LHA Statement on COVID-19

RE: Government announcement on Covid 19 that Dublin is placed on Level 3 from midnight

Following Hockey Ireland’s statement and the Government announcement that Dublin is moving to Level 3 of the Living with Covid plan from midnight tonight (18092020) and having regard to the guidelines by the Sport Ireland Return to Sport Expert Group, the LHA Board, Ladies and Men’s Committees have confirmed the following:

· Finals scheduled for 18 – 20th September can proceed as scheduled

· Men’s Cup Finals carried over from the 2019/20 season scheduled for the 03rd October are considered to be “pre-planned” and so are permitted

· Men’s Division 1A and 1B can proceed as scheduled

· Ladies Division 1 and 2 can proceed as scheduled

· Ladies and Men’s Divisions 3 – 13 will commence on 10th October (per published fixture schedule)

This will be kept under review and may be subject to change in line with Government announcements.

2020/21 Season

The Leinster Hockey Men’s Committee has been furiously working with Hockey Ireland to create some semblance of normality for the 2020/21 Hockey Season and a document has been put together to help answer your questions.

The document is open for comment and the committee would welcome any comments or questions.

A similar document should be forthcoming for the ladies section and the junior section.

Coaching Structure

Thanks for all your support so far during the Covid and preseason. Nonetheless the start of our season is finally here. Men’s and women’s first and second teams have already started with pre-season and our men’s 4s commenced training last week with a cup final to prepare for.

For the rest of the teams, both junior and senior, we plan to start our season on 30th August. Times have been allocated and will be made public soon. Coaches will be assigned for each team/group this week.

We have made or are making changes within our coaching structure, and in order to make sure that all of the coaches are up-to-date, we have organising meetings on Sunday 23rd August in Newpark school covering the following topics:

  • Coaching pathway
  • Avoca’s technical hockey plan            
  • Coaching allocation
  • Junior Coordinators

If you would like to attend one of the sessions below, get in touch with our Director of Hockey Rudi Wortmann on doh@avocahockeyclub.ie

  • Sunday morning 10.30 – 12.30
  • Sunday afternoon 14.00-16.00
  • Sunday afternoon 17.00-18.30 (Goalkeepers coaches only)

Online Umpiring Sessions

The Leinster Hockey Umpires Association (LHUA) will be running a series of online sessions over the next few weeks which are open to all umpires and aspiring umpires in Leinster. The topics that will be covered are

1. Positioning – 7:30pm, Tuesday 18th August

Presenter: Alison Keogh – https://forms.gle/ESvVwcZdpe2tJn5Z6

2. Penalty Corners – 7:30pm, Thursday 27th August

Presenter: Bruce Bale – https://forms.gle/s1r3rHSTde9g524Z9

3. Management – 7:30pm, Wednesday 2nd September

Presenter: Tom Goode – https://forms.gle/PVqzdTU4pdzkLZ1n9

4. Pre-Match Preparation (incl. Open Q&A) – 7:30pm, Monday 7th September

Presenter: Fiona Davitt – https://forms.gle/vttXqCMe2evkTHWj9

Registration is via the Google Form under each topic and attendees are invited to submit any questions via the form. This is a great opportunity to learn more about specific areas of the game and we would urge anyone interested in umpiring to register for any or all of these online events.

Give Hockey a Go!

Last year we trialled an approach to encourage people to give hockey a try (Dads & Lads)  – either to get a basic understanding or to return to the sport again. It was very successful so we have expanded the idea and added Mums & Chums (basically over 16). 

As you know we recently provided free hockey sessions to the whole club and we are now also making this initiative free. The time is also being made 7:30pm in Sion Hill using the full pitch for both. You also do not have to come each week but would ask that you register: Covid requirement. 

Fun, Friendly and Safe.  4 weeks , Fridays 7:30 in Sion Hill. Bring a stick Shinpads and GumShields. We can’t share equipment but will have a couple of cleaned down sticks. 

This season we would especially like to grow our Ladies section and give Mums and Past Players the opportunity to play Masters/Vets or League. If you are a Mum, Past Player or just a Chum why not give Hockey a go next Friday 7th August.

Over the last number of years a number of Dad’s of players in the Club have taken up Hockey and now play regularly for Avoca Masters/Vets on a Wednesday night or on a Saturday for Avoca Men’s 4s or both. We have also seen the return of past Men’s players to the Club after a decade or two decades absence and they are also playing each week, often at Men’s 3s and sometimes Men’s 2s. Last year we ran four Dads& Lads sessions and that allowed the formation of Mens 4s last year and we plan to add a Mens 5s this season. If you are a Dad, a Past Player or just a Lad why not give Hockey a go next Friday 7th August.

Book on our website or via our new App: Mums & Chums | Dads & Lads

Covid 19 questionnaire required as part of application.