The England Hockey Board has launched a grassroots campaign designed to increase participation figures in one of the UK’s most popular Olympic sports.
‘Back to Hockey’, which is set to roll out nationwide from September, aims to inspire over 15,000 women to get back into the sport over the next three years.
The campaign targets women who have previously participated in the sport, either at a recreational or competitive level, and caters for all ages and abilities.
Back to Hockey offers six-eight week blocks of informal 60-90 minute sessions focusing on refreshing skills, fun and fitness in a social setting.
“The Back to Hockey programme allows women to not only refresh their skills, but also discover new ones, all through bite-sized games,” says Holly Woodford, development director at the England Hockey Board.
“Back to Hockey will provide all the physical benefits of the game’s full format without the pressure of having to perform for team selection. By 2013-14 it is our aim that thousands of women will have become regular hockey players, enjoying the team sport with their friends.”
The Back to Hockey programme will be offered by hundreds of clubs and leisure centres across the country and will promote not just the physical, but also the social aspect of the game.
Says Woodford: “Many women may have played hockey at school or for a club, but moved away from the game because it became too time consuming, competitive and physically demanding.
“The ‘have a go’ format of this programme puts the fun back into the game and opens the sport to a whole new audience.”
For more information visit www.englandhockey.co.uk/backtohockey.
