Tauranga Hockey Association

SMALL STICKS (Mini & Kiwi Sticks) -

PRIMARY SCHOOLS 2023

Playing and Non-playing Days

Coaches, Managers & Umpires Day: Saturday 29 April 2023

First day of games: Saturday 6 May 2023

Saturday 3 June - King's Birthday weekend - games ARE played.

Saturday 1July - first Saturday of the July holidays - games ARE played.

8 & 15 July (2nd & 3rd Saturdays of the July holidays) - NO games

Finals day: Saturday 26 August

Possible rain date -

2023 Handbook - Click here

2022 Small Sticks Managers Resource - Click here

Duty List for Primary Schools: This will be updated closer to the season start date - all teams will be required to do a duty/duties throughout the season

Umpire Courses - Small Sticks (Primary) Grade Click here for more details.

Umpire Registration - Click here

THA Coach's Handbook: A Small Sticks coach's handbook has been provided by the THA Coaching committee - To be published after Coaches, Managers & Umpires Day Click here

Practice Time and Turf Requests Template 2022: Click here

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What equipment does each player need? Mouth guard and stick are mandatory. Bay Orthodontics have again generously donated mouth guards in 2022. We strongly advise players to have shin guards but it is not mandatory eqiupment.

Does each team need a coach and an umpire? A coach yes, and an umpire, yes. The umpire is often a parent or an older sibling of a team member. There are umpiring clinics run to help the umpires learn the rules and gain confidence.

Can any year 3 - 6 child play hockey? Yes, primary school teams can be all-girls, all-boys teams or mixed gender.

What hockey can year 0 - 2 children play? Our funsticks programme is a great way to introduce children to hockey. We have several sessions each week in different locations. Click here for information.

Primary School Cancellations: Click here

Hockey is an all-weather, winter game. Games ARE played in the rain if the turfs are playable.If the rain becomes an issue causing flooding on the turfs then the coordinator onsite at Blake Park will make a decision about cancellations if needed throughout the morning. it will be the responsibility of coaches/managers at satellite sites to decide if turfs are unplayable and advise the draw steward via text as to what has happened for each game. If the decision is made to cancel it will be notified via facebook and website as outlined below:

Cancellations will be published on Tauranga Hockey Facebook page and THA Website from 7:10am Saturday.

The THA office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, only.

Phones are not answered on Saturdays or Sundays.

PRE-SEASON ADMINISTRATION

Team lists & player registratons are due: are due by Wednesday, 10 May 2023. For each team we require team name, coach and manager names and contact details (Email/phone) then players' names, gender, DOB and email address for each player. A template will be emailed to all schools and this is to be returned to competitions@tgahockey.co.nz 1 template per school.

Grading Guide: For team registration purposes we have produced a grading guide to assist with the initial grading of your teams for registering. Please register teams with a grade that as near as practicable matches the team's capabilities. The grading games for Kiwi Sticks will then be more relevant & the final grading of your team more suited to their ability. For the grading guide Click here

Primary Grades:

Kiwi Sticks Black Yr 6 & 5 (1/2 turf)

Teams can be made up of players in these categories:

Teams of players who have played 3 - 4 years
Teams with predominately Y6 players only
This grade will begin on ¼ turf for approximately the first 3 weeks then some teams will move to ½ turf

Kiwi Sticks White Yr 5 & 6 (1/4 turf)

Teams can be made up of players in these categories:

Teams of players who have not played before or have only played 1 or 2 years
Teams with predominately year 5 players

Mini Sticks Blue - 4 aside (Yr 4 & 3)

Teams can be made up of players in these categories:

Teams of players who have played more than 2 or 3 years
Teams of predominately Y4 players

Mini Sticks Orange - 4 aside (Yr 3 & 4)

Teams can be made up of players in these categories:

Teams of players who are new to hockey or have limited experience
Teams with predominately Y3 players

Don’t forget if you are unsure of which grade would suit a team or want to provide additional information about the team then please email competitions@tgahockey.co.nz

Match cards: to download a match card please Click here

Results: if you are playing at Tauranga Hockey Centre please hand the score card to the co-ordinator in the control room.

If you are playing at a satellite venue please text the result, or send a photo, to the draw steward on 027 533 2471.

Bay Orthodontics - Free Mouthguards in 2023 - Confirmed

Once again Mark and Kathryn Johnson of Bay Orthodontics have supplied free mouthguards for our primary school players, including our funsticks players. Thanks Bay Orthodontics for continuing this generous support. Please remember to mould the mouthguards before you come to the turf for your first game.