Since the Team GB success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, women’s hockey has become one of the fastest-growing and most popular sports in the country. Within the past five years, female club players participating in the sport have increased by 50%, and the number of junior club players has nearly doubled.
TeamUp, a joint initiative between England Hockey, England Netball and England and Wales Cricket, aims to inspire young people around the country to get involved and play sport in their schools and local communities. The venture, which was launched in 2016, includes England hosting three consecutive women’s World Cups in the three different sports and has already seen England beating India in the cricket World Cup last year. The next event is the Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in July and August, followed by the Netball World Cup, which takes place in July 2019.
At a recent TeamUp event in London, players from the winning Olympic Team GB hockey and Commonwealth Games teams helped coach a group of young players in East London and saw young women playing the sport for the very first time.
Sport in schools is often underfunded and not given the same attention as the academic subjects. With budget cuts affecting schools across the country, schemes such as this aim to bridge the gap and inspire young women to get involved.
The benefits of young people playing team sport include improving health and fitness, increasing confidence and self-esteem and improving overall well-being. For more information on hockey and to find a local club, you can visit http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/.
Encouraging girls to take up the sport at primary school level can help develop a passion for it. Teaching staff and sports coaches can find many great resources, including hockey drill videos and training tips from https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Hockey/.
Hockey can be played by both boys and girls and can be adapted to suit the facilities available, including inner-city schools that may not have access to large outdoor areas.
Continuing the legacy and success of the women’s Olympic and Commonwealth teams is vital for the future of hockey. Ensuring the sport can be enjoyed from a young age in a friendly, relaxed environment will inspire hockey stars of the future and ensure many continue to enjoy the sport and achieve success.