Hockey: Small Sticks making big noise

ActivePost Small Sticks is Hockey New Zealand's nationally branded junior programme, designed to attract children aged 4-13 into hockey and foster a love of the sport.

In just two years, Small Sticks has proven extremely popular with children, schools and clubs. Last year more than 20,000 children completed Small Sticks courses in 84 schools nationwide.

Hockey NZ aims to have 100,000 Small Sticks in 500 schools by 2017.

In Tauranga, eight primary schools have joined up to Small Sticks - Otumoetai, Katikati, Pongakawa, Greenpark, Bethlehem, Fairhaven, Omanu and Papamoa - with 1600 kids involved in the programme.

Tauranga resident and Coaching and Development Manager for Hockey NZ, Brad Jensen, says the programme is designed so that every child can succeed at their own pace.

"It is the future of the game. Hockey has always gone into schools and done taster sessions or one-off sessions, and the Small Sticks requires cooperation between the schools and the hockey association," said Jensen.

"Hopefully it is picked up by the teachers and the parents and they become hockey schools."

The Small Sticks programme is made up of four different modules. Fun Sticks - for Year 1 and 2 (under 6), Mini Sticks - for Year 3 and 4 (under 9 starting on 1/8 field), Kiwi Sticks - for Year 5 and 6 (under 11) and Kwik Sticks - full field 11-a-side hockey.

The aim of the programme is to get children interested and hooked on hockey. It is also about the association building strong relationships between the school, the club and the coaches.

The programme includes the teacher being trained, a minimum of four coaching session in school time with an accredited coach, a resource kit for the school to use after the programme is finished, a festival day at the completion of the programme and recruitment material to help engage children and their parents.