FAQ

The following Q&A covers the most common questions we’re asked the most.

Q. How do I join the Club?
A. Check out our Join us page to find all the information you will need.

Q. What kit do I need to play hockey?
A. You will need the following kit and equipment:

• Gumshield (mandatory). A personal responsibility.
• Shinpads (mandatory) – full size to cover the full shin. A personal responsibility.
• Protective glove(s) – strongly recommended. A personal responsibility.
• Protective face mask for defending penalty corners. A personal responsibility.
• Hockey Stick – we have some sticks that can be borrowed to help get you started
• Water bottle
• Clean trainers/hockey shoes – suitable for astroturf
• Shorts/Skort/Skirt – most youngsters wear this kit all year round
• Warm clothing – tracksuit/waterproof jacket. If it’s cold, wear layers to be most flexible. For tournaments wear a warm underlayer, club shirt, shorts/skort and socks.
• Sunscreen, as necessary
• Inhaler or other medication, as necessary
• Lunch and snacks, as necessary, for tournaments.

Q. What do I need to bring to play in a Club Junior Team?
A.  As above, plus your stick and a match/tournament fee. The Club will provide a team shirt or bib and/or full goalkeeper kit.

Q. What Club Junior team will I play in?
A.  Boys and girls will play in the following age group teams based on School year groups. Note that the rules on which year group a junior is eligible for are different for England Hockey’s Talent System.

Q. What are the arrangements for the England Hockey Talent System?
A. See here for guidance on the new Talent development system.

Q. What arrangements does the Club have in place to safeguard and protect me?
A. Read the information here which explains what we do and who you can contact for advice and guidance.

Q. Where can I find out more about developing my hockey skills?

A. Speak with your coach. There is a lot of advice and guidance on-line at England Hockey’s Junior section. Hockey camps run locally and nationally in school holidays.

Q. Can my child attend senior training?
A. Attendance by juniors at senior training (Men’s and Ladies’) is by invitation only. Speak with your coach if you have any questions. Juniors invited to attend senior training are also expected to attend Junior Academy training on Sunday AM and to play in their age group team.

Q. Will my child be selected to play in their favourite position in tournaments/matches?
A.  Our policy is to rotate players between positions to support their development across all the Club’s junior teams. As we saw at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a hockey team is dependent on the strength of the squad. The way the roll-on/roll-off substitutions work in today’s fast flowing game means that players have to be able to play anywhere on the pitch as their team mates spend a short amount of time on the sidelines taking a breather before returning to the field of play.

Q. I want to be a goalkeeper. Does the Club have Junior kit?
A. We encourage all our juniors to have a go at playing in goal. We have high quality kit available for all our junior goalkeepers. This will be provided by your Team Managers at tournaments.

Q. Do you have information on the local arrangements in Devon?
A. Yes. The Devon Junior Hockey website should answer all your questions.

Q. I would like to attend junior development opportunities in Devon, how do I do this?
A. Nominations can come from the Club, School or directly by a player’s parent/carer. We will advise parents/carers to liaise with their club coach to help determine whether we feel their child is ready to take the next step.