Welcome to the Bishop’s Stortford Hockey Club guide for parents

Bishop’s Stortford Hockey Club is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all young people involved in hockey; we embrace and apply the framework and guidelines set by England Hockey to make sure we are using the most up-to-date and appropriate process to look after our Junior Players.

What can you expect from the club?

  • A friendly welcome, an opportunity to meet new friends play and watch hockey
  • Opportunities for your child to have fun and develop their game as much as they want to
  • A safe environment
  • Qualified coaches and responsible volunteers
  • Relationships based on trust, honesty and respect where your child is valued and listened to
  • Your child’s welfare and safety is paramount (but only the club’s focus when the children are on the Astroturf training or playing)
  • Club members will recognise your child’s rights, whatever your age, gender, culture, ability, language, religious belief, racial origin, and/or sexual identity
  • Clear lines of communication with you about your child, fixtures, training and events

What does the club expect from my child?

  • To adhere to the club’s codes of conduct

What do the club expect from the parent(s)/guardian?

The club does expect you to….

  • Ensure your child is wearing a mouth guard and shin pads during all coaching sessions and matches
  • If your child is a defender, they must have their own face mask
  • Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them
  • Discourage unfair play, arguing with officials and publicly accept officials’ judgements.
  • Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results
  • Set a good example by recognising fair play an applauding the good performance of all
  • For U13s; accompany your child to and from the pitch or ensure someone you trust accompanies them.
  • If your child has agreed to participate in an event and subsequently becomes unavailable, please telephone the appropriate official as soon as possible
  • Accompany your child to and from the Astroturf for training, and the designated drop-off and collection point for matches – PLEASE do not just drop them off in the car-park, as you will have no guarantee that the session for that day is definitely on, or that the captains or coaches are there to look after your children (as they may have been unavoidably detained for some reason)
  • Adhere by the club rules and codes of conduct
  • Register your child on the club website (by registering yourself) AND MAINTAINING ALL REQUIRED EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION that the club should know about – it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure it is up to date on the website, as this is the source the club will use for its most up- to-date information
  • Be aware that the club and its coaches only expect to look after the wellbeing of your child whilst they are on the Astroturf training/playing – at all other times they are YOUR responsibility

The club will expect you to….

  • ensure that your son/daughter is dropped off and picked up promptly from the club and matches
  • contact the captain or coach if you are running late to collect your child
  • accept the guidance that coaches provide and umpire’s decisions within matches
  • use correct language at all times
  • never force your child to participate

The Club would like you to…

  • become involved in the club as much as possible. This provides your child with the support to enjoy their hockey support the coaches by ensuring your child enjoys theirs
  • feel able and willing to take on a volunteer role within the club
  • enjoy playing hockey but plays within the rules of the game
  • encourage fair play
  • encourage your child to recognise good performance, not just results

Communication

  • The club will need to ensure they can contact if required, so we will ask you for your contact details
  • It is part of the hockey philosophy that you are involved in your child’s interest. Please ensure that you build a relationship with the coach and support the club by completing all paperwork required
  • Communication is two way and if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in hockey please talk to his/her coach or captain

What do I do if I am concerned about my child’s safety, well-being or behaviour?

  • In the first instance please look at the Safeguarding page
  • The Club has a Child Welfare Officer – Pippa Bull whose details are on the website here
  • Please ask to speak with them and explain you concerns
  • All concerns will be taken seriously and investigated
  • All concerns will be treated in the strictest confidence, with only the people who can help the situation becoming involved if required

If you have any questions or queries please get in touch either via this link (queries) or come and speak to a member of the coaching staff before, during or after training.

Relevant documents


Intrested in playing hockey yourself, then why not try out our Back to Hockey sessions…?