Swoffers is delighted to be sponsoring an extension of junior hockey in the island for the next three years.
‘Supporting sport at grass roots level is something that is important to Swoffers and when the opportunity came up to sponsor hockey development in our primary schools we jumped at the chance,’ said director, Spencer Noyon.
‘The outreach programme offers a great opportunity for children to try a sport they wouldn’t normally get to try at school and gain confidence, encouraging a love of sport. It’s great that the coaches are in every primary school and I understand that over the year they will reach around 1,000 pupils. The outreach programme also supplements Guernsey Hockey’s Sunday morning Junior Hockey sessions and hopefully it should help the island increase the pool of players continuing to enjoy the game at senior level.’
Guernsey Hockey coaches Mike Kinder and Katy Taylor both love seeing the children get involved and learning all sorts of life skills through sport.
‘It is hugely rewarding coaching hockey in the primary schools,’ said Mike.
‘We are immensely grateful to Swoffers for their sponsorship of our programme which will enable us to continue this fantastic work. It is wonderful to see the children trying out new skills and gaining confidence. It is amazing the number of children who start out feeling awkward and slightly embarrassed who by the end of six weeks are really getting involved in the games.’
Katy says she enjoys helping the children become more confident and seeing individuals trying really hard.
‘The Swoffers outreach programme allows children to try out a sport they wouldn’t necessarily have considered before, which I think is a great thing. All the hard work in the schools culminates in two tournaments in the spring. We love these days as it gives us the chance to show the children our fantastic hockey facility at Footes Lane and for them to show us their new-found skills. The tournaments are always played in a really good spirit,’ she said.
Photo caption: Katy Taylor and Mike Kinder delivering one of their outreach sessions at Castel Primary School.
