Thames Valley Minis

In 2011/12 a number of clubs in Berkshire and on its borders will be hosting monthly tournaments at Under 8, Under 10 and Under 12 level. These are designed to support the development of young players by allowing them to put into practice the skills they learn on the training ground, and have fun playing against other local clubs. This will be the fifth season of the Thames Valley Minis.

These tournaments are by invitation only.  For further details please contact Nick Hooper at Reading HC (see Contacts)

Dates and venues

Tournaments start promptly at 9.30am unless otherwise indicated here or advised by hosts/club coaches. Occasionally pitch availability dictates a later start but this is to be avoided where possible. Depending on the number of matches scheduled they take between 1 and 2½ hours. The exact times for each tournament will be sent out by host clubs a week or so in advance.

Contacts

Directions

Bracknell HC

Birch Hill Recreation Ground, Ringmead, Birch Hill, Bracknell, RG12 4AQ

http://www.bracknellhockeyclub.com/pitch_location/pitch_location.htm

Henley HC

353 Reading Road, Henley on Thames, RG9 4HE

http://www.henleyhockeyclub.co.uk/directions.php

Maidenhead HC

Altwood School, Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4PU

Braywick Sports Centre, Braywick Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1BN

http://www.maidenheadhc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=149

Marlow HC

Bisham Abbey, Bisham, Nr Marlow, Buckinghamshire SL7 1RR

http://www.marlowhc.co.uk/location/BishamAbbey/index.html

Phoenix & Ranelagh HC

Rivermead Leisure Centre, Richfield Avenue, Reading, RG1 8EQ

http://www.pr-hockey.org.uk/directions/

Reading HC

Reading HC, Sonning Lane, Sonning, RG4 6ST

http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/club/directions/

Sonning HC

Royal County of Berkshire Sports & Social Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning RG4 6ST

http://sonninghc.clubhouseleader.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=10

Wokingham HC

Cantley Fields, Twyford Road, Wokingham, RG40 5QG

http://www.wokingham-hc.co.uk/contact/location.htm

What to bring

Hockey stick
Shin pads
Mouthguard (recommended)
Plenty to drink
Snacks
Something warm to put on between matches
Reading Colts: please see Club Kit

Tournament objectives

• Emphasis on fun and safety – winning is secondary
• Support development of players – put skills from training ground into practice
• Straightforward planning and organisation for clubs
• Logistically easy for parents
• Standard format so tournaments are easy to run
• Players graded by age and ability

Tournament structure

• Tournaments will be held one Sunday per month.
• Under 8, Under 10A and B, and Under 12 A and B – each group at a different venue.  Two venues each for U10B and U12B
• Tournaments held on Sunday mornings with preferred start time 9.30am – due to pitch availability, start times may vary from 9.00am to 11.30am.
• Mixed teams, with a minimum of two boys and two girls in each team.
• U10 and U12 teams/matches divided into A level and B level.
• U8 and U10 play 10 minute matches (no half-time) with 2 minute changeover – ie 5 matches per pitch per hour. U12 play 12 minute matches with 3 minute changeover. If there are too many teams at a tournament this will revert to 10 minutes.
• 4-6 matches per team.
• Tournaments should not last longer than 2½ hours and should preferably be no more than 1 ½ hours.
• U8 play on half ¼ pitch. U10 and U12 play on ½ pitch wherever possible.
• Normal weight balls at U12 and U10.  At U8 lighter balls can be used as it makes little difference.
• No recording of results or winners.

Tournament rules

1. Mini Hockey rules, to be interpreted sympathetically according to the age and ability of teams.  The two new Mandatory Experimental Laws are mandatory at all levels of hockey from 1st September and will be applied until further notice.
2. Usually 7-a-side, but 8-a-side with prior agreement of both coaches.  Reducing to 6-a-side is at the sole discretion of the team with 7 players.  8-a-side is not discouraged, particularly in cold weather and at B tournaments, to keep everyone involved.
3. Age qualification (Under8/10/12) is at 1st September in line with EH age groups for clubs.
4. Team coaches will umpire (unless host club can provide umpires).
5. If a circle is not marked out, cones will be laid on the side lines 10 yards from goal line to mark a rectangular scoring area.
6. The use of goalkeepers is encouraged, particularly at U12, but it remains non-compulsory.  Goalkeepers are usually more than happy to guest for other clubs between their own games.
7. Short corners will be awarded in U12 and U10 A level matches only if the defending team has a goalkeeper.  If there is no goalkeeper, then an indirect free hit from 10 yards out in line with where the offence was committed.
8. If there is a goalkeeper but no D is marked, an imaginary one works fine, to encourage teams to learn the skills and routines needed.
9. If a team leads by 3 goals one of its players will be retired. The full team may be restored if the scores are levelled (not if the trailing team scores once).

Organisation

• Reading HC website will be used to post dates, times, venues and host club organisers. http://www.readinghockeyclub.org.uk/ng/tvminis
• Host clubs may invite other sides to join their tournaments (space allowing and not to the detriment of regular participants).
• Hosts need to know well in advance how many teams are coming from each club.  A minimum of one week’s notice is needed and it is not fair to call a few days before a tournament to change the number of teams (up or down).  “We’re not sure how many teams we are bringing” is never an option.
• Host clubs publish match schedule 10 days in advance.
• The two clubs hosting B tournaments on the same date should work together to ensure roughly even numbers at each venue.  “We don’t want to travel to Newbury” is not an option.
• The relevant age group should be specified in the header of all e-mail about tournaments.
• Photography rules will be the responsibility of the host club.  The guideline is that if a professional photographer has been invited to cover the event this presents parents with a good alternative to using their own cameras and they should be asked to refrain.  If no photographer is present, the host club should provide a registration sheet for parents who are using cameras just as schools do.  Parents who do not want their child to be photographed by professional photographers should make this known at the start and ensure the child is clearly identifiable throughout the tournament, eg with a sticker.  This is simpler than identifying the other 99 children.
• It is the responsibility of the host club to ensure that a qualified first-aider is present. This may be from the club’s own membership or from a visiting club but it is up to the host club to check who is coming.
• All costs associated with hosting tournaments, such as pitch hire, are the responsibility of the host club.
• Clubs sending one coach for three or four teams causes problems, for example teams not being ready for games to start or no-one quite sure who should be on the pitch or in what colour shirts.  Clubs should try to appoint enthusiastic parents to “manage” each team, hockey experience not required.
• In the event of ice or snow on the morning of a tournament, while the host will make every effort to contact visiting clubs, it is the responsibility of the visiting clubs to contact the host to find out whether or not the tournament will go ahead.  If in doubt please assume a tournament is going ahead.

Help for tournament hosts: schedule examples

Note that for a ½ pitch, the maximum number of teams is 8 or the tournament becomes too long and teams have to wait for too long between games.

Schedule A

U10: ½ pitch, 6 teams, 5 matches each x 10 mins, 1½ hrs

U12: ½ pitch, 6 teams, 5 matches each x 12 mins, 2 hrs

Schedule B

U10: ½ pitch, 8 teams, 5 matches each x 10 mins, 2 hrs

U12: ½ pitch, 8 teams, 5 matches each x 12 mins, 2½ hrs

Schedule C

U8: ¼ pitch, 6 teams, 5 matches each x 10 mins, 1¼ hrs

Schedule D

U8: ¼ pitch, 8 teams, 5 or 6 matches each x 10 mins, 1¼ – 1½ hrs

Schedule E (last resort)

U10: ¼ pitch, 12 teams, 5 matches each x 10 mins, 2 hrs

U12: ¼ pitch, 12 teams, 5 matches each x 12 mins, 2½ hrs