Inclusive, competitive, excellent, FUN!
We provide fun and safe training and matches for children aged 6-18 years old in the Aldershot and Farnham area to develop their physical and social skills in the sport of field hockey, as far as they want to go.
Sunday Training Sessions
Age Group Hockey
Schedule - Sundays at the Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot (starting 4th September 2022)
Mixed U8s and U10s: Sundays @Army Astro 9am - 10:30am
Junior Goalkeepers: Sundays @Army Astro 9am – 10am (Can join age groups from 10am if appropriate)
U12 Boys & U14 Boys: Sundays @ Army Astro 9am – 10:30am
U12 Girls & U14 Girls,: Sundays @ Army Astro 10:30am – 12pm
U16 & U18 train within adult section but matches are arranged within age group
Mid-week training (starting 5th September 2022)
U12 and U14 boys and girls both can attend additional training included in their membership from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday evenings at the Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot.
Further to last years success we are increasing our offering for U16 girls and will be including training on Tuesday evenings also at 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot
Schedule - Sundays at the Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot (starting 4th September 2022)
Mixed U8s and U10s: Sundays @Army Astro 9am - 10:30am
Junior Goalkeepers: Sundays @Army Astro 9am – 10am (Can join age groups from 10am if appropriate)
U12 Boys & U14 Boys: Sundays @ Army Astro 9am – 10:30am
U12 Girls & U14 Girls,: Sundays @ Army Astro 10:30am – 12pm
U16 & U18 train within adult section but matches are arranged within age group
Mid-week training (starting 5th September 2022)
U12 and U14 boys and girls both can attend additional training included in their membership from 6:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday evenings at the Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot.
Further to last years success we are increasing our offering for U16 girls and will be including training on Tuesday evenings also at 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Army Astro, Princes Avenue, Aldershot
Goal-keeper training kicks-off!
Goal-keeping at AFHC has become very popular with the juniors now we are running weekly sessions. It's a great way to be crucial to the success of the team - and you get to wear lots of padded clothing!
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Equipment you need to play hockey with us
- Gum-shield: mandatory we won't let your child play unless they wear one - it's simply too critical. We sell gum-shields, or you can buy your own beforehand.
- Shin-pads: mandatory
- Hockey Stick: if you are just trying out then use one of our sticks - we have a few spares. However kids love having their own! If you are going to buy one then our recommendation for stick length is that the top of the stick be about level with the hip. In other words, the length of the stick (usually measured in inches still) is the height of the child's hips.
- Club shirt: You can buy Red match shirts from us on Sunday mornings for £8 for U8s, U10s and U12. As the juniors move into U14s we move to the Adult Match shirts which are numbered and can be worn for Adult and Junior matches, again these are purchased directly from the club.
- Socks/shorts/hoodies etc.: see our club kit page.
Key training principles
More coaching time
It's widely recognised that the amount of "time on the ball" is closely correlated with long term ability and enjoyment of the sport, so it's been a priority for us to maintain the lengths of the coaching sessions, and to provide more coaching for more players. Not only will the players get more time with the ball and more matches, but the sessions will contain more flow, be less forced, and ultimately be more enjoyable and effective.
Elite Hockey
The club will continue to run Academy hockey sessions on a Monday evenings at Heath End for players aged 11 to 17 who have an elite attitude to their hockey and are willing to invest time and effort in improving their core skills. These are paid for sessions (£6) that operate as an addition to age group hockey. These sessions are run by our Elite coach Ian Jennings MBE (Jenno) and continued attendance will depend on attitude.
We want your child to enjoy their hockey and we prioritise their well-being. If after a few weeks Jenno and the other coaches think your child is not ready emotionally or physically for these sessions, it may be decided in conversations between coaches and parents that it is best for that individual child not to continue attending academy at this time. This does not mean they will not be ready at some point in the future.
In addition, from this season the club will be operating elite talent centre training sessions for 12-16 year olds on a Wednesday evenings at Heath End. These sessions will take place in four terms of 5 weeks within the normal season but will not replace age group training for the individual junior. Players are selected from age group hockey and/or academy training to attend and will retain involvement in age group matches. Each term operates as a discrete block and attendance at one term does not automatically mean attendance at all terms. Selection will be made on a term by term basis by coaches and assessment made against a core set of skills that will be constructed as part of a player profile openly available to parents and players.
Juniors into Adults
A newly-established player development forum will oversee progression of juniors into adult teams through a holistic assessment of a junior’s skills, mental and physical well-being. This is designed to ensure that junior players progress to and play within a team appropriate for their stage of development. Players’ allocations will be regularly reviewed to prioritise experience, development and well being.
Age group matches
For this season 21/22 there are some changes that have been made by England Hockey. These affect the number of teams and the types of games being played. y.
The new structure provides many more opportunities to play competitive matches. We have entered the following number of teams in each age group into leagues.
U8s – two 7-aside teams
U10s – two 7-aside teams
U12 Boys – three 7-aside teams
U12 Girls – five 7-aside teams
U14 Boys – one 11-aside team
U14 Girls – three 11-aside teams
U16 Boys – two 11-aside teams
U16 Girls – two 11 aside teams
U18 Boys – one 11 aside team
U18 Girls – one 11 aside team
Greater coaching support
We've always been enthusiastic about teaching the players to the best of our ability as a club, but we continue to build the professional coaching squad to lead the teams into higher levels. We also actively encourage adult players and older juniors to help with junior coaching as this is a Win:Win for them and the juniors.
Integrated coaching location
After years of junior coaching at Heath End, and at Frensham Heights, we're now where we can all be together for the morning - the Aldershot Army Astros where we will have both pitches in operation. We benefit logistically from having the coaching team in the same place - which allows us to maximise the quality of coaching across the pitches. Socially we think it will be stronger for the 'supporters club' to be in one place, and will certainly cut down on wasting time driving between two locations in a morning.
Even more specialist Goal Keeper Coaching
Our hugely successful goal keeper training over the last few seasons has spurred us on and we have now appointed Ian Murphy as our GK coach. Junior GK training will be every Sunday at Aldershot Army Astros 9AM - 10AM and able to join in with Age Group Coaching after.
It's widely recognised that the amount of "time on the ball" is closely correlated with long term ability and enjoyment of the sport, so it's been a priority for us to maintain the lengths of the coaching sessions, and to provide more coaching for more players. Not only will the players get more time with the ball and more matches, but the sessions will contain more flow, be less forced, and ultimately be more enjoyable and effective.
Elite Hockey
The club will continue to run Academy hockey sessions on a Monday evenings at Heath End for players aged 11 to 17 who have an elite attitude to their hockey and are willing to invest time and effort in improving their core skills. These are paid for sessions (£6) that operate as an addition to age group hockey. These sessions are run by our Elite coach Ian Jennings MBE (Jenno) and continued attendance will depend on attitude.
We want your child to enjoy their hockey and we prioritise their well-being. If after a few weeks Jenno and the other coaches think your child is not ready emotionally or physically for these sessions, it may be decided in conversations between coaches and parents that it is best for that individual child not to continue attending academy at this time. This does not mean they will not be ready at some point in the future.
In addition, from this season the club will be operating elite talent centre training sessions for 12-16 year olds on a Wednesday evenings at Heath End. These sessions will take place in four terms of 5 weeks within the normal season but will not replace age group training for the individual junior. Players are selected from age group hockey and/or academy training to attend and will retain involvement in age group matches. Each term operates as a discrete block and attendance at one term does not automatically mean attendance at all terms. Selection will be made on a term by term basis by coaches and assessment made against a core set of skills that will be constructed as part of a player profile openly available to parents and players.
Juniors into Adults
A newly-established player development forum will oversee progression of juniors into adult teams through a holistic assessment of a junior’s skills, mental and physical well-being. This is designed to ensure that junior players progress to and play within a team appropriate for their stage of development. Players’ allocations will be regularly reviewed to prioritise experience, development and well being.
Age group matches
For this season 21/22 there are some changes that have been made by England Hockey. These affect the number of teams and the types of games being played. y.
The new structure provides many more opportunities to play competitive matches. We have entered the following number of teams in each age group into leagues.
U8s – two 7-aside teams
U10s – two 7-aside teams
U12 Boys – three 7-aside teams
U12 Girls – five 7-aside teams
U14 Boys – one 11-aside team
U14 Girls – three 11-aside teams
U16 Boys – two 11-aside teams
U16 Girls – two 11 aside teams
U18 Boys – one 11 aside team
U18 Girls – one 11 aside team
Greater coaching support
We've always been enthusiastic about teaching the players to the best of our ability as a club, but we continue to build the professional coaching squad to lead the teams into higher levels. We also actively encourage adult players and older juniors to help with junior coaching as this is a Win:Win for them and the juniors.
Integrated coaching location
After years of junior coaching at Heath End, and at Frensham Heights, we're now where we can all be together for the morning - the Aldershot Army Astros where we will have both pitches in operation. We benefit logistically from having the coaching team in the same place - which allows us to maximise the quality of coaching across the pitches. Socially we think it will be stronger for the 'supporters club' to be in one place, and will certainly cut down on wasting time driving between two locations in a morning.
Even more specialist Goal Keeper Coaching
Our hugely successful goal keeper training over the last few seasons has spurred us on and we have now appointed Ian Murphy as our GK coach. Junior GK training will be every Sunday at Aldershot Army Astros 9AM - 10AM and able to join in with Age Group Coaching after.
AFHC Needs You!
All the club coaches and support staff are volunteers, and with the surge in growth and range of activities this year we're looking to specifically support those that would like to join us in promoting the welfare and enjoyment of our youngsters.
Thank you to all those that have already responded to our request for coaching assistants; if you would consider putting on a pair of trainers and help-out on the pitch - with support from a qualified coach - click here
However, the club does not run on coaches alone - in fact a bunch of people help out all over the place with various forms of administration and organisation including handling squad movements, marshalling cars, cooking at festivals and running the tea tent on Sunday mornings.
We need you! If you would consider being part of this off-pitch squad and helping out, please let us know by clicking the form link here. (Don't worry about knowing what to do - all guidance or training is provided!).
Thank you to all those that have already responded to our request for coaching assistants; if you would consider putting on a pair of trainers and help-out on the pitch - with support from a qualified coach - click here
However, the club does not run on coaches alone - in fact a bunch of people help out all over the place with various forms of administration and organisation including handling squad movements, marshalling cars, cooking at festivals and running the tea tent on Sunday mornings.
We need you! If you would consider being part of this off-pitch squad and helping out, please let us know by clicking the form link here. (Don't worry about knowing what to do - all guidance or training is provided!).
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We are the junior section of the Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club - a well-established community-based group that plays hockey within the Hampshire and Surrey leagues.
The junior section encourages players typically from 6-18 years old to explore the sport and discover the enjoyment to be had from a positive, healthy outdoor activity, and to guide them however far they want to go on the journey to athletic excellence. We would be prepared to consider some strong 5 year olds who are currently in school year 1.
Many of our junior players transition to our adult club, and go on to play at university, county and regional levels. |
I can't believe how much my children look forward to playing each weekend; whatever the weather they grab their sticks and head out the door - they love it! |
How we arrange our coaching
Specifically designed to promote the sport of field hockey to younger players, the AFHC Juniors section has over 360 members aged from 6 to 18. They are managed in age-based groups: Under 18/16s, Under 14s, Under 12s, Under 10s and Under 8s. Boys and girls play together in the U8 and U10 squads, and then separate from the U12 squads onwards.
The season runs from September until Easter with a Christmas break and the first Sunday off in each half-term.
The club welcomes all children with a positive attitude. Annual subscriptions are:
Youth (U18): £135
Youth (U16): £135
Youth (U14): £123
Youth (U12): £110
Youth (U10): £99
Parent/Guardian: £6 (we ask that a parent / guardian joins from each family)
The Annual subscription includes all training.
Match fees for U10s playing half pitch matches, plus all U12s and above matches are £6 per game to cover costs of pitches.
See our registration details for further information on this.
We use the 1st Sept as the cut off date to calculate ages. So the U10 squad is for children who turn 10 on or after 1st September.
The season runs from September until Easter with a Christmas break and the first Sunday off in each half-term.
The club welcomes all children with a positive attitude. Annual subscriptions are:
Youth (U18): £135
Youth (U16): £135
Youth (U14): £123
Youth (U12): £110
Youth (U10): £99
Parent/Guardian: £6 (we ask that a parent / guardian joins from each family)
The Annual subscription includes all training.
Match fees for U10s playing half pitch matches, plus all U12s and above matches are £6 per game to cover costs of pitches.
See our registration details for further information on this.
We use the 1st Sept as the cut off date to calculate ages. So the U10 squad is for children who turn 10 on or after 1st September.
It's so good to see them get up from the sofa and do something active - and our eldest has grown up and now plays hockey at university too. |
Vibrant enthusiasm
The junior section of our club trains most Sundays from September to March, play in multiple tournaments and leagues throughout the season, and host festivals for surrounding clubs. Parents are encouraged and guided to play an active role in the development and support of their own children, and many become part of the off-pitch crew or on-pitch coaching squad. Safe, experienced coaching - focusing on the fun All our coaching is overseen by level 2 / EH Award coaches, with level 1 / Sessional coaches and assistants providing the squad-based development. Our coaches are DBS checked and regularly trained in sporting first aid and child welfare. Boys and girls are coached together up to the season in which they turn 10, and then they are separated into different training squads, leading to the adult teams run by the adult section of the club. Guided transition to adult hockey We have an effective route for 13-year-olds to transition successfully from junior to adult games, with both men and women adult teams incorporating specific development sides, where experienced adult players - often coaches themselves - protect and develop the children into confident adult players. |
