The Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association is recruiting coaches and soon to be coaches to help our wonderful program that spreads our favourite sport of field hockey to the developing youth. It is great to enjoy PLAYING but we can learn a lot about ourselves as coaches AND we need to continue to give back and develop the league to keep our sport growing! Be a part of that movement and it starts RIGHT NOW!

I am the Master Coach for the Victoria Junior Field Hockey Association and my job is to help coach the coaches – that’s YOU! Regardless of your expertise, ability or experience YOU are a fitting coach for this league as long as you want to help grow the game and you enjoy the sport yourself :) Now, stay with me…

This year’s league starts April 11 (boys) and April 12 (girls) and runs to June 22. Don’t worry you are allowed to have other commitments and go on holidays. I will shuffle coaches around to meet YOUR flexibility and schedule! I still want your commitment so IF you are event the slightest bit interested and want to ask super specific questions about any hesitations just e-mail me back and let me know the following:

1. Are you interested in helping coach April 11-June 22 (all sessions at UVic) ?
2. Specify if you have a preference for a particular day/time OR what gender and age group you want to coach (specify if you have no preference)
3. Specify if you have someone you want to coach WITH (whether that’s a specific person or for ex. you want to learn from a more experienced coach)
4. Specify what role you think YOU would take on if you know (lead coach, assistant coach, parent coach)
5. Would you be interested in helping in multiple age groups?

That being said, here are the commitments and age groups;

KINDIES (Boys & Girls Age 4-5) : Sundays 9-10 am

GIRLS
Under 8: Sundays 9-10 am
Under 10: Sundays 10:15-11:45 am
Under 12: Sundays 12-1 pm & Thursdays 6:15-7:15 pm
Under 13: Sundays 1:15-2:15 pm & Thursdays 7:30-8:30 pm
Under 15: Sundays 2:30-3:30 pm & Wednesdays 7:30-8:30pm
Under 18: Tuesdays 7:30-9 pm

BOYS
Under 8: Saturdays 9-10 am
Under 10: Saturdays 9-10:30 am
Under 13: Saturdays 10:45-11:45 am & Tuesdays 6:15-7:15 pm
Under 15: Saturdays 10:45-11:45 am & Tuesdays 6:15-7:15 pm
Under 18: Tuesdays 7:30-9 pm

There will be a Coaches Meeting on April 7th and April 8th at UVic’s McKinnon Building, Room 150, from 7:00-8:30pm. You must attend one of these sessions.

Before you get intimidated by commitments – did I mention that a Master Coach will typically be at your sessions to help you out and guide you and help YOU learn! ALSO EVERY session comes with a practice plan! SO, all I need from you is your time and commitment and if you aren’t entirely sure yet – just e-mail me back to let me know you are interested.

All of the league information is available online at victoriajuniorfieldhockey.ca

Looking forward to hearing back from each of you! Please pass this on to anyone else you think might be a fitting and/or interested coach in our spring league. Everyone is welcome to help!

PLEASE RESPOND BY FRIDAY, MARCH 20!

- Ali Lee

e-mail: alilee05@gmail.com
mobile: 250-686-8913

As of Jan. 1, 2015, the newly-announced changes and additions to the rules as outlined by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will be in effect.

An OPEN rules briefing and education session will be held on both Jan. 5 and 8. All umpires must attend one of the sessions, while it also strongly encouraged for team captains and any VILFHA members to also attend. This will be a gradual learning process for everyone involved and the more people that attend a briefing, the quicker the education process.

WHAT: 2015 Rules Briefing
WHEN: January 5 and 8, 2015 from 7-9 p.m.
WHERE: Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE), Room 329A (4371 Interurban Road)
WHO: Lead by Chris Wilson

Please review the latest rule change publication PRIOR to attending the session here:
http://www.fih.ch/files/Sport/Umpires/2015%20FIH%20Umpires%20Briefing%20V1%20as%20at%2016%20December%202014.pdf

Please direct any questions prior to the session to Denise McGeachy at denise.mcgeachy@gmail.com

Vancouver Island is home to three premier level field hockey teams including the University of Victoria Vikes men and women, as well as the Kirby’s Island Wildcats women. All three teams host games throughout the year at the University of Victoria water-based turf. Admission to the UVIC women’s games can be found at govikesgo.com/tickets while the Vikes men and Island Wildcats women’s games are free.

Premier action kicks off this weekend, Sept. 20, with a double header! The Wildcats host the Jokers at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Vikes men hosting Burnaby! Get your fill of the island’s best hockey!

PREMIER MEN
Sept. 20: 2:00 p.m. – Vikes vs. Burnaby Lakers (Premier)
Nov. 8: 2:00 p.m. – Vikes vs. TBD (Premier)
Nov. 29: 2:00 p.m. – Vikes vs. TBD (Premier)

PREMIER WOMEN
Sept. 3: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Sept. 10: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Sept. 17: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Sept. 20: 12:30 pm – Wildcats vs. Jokers (Premier)
Sept. 24: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Sept. 27: 12:30 pm – Vikes vs. India Club (Premier)
Oct. 1: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Oct. 4: 11:00 am – Vikes vs. Calgary (Canada West)
Oct. 5: 11:00 am – Vikes vs. Calgary (Canada West)
Oct. 8: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Oct. 11: 11:00 am – Vikes vs. UBC (Canada West)
Oct. 12: 11:00 am – Vikes vs. UBC (Canada West)
Oct. 15: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Oct. 18: 12:30 pm – Vikes vs. TBD (Premier)
Oct. 22: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Oct. 29: 6:30 pm – Vikes vs. Wildcats (Exhibition)
Nov. 22: 12:30 pm – Wildcats vs. TBD (Premier)

For more information on the Vikes visit govikesgo.com and for the Kirby’s Island Wildcats visit facebook.com/islandwildcats

Photo: Last year’s winners of the 2013-14 Intramural 7-Aside (Team Brown Sugar)

If you are looking for recreational, casual, lots of touches hockey then you need to play 7-aside half field hockey! Last year this league moved to join up with the University of Victoria Vikes Intramurals program because the cost is significant lower and UVic helps maintain the administration and manages officials. If you are interested in playing or officiating please read below!

7-ASIDE CO-ED INTRAMURALS
MONDAYS: 6:30-7:30 pm (Sept. 15 – Nov. 24)
This league will also continue Jan-Apr but you will have to register again in Dec.

TO REGISTER:
(a) AS A TEAM (suggested minimum of 10 players)
Register at vikesrec.ca using the barcode: 35723
- Members (If all players are Vikes students/faculty)* $179.00* per team
- Non-members $243.00 per team (less than $25 per person if you have 10 people!!)

(b) AS AN INDIVIDUAL (you can request to play with someone if needed)
Register at vikesrec.ca using the barcode: 35722
- non member – $42.00 per person
- member $36.00 per person

If you have any questions or you want to umpire (paid based on experience), please contact imfun@uvic.ca or visit www.vikesrec.ca

Mark your calendars! The Canadian Junior National Development Squad is coming to Victoria to run a mini-camp for field hockey players aged 8 – 15, and will also put on an inter-squad exhibition game.

Come and learn some new skills from up-and-coming Canadian players (including Victoria players Josh Brown and Michael Brown), and watch those skills in action on the field!

When: Saturday, August 16
Where: UVIC’s Field Hockey Turf
Who: Camp is for players aged 8 – 15, game is open to all spectators
Details: 12:45 – 1:30 – Mini skills camp hosted by Junior National Development Squad
1:30 – 2:00 – Game warm up
2:00 – 3:30 – Junior National Development squad inter-squad exhibition game

No need to pre-register – looking forward to seeing you there!