Young hockey players around the world will join together for the 4th Global
Youth Hockey Marathon as part of the International Hockey Federation’s
hockey development drive, on 15 – 16 May.
Children from all five continents, in countries as diverse as Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe, will take part in special events organised by their national
hockey associations. The focus will be on junior hockey club development, in
conjunction with the new FIH initiative for Club Development.
Events planned include street hockey in Singapore, youth hockey festivals in
Iran, an international coaching clinic in Scotland and a series of national
competitions in New Zealand. Of great interest is the participation of
Afghanistan, who join in the Global Youth Hockey Marathon for the first time
this year. The national association will invite school children to the
National Olympic stadium, where they will play matches between children and
veterans. The
sports minister will be the chief guest and the president of the Afghanistan
Hockey Association will give a speech on youth hockey.
The national association that has organised the best Junior Club Development
event will win a week-long coaching camp for their juniors, conducted by the
Black Tulips, the Dutch ex-international women’s players. The runner up will
receive hockey kit with 50 sticks, balls and bibs and the third best country
will receive a FUJIFILM Digital FinePix 2600 Zoom Camera.
Anne Ellis, manager of the FIH DCC Group Youth, commented, “It is enormously
encouraging to see that both very developed and less developed hockey
nations are joining this year’s Marathon. It demonstrates that youth and
grass roots development is being taken seriously at all levels, which is
building directly on the foundations set by Year of the Youth 2001. This
involvement can only be beneficial to young players involved and to the
hockey family as a whole.”
More information on the full programme is available on www.worldhockey.org
in Development/Youth. Reports and pictures from the participating national
associations will be published on the website in the weeks after the event.