert and either more social internal games (based on demand) and or return to hockey.

Return to Play sessions - we are reviewing the time slots available and will update over the weekend. There will be no Return to Play slots available after 18:00 on Tuesday or Thursday.

Academy Pilot Sessions - will continue as previously scheduled at present.

More details will be shared on Pitch Slots in August and the planned full 'in season' training schedule from Tuesday 1st September when all teams. Groups will train on a Tuesday.

We are also reviewing Academy coaching and how we manage groups and numbers in line with Step 4 and more news will follow on this over the next couple of weeks and any additional Academy Sessions.

So, dust off your hockey kit, give it a clean and get it named and be ready to get yourselves signed up to get back to hockey a little more like we all know and love!

Look out for further updates over the weekend and the new 'Operating Rules' for Step 4 !

#StaySafe

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