Firebrands
Academy
Newsletter
July 2016
Greetings all
I trust you have all had a good break, and will be looking forward to the new season and the new look
Academy. The club is putting a lot of time and effort into the academy as it is understood that we are the
future, and that is not to say we are only are looking for the elite players, of course our aim is to support
Firebrands, county and for those that work hard the possibility of national honours, but we are also looking
for those players that want to play hockey, enjoy the sport and grow as people in a great atmosphere.
Dave Ward, the lead coach, has come back to Firebrands after many years away, his pedigree speaks for
itself, player/coach with Firebrands when they were national league, coaching some of those players to
national honours, he has coached in France professionally, and now he wants turn all his efforts into the
academy and the coaching staff.
Our aim is to start a full and professional training strategy, this will not only be personal core skills, team
skills, games but physio and nutritional information, with white board and video education.
New Season
The season will start on the 3/4th September with a registration/skills weekend, membership this season
will include a club T-shirt, to bring back a club identity, information on the club will follow in the Augusts
newsletter. It is asked that people respond to the information as quickly as possible so we can plan ahead,
the general layout of the weekend will be a 3rd Sept lunchtime meet and greet and get the registration out
the way, followed by an afternoon of hockey, on Sunday 10:30 – 4:30pm there will be a full program of
hockey which will include a buffet lunch. Age groups 10-16 for all genders. We will only have a certain
number of places for the weekend
Training times
U10’s Monday 6-7pm
Ladies Sparks (U12’s) and Flames (U14’s) Tuesday 6-7pm
Boy’s Sparks (U12’s) and Flames (U14’s) Sunday 10:30-12:30pm
The Future
Firebrands
Academy
The academy will be entering local and national competitions to suit all age groups, we will be working
with the young players throughout their time with us and support and promote them to the highest level
they can achieve.
Support
We will be asking for help from within the club and families, for parent helpers to assist in the
administration on training days, to book the players in and release them to their parent/appointed person,
help on game days, assist in the monthly newsletter (at least make it more interesting than this one),
promotion and sponsorship. There is a lot of skill sets within any club, and we want to utilise it, and spread
the load. If you are one of these people, please contact me.
Advertising
Attached with this letter is a poster, please forward it to player friends and schools, let the word spread,
anyone with contacts to local papers or radio stations, we would be keen to be put in touch.
I hope this will set the tone for our future together, the coaching team are looking forward to working with
you and all the young players.
Fund raising
The club is asking all sections/teams to raise money to support the club, we will raise money through the
skills weekend, I would also ask people to collect their 5p’s, 2p’s and 1p’s, put them in a jar and bring them
to training. It will all count. All ideas welcome!
Sticks
If you have upgraded your hockey over the summer of have an old one laying around and wish to donate it
to the club, please bring it along. It will help support any new player coming along to try out for the first
time.
Coaches
At present the ladies are looking for a lady’s co-ordinator for the U10’s, Sparks and Flames, when I get
coaches details you will get them at training, the boys Flames lead coach will be Dave Ward, and I will lead
the Sparks, and also Academy co-ordinator for the boys.
Have a great summer
Simon
Firebrands
Academy