The Christmas term is a busy hockey term with up to 50 matches being scheduled between September and December, across U13, U15 and senior 1st XI and 2nd XI teams. The opposition ranges from weekday games against local schools, to matches against ladies hockey clubs and also fixtures further afield at weekends against other independent schools such as Barnard Castle, Stonyhurst, Sedbergh, Rossall and Austin Friars. In the second part of the Easter term hockey resumes as normal for the U13 and U15 teams and the Senior squads play Hockey 7's. This is a relatively new development in Cumbria and St Bees host various 7's tournaments and travels around the county to events in Carlisle, Penrith and Wigton. Hockey 7's is played on the full pitch and is progressing quickly into a popular version of the full XI a side game.
Every girl has the opportunity to represent the School at County Hockey Tournaments from U12-U18 level and winners of North Cumbria play section winners from the South as part of England Hockey's National Schools competition. The U16 team were successful last year and St. Bees School represented Cumbria in the final. Various girls regularly attend the County Junior Development Centres and our current 1st XI goalkeeper, Georgiana Oldham, is the Cumbria U16 goal keeper.
The hockey staff at St Bees School are also coaches/players with local ladies hockey clubs and girls will often opt for even more hockey and attend evening training, additional matches and Sunday tournaments. Transport is available and training takes place with Western Lakes Ladies at Cleator Moor astroturf and Keswick Ladies at Cockermouth astroturf on Monday evenings.
All girls at U16 level attend the England Hockey Umpires Award. The course has been successfully running for ten years and to date we still have a 100% pass rate. The course requires the girls to take a rule based examination and then be practically assessed whilst umpiring a match. It is always good to see later in the season, the same girls volunteering to umpire at various junior fixtures or training sessions.
Inter-house matches at U12-U18 level are also fiercely played at regular times during the season and the Senior Lonsdale girls versus Grindal Boys versus School House triangular tournament increases in popularity and competitiveness every year. Last year the Parents v Pupils fixture was re-established and although some extra help was drafted in, the parent team was particularly talented. This year the full strength 1st XI team will definately be fielded and hopefully the girls will have a better result! It was lovely to see so many mother and daughter combinations on the pitch at one time.
The Prep School are coached by Mrs Howorth (Level 2 Coach) in the England Hockey 'mini' version of the game, called Quicksticks. The School offers a ten week course designed at introducing 7-11 year olds to the core skills required to play the small sided 4 a-side Quickstick game. This early introduction to hockey and team sports is fundamental in the development of physical skills needed in many sports and Mrs Howorth comments that, “ the pupils are already showing a lot of potential as hockey players".
At junior level (1st and 2nd form) all girls are asked to represent the School in frequent weekend and Thursday games. The season comprises of a mixture of full XI a-side U13 matches and also 7 a-side U13 A and B team fixtures. This allows for the Development Group to work along side the U13 team, so that all girls experience competitive matches at every ability level and players new to the School with previous hockey experience are able to progress even further.
The U15 Squad and Development Group (3rd and 4th form) continue to work on refining their core skills into a more strategic and competitive understanding of the sport. A busy fixture list for midweek and weekend fixtures enables the team to work on their strengths and also recognise areas for development.
The senior girls (1st XI and 2nd XI) play on Wednesdays and Saturdays against local schools, Ladies Hockey Clubs and other independent schools. They train three times a week and many also train with local Clubs. The girls embrace the extra commitment and focus needed to achieve at this level of competition and the vast majority of the senior school girls are involved.
Hockey staff:
Mrs Bromiley: Head of Girls Games/ umpire/ 1st XI coach
Mrs Dearden: PE teacher/ umpire/ 2nd XI coach
Mrs Howorth: Level 2 Coach/ umpire/ U15 coach
Mrs Styles: U13 Coach/ umpire
Mrs Heap: Coach and umpire
Every girl has the opportunity to represent the School at County Hockey Tournaments from U12-U18 level and winners of North Cumbria play section winners from the South as part of England Hockey's National Schools competition. The U16 team were successful last year and St. Bees School represented Cumbria in the final. Various girls regularly attend the County Junior Development Centres and our current 1st XI goalkeeper, Georgiana Oldham, is the Cumbria U16 goal keeper.
The hockey staff at St Bees School are also coaches/players with local ladies hockey clubs and girls will often opt for even more hockey and attend evening training, additional matches and Sunday tournaments. Transport is available and training takes place with Western Lakes Ladies at Cleator Moor astroturf and Keswick Ladies at Cockermouth astroturf on Monday evenings.
All girls at U16 level attend the England Hockey Umpires Award. The course has been successfully running for ten years and to date we still have a 100% pass rate. The course requires the girls to take a rule based examination and then be practically assessed whilst umpiring a match. It is always good to see later in the season, the same girls volunteering to umpire at various junior fixtures or training sessions.
Inter-house matches at U12-U18 level are also fiercely played at regular times during the season and the Senior Lonsdale girls versus Grindal Boys versus School House triangular tournament increases in popularity and competitiveness every year. Last year the Parents v Pupils fixture was re-established and although some extra help was drafted in, the parent team was particularly talented. This year the full strength 1st XI team will definately be fielded and hopefully the girls will have a better result! It was lovely to see so many mother and daughter combinations on the pitch at one time.
The Prep School are coached by Mrs Howorth (Level 2 Coach) in the England Hockey 'mini' version of the game, called Quicksticks. The School offers a ten week course designed at introducing 7-11 year olds to the core skills required to play the small sided 4 a-side Quickstick game. This early introduction to hockey and team sports is fundamental in the development of physical skills needed in many sports and Mrs Howorth comments that, “ the pupils are already showing a lot of potential as hockey players".
At junior level (1st and 2nd form) all girls are asked to represent the School in frequent weekend and Thursday games. The season comprises of a mixture of full XI a-side U13 matches and also 7 a-side U13 A and B team fixtures. This allows for the Development Group to work along side the U13 team, so that all girls experience competitive matches at every ability level and players new to the School with previous hockey experience are able to progress even further.
The U15 Squad and Development Group (3rd and 4th form) continue to work on refining their core skills into a more strategic and competitive understanding of the sport. A busy fixture list for midweek and weekend fixtures enables the team to work on their strengths and also recognise areas for development.
The senior girls (1st XI and 2nd XI) play on Wednesdays and Saturdays against local schools, Ladies Hockey Clubs and other independent schools. They train three times a week and many also train with local Clubs. The girls embrace the extra commitment and focus needed to achieve at this level of competition and the vast majority of the senior school girls are involved.
Hockey staff:Mrs Bromiley: Head of Girls Games/ umpire/ 1st XI coach
Mrs Dearden: PE teacher/ umpire/ 2nd XI coach
Mrs Howorth: Level 2 Coach/ umpire/ U15 coach
Mrs Styles: U13 Coach/ umpire
Mrs Heap: Coach and umpire