Manchester Hockey Roos: Free summer field hockey program for all 4th-8th graders

MANCHESTER, NH – The Manchester Hockey Roos program announces its 4th season of youth field hockey program this summer: Monday evenings starting June 27 – Aug. 1 at Manchester West High School’s Turf Field from 5 to 6 p.m. will be “Summer Jump!” a free program open to fourth through eighth-graders.

The program has plenty of skills instruction for newcomers and fun games run by the Manchester High School Varsity coaches and their players.  The program is absolutely free and open to boys and girls. Loaner sticks are available to all participants.  After the initial session, the program take place every Monday from 5 to 6 p.m. with the following dates and locations:

Manchester Hockey Roos is a community service extension of the Varsity Field Hockey Programs at Memorial and Central high schools and is a collaboration with local college coaches. The goal of the Hockey Roos organization is to reduce or eliminate the barriers to trying and participating in field hockey at the youth level.  The founders of the organization would like to see participants get active, enjoy the sport and have fun while doing it. For more information send an email to info@manchesterhockeyroos.org or bill@manchesterhockeyroos.org and visit the website. www.manchesterhockeyroos.org.

More About Summer Jump!

The Manchester Hockey Roos Summer Jump! Field Hockey Program starts up again this June 27 on the Turf at Manchester West. This program is all about giving newcomers a chance to try field hockey in the easiest way possible: the kids are loaned sticks and shin guards, qualified coaching is provided, and it all is happening on a city field right here in Manchester on Monday nights.

For those who have never tried the game before, it is an easy and free way to see how they would like the game. For those who have experienced one of the Hockey Roos physical education classes in a city elementary school and want to learn more, this is also a great way to build on that PE class. And for those who already play at their middle school or on a club, it is another opportunity to get some stick time and have fun with the game.

This program is specifically targeting fourth- through eighth-graders throughout the district in order to provide a feeder program for the middle schools and ultimately the high school programs.  Having a vital and fun feeder program is absolutely critical to the health and success of the high school field hockey programs. While there are already well-known feeder programs for many of the other sports in the city, field hockey as a sport has risen and fallen in the city entirely on the strength of the enrollment in the middle school field hockey programs.

Having a strong community-based program like Hockey Roos introduces the game to a younger audience thus growing the game at the middle school. It also continues to support those athletes in Middle school who want to play more and bring a friend, but need a local option to make it possible.

It should be understood that this program is for anyone in the district and is a collaboration between the city high school and local college coaches so all the programs in the city will benefit.

And yes, the intent of Summer Jump! Is fun. Skills and rules are taught, but the emphasis is to quickly find ways to put those skills into play with various games, races and competitions many of which are cooperative games.

FAQs

First off What is Manchester Hockey Roos?

MHR is a collaboration between the city and college high school field hockey coaches intended to grow the game of field hockey in Manchester

Who is the target audience?

Any athlete, boy or girl, from fourth through eighth grade who would like to try the game of field hockey.

How does Hockey Roos work?

Our success is based on reducing or completely eliminating the barriers to trying the game. We have free loaner sticks and shin guards, we secure free field time, the coaches all volunteer their time, and we even sometimes bring the program to you!  Show up, parent or guardian signs a waiver, here’s a stick, here’s a high school player to teach you, step out onto the field and play.

What are the Hockey Roo programs?

We have several programs: in school, after school, Summer Jump, Fall Hop, and a camp. All but the camp are entirely free of charge. We’re here today to specifically promote our Summer Jump program.

When and where is Summer Jump?

Summer Jump is six sessions of one hour of intro to field hockey this summer. Mostly on Monday nights at West’s Turf field from 5 to 6 p.m. or at Memorial’s Turf Field or at Livingston Park. See the schedule here.

What happens at Summer Jump?

Once the newcomer has a stick, a ball and a couple of new friends to play with, we teach a few basics, some simple rules, and then we play a bunch of different games. From relay races to small-sided games with goals.  By the end of the six weeks, everyone should know the basics, have learned some rules, and really, really want to play at their middle school.

So when Summer Jump is over, where does the interested player go from there?

Fall Hop, Middle School, Various commercial camps and leagues.

Why did you start Manchester Hockey Roos?

Enlightened self-interest to create a stronger feeder system for the high school and middle school programs.

Why the Kangaroo Logo?

School and gender-neutral. Fun. Stands out from Mill, Granite, Queen City, etc.