BOWDON HOCKEY NEW JUNIOR MEMBERS FAQ
What do I need to do to join?
- Register on our ‘Club Buzz’ portal via the Bowdon Hockey website by clicking here. If we have space for you in the relevant section, your application will be accepted.
- Once you receive the email confirming you have been registered, please login and add required medical and contact details.
- You also need to join the Bowdon Club as a sports club member by clicking here. The Hockey section is part of the wider Bowdon Club and your membership of the overall Club is required for insurance purposes.
What if there is no space for my age group?
Your name will be kept on a waiting list and we will contact you when a space comes up.
What are the different fees and why can’t I pay all in one?
Bowdon operates as a multi-sports club, with hockey being just one of the sports. The Bowdon Club has to manage its facilities (including the pitch and floodlights), bar, insurance and general upkeep– which is what your Club membership fee contributes to.
The Hockey section fees cover hockey coach salaries, training, entry to tournaments and leagues and equipment such as goals, balls, bibs and GK equipment.
Match fees are also levied each time you play a match, which cover pitch hire, umpire and coach fees and after match teas.
Where are our home pitches?
Our main pitch is the ‘wet pitch’ located adjacent to the Bowdon Clubhouse. We also have use of the pitches at Altrincham Boys Grammar School on Marlborough Road and Altrincham Girls Grammar School off Green Walk. All pitches are within a 10 minute walk of the club. You can find out more about our home pitches here.
How can I buy the kit?
Our kit is supplied by the Y1 hockey brand and is sold from the shop beside our home ‘wet pitch’. Keep an eye on @y1Bowdon on Instagram for kit updates and shop opening times or email [email protected]
We also try to run Preloved Kit sales – keep an eye on our social media for updates.
Is there just one kit or do you have a home and away?
Our home kit is black/red top with black shorts and black/red socks and our away kit is a white top with black shorts and red socks. This can change depending on what the opposition kit is wearing so do check with your team manager before each match.
Do I have to get allocated a shirt number?
Numbers are required by individuals playing in adult teams or in age group England Hockey tournaments. These can be obtained by emailing [email protected].
How do I know what size hockey stick to buy?
Feel free to ask for advice from your coach or in the shop. As a guide, most players age 12 or over use a full sized stick.
When is the shop open?
Opening times are variable depending on what fixtures are on but it is usually open most days during the season. Keep an eye on @y1Bowdon on Instagram for opening times or email [email protected].
When is training?
You can find training times here.
Who is my lead coach?
Each training session is led by a professional coach with support coaches and sometimes some volunteer coaches. Match coaches may be professionals or volunteers.
What are the different Junior classifications / teams?
We welcome Juniors from age 5 – 18, subject to space.
Our primary age players are in the ‘Minis’ from Reception to Year 3 and the ‘Bowdon Bears’ include all Year 4-6. All fixtures for primary age are 7 a side teams on half sized pitches.
When players move into Year 7, they start to play in Saturday fixtures in 11-a-side ‘Beavers’ teams – these are mixed gender and often mixed year 7/8. They then progress to ‘Badgers from Year 8-9. From age 13 / Year 9, players start to transition into adult hockey.
We also have gender split age group teams for U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 so individuals can continue to play with their peers even if split across different Saturday teams.
How can I find out which team I’ll be in?
Decisions about team allocation are made based on several factors – not just playing ability. We also consider how we can keep groups of peers together across teams, player commitment, playing position and development needs.
How do I get updates on matches or team selections?
Once you have been allocated a team, you will be invited to matches. We try to use Club Buzz to send match selections as it makes it easier for team managers to track and report back who played for match fees to be paid. If you have any issues using Club Buzz, please contact [email protected]
What league do the junior teams play in and where do they play?
Saturday matches are part of Cheshire Consortium which can include games in Preston, Macclesfield, the Wirrall or even North Wales. Home matches are usually at the AGSB or AGGS pitches although are sometimes on the pitch by the clubhouse. Those playing in adult teams play in a Greater Manchester/ Cheshire league and age group games start local and can be further afield the further we progress! In the event of high availability, selection decisions can be made based on player commitment.
When do the juniors play matches?
Matches are usually on Saturdays or Sundays – some weekends on both although we don’t expect players to commit to both if they don’t want to.
How do playing positions get set?
We expect players to be flexible in their playing positions and although they will develop a favoured position, they will be asked to play in different positions as part of their development and to meet the needs of a team.
Are players expected to stay for match teas?
We find that players greatly benefit from staying for match teas as they build a really strong team spirit and extend their friendships. It is something that is important in hockey so please try to stay if you can, although we recognise that Saturdays are busy for families so it may not always be possible.
Do you operate a car share scheme to take the juniors to matches or is that down to the parents to organise?
It is the responsibility of parents to co-ordinate lifts to matches, and many do this. We cannot take responsibility for organising this however and to comply with the England Hockey Safeguarding policy, adult coaches or players cannot offer lifts to U18s on their own.
Can you just play socially?
Yes of course!