We hope that your child is enjoying the season, taking the
opportunities to improve as a player and staying safe and well. As we near the halfway point of the season we
take the opportunity to share some information with you and request some
feedback on a couple of initiatives we are considering.
1.
Mid-Season Coaches Review – our
very generous coaches braved the cold and participated in a mid-season review. We are so
fortunate to have such great and caring volunteer coaches in these critical
roles. Some of the key points that were
discussed include:
a.
Values – we are a family club and the priorities
remain ensuring that our players have fun, are given developmental
opportunities and are cared for as players and people;
b.
Style of Play – coaches are focused on our teams
keeping possession of the ball and controlling the game. This translates into different messages for
different age groups. At the more junior
ages we are focused on players developing the core skills, playing in positions
and “looking up” before passing. As the
players get older we concentrate on ensuring that core skills of passing and
trapping become second nature to ensure we have the patience to hold onto the
ball and pass to players in better positions while staying clear of defenders;
c.
Academy Sessions – a huge thanks to Paul Tucker who
runs these sessions and to Wayne Tucker and the Norths Old Boys who fund them. They are very important for individual skill
level and we encourage all players to make the most of these opportunities;
d.
Training – it is the responsibility of parents
to ensure their child regularly attends training or informs coaches and
managers where this is not possible.
2.
Communications – all parents and
players are encouraged to join the Norths Boys and Mens Facebook page and to
share photos and game updates from each of the teams. This helps develop our Eagles Community. Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/605670099482431/?ref=share_group_link
3.
Term 4 Competition on the Nest –
we are looking at running a 6 week term 4 mixed boys, girls and parents
competition on the Nest which will be Fast Fives for the older players and
Super Sixes for younger players. We will
mix up teams and rules to ensure teams are evenly matched with the focus being
on fun and recruitment of new players to our club. Games will be on a Wednesday afternoon and
night. Cost will be $30 per player which
includes a sausage sizzle with each game.
It will be free to new players and those who introduce new boys to our
club. We must keep recruiting boys
especially those who are 11 and under.
Shortly we will ask you to register your interest with this new
competition so we can start preparations.
All our players are encouraged to also play indoor hockey for Norths in
the “off-season”.
4.
2023 European trip – we are very
fortunate to have the opportunity of sending a turf team(s) to play hockey in
Europe in December 2023. The team(s)
will be based in Germany for the 2 weeks near the border of Belgium and the
Netherlands and it is envisioned that they will play games each day against
clubs in the 3 countries with plenty of sightseeing opportunities. We hope to send a boys and a girls team or a
mixed team (for children who are currently playing J or under 13). Shortly we will ask you to register your
interest in your child going on this tour and whether there are any parents who
can assist with organising the trip, fundraising and / or managing the players
on the trip. It could be an amazing once
in a lifetime opportunity for players and families.
5.
10 September Trophy Day – our boys
and girls will be holding their trophy day together commencing at 4.00pm on 10
September with our men’s teams holding their trophy day at the same venue that
night. We plan on having a band, food
vans, the bar being open and play areas for the kids to run around with their
mates (and have an opportunity to meet some of the girls!) Trophy day is a great family occasion and we
encourage you to block out your diaries in advance.
6.
Volunteers Needed – we are all
volunteers. If you have not done so
already please volunteer your time including with the canteen, BBQ, setting up
goal posts at home games, fundraising etc.
This is your club and it takes many volunteers helping out to ensure our
players get the opportunities that we provide.
A particularly big thank you to Ange Harrison who has organised the
canteen roster for the boys’ Thursday nights and home games. Tomorrow is the last home game of the season
and we need canteen and goals post mover helpers. We are also very grateful to our groundsman
(Daisy) and his tractor (Jonesy) who as volunteers are entirely unpaid and work
tirelessly on our fields each week.