HURST HOCKEY

Hurst Hockey

Where participation meets performance

Introduction

“If we tell the child that they only have one touch, that they can only make a pass then their options on the pitch are limited. With freedom of touches, we can identify the natural decision of the child and guide their decisions. Do they dribble? Do they pass? Do they shoot? Why do they do these things? Where and when do they do these things?” It is then our job as coaches to help guide the player in WHEN and WHERE to dribble or pass.

want to participate just as much as pupils who are or aim to become élite performers. And sport for all not only includes a school’s own pupils but also other schools and organisations in the local community.

The physical and mental wellbeing of pupils is central to a boarding school’s sports offering. Sport is a crucial part of boarding school life. It provides a healthy and active lifestyle, promotes good physical and mental wellbeing, teaches teamwork and leadership skills, and develops resilience, determination and many other important lifeskills. A key element at Hurst is the importance of sport for all. All pupils should be given equal opportunities to be involved in sport – pupils who simply

The driving force behind a highquality school sports programme is successful collaboration with pupils and parents as well as a constant desire to improve. Schools not only strive to establish a reputation for the quality, breadth and inclusivity of their sporting provision, but also for the passion and commitment of their staff who aim to ensure that each pupil develops a lifelong love of sport and physical activity. Hurst’s excellent staff coaching team is supported by professional coaches, who are all experts in their fields. Hurst won the Sporting Achievement award in the Independent Schools of the Year 2020 Awards for our focus on recognising the physical and mental value of sport and sharing the benefits with the wider community, including the children of key workers during lockdown.

MR Rob KIFT (BSC)

DIRECTOR OF SPORT

Meet the team

We have two full-time hockey staff members and a number of fully qualified England Hockey coaches who assist all team coaches. Our coaches work across a wide variety of teams, with fantastic expertise being given to every player from our 1st XI to the U14 E team. We also have a goalkeeping coach available for every games session to maximise each student’s training time.

MR Rob Sorrell (BSC)

Mr Sorrell was the Head of Hockey at Norwich School from 2013. He was also Head Coach of Harleston Magpies Ladies 1st XI, currently playing in National Division 1 Southand spent 2 years working as the Assistant Coach to the Wales U18 and U16 girls squads. Prior to joining Norwich, Mr Sorrell spent 5 years at Kampong HC in the Netherlands and is looking forward to bringing some of that Dutch creativity to Hurst. A Dutch level 3 qualified coach, he is in cohort 6 of the England Hockey Advanced Coach Programme, and is currently completing the FIH (International Hockey Federation) Coaches for Europe Program.

MR CHRIS WILSON (ADSM)

Mr Wilson was head of hockey at Hurst from 2003-13 before a spell as Director of Hockey at Gordonstoun, where he stayed until 2020. Now back at Hurst as Perfromance Manager he brings with him an International playing career with South Africa U18 and extensive coaching experience, having gained his South African and English Level 3 coaching badges. He has also worked in the English Single System with High Performace players and coached the Scottish U16 men. As a qualified Coach Educator Mr Wilson is excited to be able to develop current Hurst Coaches with an outstanding CPD program.

HEAD OF HOCKEY PERFORMANCE MANAGER

Coaching Staff

The Coaching professionals at Hurst have a wealth of experience from coaching International sides to being experts in their fields enabeling them to inspire the youngest pupils to take up hockey as a life long sport. They encorage participation to allow all students to achieve their potential.

MR ALEC STEVENS (BA)

A development specialist, making hockey fun for the youngest members of Hurst, whilst teaching them the fundamentals

MR CHRIS MARCHANT (EH LEVEL 3)

An International Coach and Player who works with our elite individuals and squads to improve performance

MR GILES DAKIN (EH LEVEL 3)

Our Specilaist Goal Keeper Coach with International and National League experience

MR JEREMY SUBEDAR (FIH LEVEL 2)

A hockey professional who brings club coaching experience and International playing knowledge

MR ROB BURGH (BSC)

Using the latest video and GPS analytics to support our coaches and enable insights and feedback to our players

MISS CERYS JONES

A teacher at Hurst who plays regularly and brings enthusiasm and drive to the coaching team

Interview

We ask our current girl’s first eleven team captain Harriet Miller, how Hurst has shaped her hockey career.

what is your first memory of hockey at Hurst?

My first memory of hockey at Hurst is a game we played in prep school, as we were starting to learn how to hit the ball, we would stand on the base line and see who could hit it the furthest and I remember being so amazed as a girl in the year above managed to hit the ball all the way to the other side of the pitch. At the time that seemed a very big distance so I made it my challenge for the next year.

why do you think Hurst’s girls want to play hockey ?

I think the environment we have for girls hockey is what most people enjoy, the ability to both play a sport at a high level but also have time with friends to bond over a shared interest.

why do lots of the girls play for a club side?

Playing with a local side introduces the players to a different style of hockey as you are usually playing with slightly older people so the dynamics of the game are different. I think a lot of the girls find this beneficial as it develops different skills which they can then incorporate back into school hockey. what is your greatest hockey achievement to date?

I would say being 1st team captain is my greatest achievement so far as it is something I have always aspired to be and a person I looked up to in younger years, so to be given this leadership role is something I am proud of. But another big achievement was winning IAPs in year 7 as that

was the first big tournament we won as a team so I will always remember that one.

How does hockey fit in with your future plans?

I hope to play hockey at university next year and it was something that I took into consideration when applying, but beyond that I am looking to continue playing past university through to club hockey.

“ Hurst has one of the strongest hockey programmes in the South of England. ”

Facilities

Hurst’s facilities for hockey are second to none, boasting 3 Tiger Turf all weather pitches, a warm up area and an indoor court. Allowing us to play, train and coach over 1,200 pupils every week. The set up at Hurst hasn’t gone unoticed and Sussex Hockey now hold all of their age group training and matches on the site.

TIGER TURF EVO PRO FIH Standard pitches provide Hurst with top quality surfaces which allow students to improve their game on a surface that plays more like and expensive water based pitch rather than a sand dressed one.

Coaching

The coaching offering at Hurst has been developed significantly over the past year by the Head of Hockey, Performance Manager and Lead Coaches. This has resulted in a programme that is inclusive but delivers performance, with a spotlight on growing talent from within the College. The focus is not solely on our first teams, but on our youngest pupils who receive carefully planned sessions delivered by our professional staff to develop them into talented individuals who can represent the College in the higher teams as they progress.

Coaching sessions are delivered three times a week to every age group and are meticulously planned to compliment the overall vision of hockey at Hurst. We aim to produce players who are CONFIDENT, COURAGEOUS and COMFORTABLE ON THE BALL.

softer side of sport, including sportsmanship, organisation, fair play and competition. We want to create gracious winners and good losers, all important lessons that can be taken from sport and used in all aspects of life.

These training sessions are complimented by at least one competitive match a week against a similar standard opposition which allows the pupils to gain experience of game play. This allows the coaches to teach them the importance of the

OVER 100 hours

of coaching delivered every week

How Hurst excels

• A professionally planned programme delivered by experienced coaches

• Over 20 hours of 1 to 1 masterclass coaching included within the programme

• Over 100 coaching hours a week

• 4 days a week of group drop in sessions

• Video analysis of individuals skills as well as tactical match day filming

• Strength and Conditioning plans for all elite athletes

• Continual coach development

• The latest resources available for all coaches

BE THE BEST

OUR VISION

Is to deliver an inclusive programme of sport and physical activity. Placing a priority on pupil and staff engagement. Providing a breadth of experiences that enable Sporting Achievment for all.