Training
Our Juniors train on THURSDAYS, 5:30-6:30pm having previously been on a Sunday morning, and train all year round (even during the majority of all school holidays) with some short breaks at Christmas and when schools finish for the summer. Thursday's has proved to be a very popular move and enabled the section to grow. It also sits immediately prior to Senior ladies training so there is a more natural move for girls when they reach 13 (boys would join the Senior mens training which is Tuesday's, 7-8:30pm) and players feel more part of the club. Garstang Academy's after school hockey club, which is immediately prior to Junior training, will start again in September so this may also help those families whose children straddle junior and senior school.

Matches
We like to give our junior members the opportunity to play games. As the section has grown, so has our ability to field teams to the point where over the summer of 2021 we entered boys, girls and mixed teams in the U8s, 10s, 12s, 14s & 16s in to a Sunday full of games and where some result in going forward to regional tournaments. This was the biggest contingent of players we have ever entered. We also hosted the first and final tournament of the series with 48 teams and nearly 300 players attending from across the North West region. Teams played several games against different clubs with the size of the teams and match time lengthening as you went up the age groups. Designed to simply get more junior players playing games adding to their hockey experience and giving them valuable match minutes before they have the opportunity to play senior league hockey from the age of 13. 2022 was much the same with the club entering teams in to all the locally arranged events which are held at Garstang, Preston and Fylde. The days go down a storm with parents and players alike - their WhatsApp group is testament to that. We plan to enter more of these going forwards.

You can read about the first tournament we hosted, here and about a couple of previous tournaments we entered at U12 & U13 level/hosted in 2018-19 here and here.

Coaching
We have an experienced and qualified coaching team, ably supported by Young Leaders, who provide knowledge and confidence. We're proud of the friendly atmosphere down at the club and readily encourage youngsters to participate in our exciting sport, which not only supports the future strength of the club but also provides players with confidence, social, team work and other lifelong skills. You can read more to hear first hand from our current players and parents.

Testimonials
Stephanie Baxter, a parent, describes that "my first impressions of Garstang Hockey were great, very friendly and organised. Libby (daughter) felt comfortable from the start. Libby is learning loads very quickly!" Libby reached the Ladies 1st team in the 2019/20 season.

Grace McGarvey, who joined us as a 9 year old and now also plays for the 1st team and said of the U13's, "Garstang is fun and welcoming, I wanted to try a different sport and I love it and have made lots of new friends."

Want to see what they get up to?
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

Looking to join?
More information here

Club kit
Official match day kit and training wear is available in our Club Shop. The playing shirt, short/shorts and socks bundle represents great value at £30 but please note, all orders are only processed on the first Thursday of each month and can take up to 6 weeks to arrive. We don't plan to look at refreshing our kit until 2025.

Adults, would you like to play hockey yourself?
We have a Back2Hockey section which very much also means New2Hockey and it runs alongside the junior session at the other end of the pitch! Aimed at Mum's and Dad's and other adults who would prefer a social game or cannot commit to regular Saturday League hockey, it means you can be getting your fill of fun time, free time, social time while your children are on the other side of the pitch... win win! Check out our Back2Hockey section. Previously aimed at ladies only while the men joined the newly formed mens section, Back2Hockey is now available for both in a just for fun setting.