Hockey
Welcome back to school hockey
Hockey is gearing up for another exciting season with a great team of coaches for 2023-24.
Volunteer coach David Ferguson is our Director of Hockey, and he works closely with our Head of PE, HE and Sport Mr Brown, and our parent volunteers and young coaches to ensure all children of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to be part of the hockey programme. We also welcome new PE teacher Christie Rout this year to join the team, and she will be working with the S1s.
School sport is a valuable part of our children’s education, as research shows that it not only contributes positively to their physical and mental health and wellbeing, enabling them to develop friendships, new skills and confidence, and grow as people, but also improves educational attainment.
We will resume training in week commencing Monday 21 August and the door is open to EVERYONE, at any age in the school – particularly those who have not played hockey before. We have a full fixture list planned for all year groups, with bus trips to all schools in the Borders and some in Edinburgh, starting with matches away to Earlston High School on Friday 25 August.
Before then, we have consent forms that all parents must sign, and a new Kelso HS sports agreement with our code of conduct that all players must sign before they can play.
Players Welcome Session: In school on Friday, 18 August at 2pm-3pm, where players from S1 to Seniors will receive player agreements and agree plans for the season with their coaches.
Parents Welcome Session: In school on Wednesday 23 August, 6pm-7pm, featuring information on season plans, membership and kit details, child and safeguarding policies and potential end-of-season tour – for all parents of players from S1 to Seniors.
OPENING GAMES: Friday 25 August (bus leaves 2pm) – away to Earlston HS (details at training).
PLAYING TOPS: All teams will wear red tops, navy skort/shorts and red socks. S3s and Seniors will also need white tops as an alternative for cup matches – these can be ordered by emailing davidferg@btinternet.com.
MORE INFO: To get ahead of the game, a letter explaining all you need to know, and the 2023-24 consent form (parents/carers of all players must fill it in before they can play) is available in links below.
Training sessions (all 4pm-5.30pm)
Mondays – S1
Tuesdays – S2 & S3
Wednesdays – Seniors
Coaches
KHS Director of Hockey – David Ferguson (davidferg@btinternet.com)
Seniors: Emma Mack.
S3: Liv Ferguson.
S2: David Ferguson.
S1: Christie Rout.
Team managers to be confirmed.
We would like to thank all the parents who have stepped up to volunteer time and support, as hockey would not be possible without your help. We are still looking for adults to attend games on occasional Friday afternoons and/or Saturday mornings, to support coaches and help with overseeing pupil safety (you do not need to know anything about hockey and won’t be asked to coach or umpire!). Please contact David Ferguson (davidferg@btinternet.com) if able to help in any way.
We also need help to organise three fundraising events to help us cover the costs of buses and equipment. For example, one bus now costs up to £400 per game – and we plan 20+ fixtures & tournaments – while each junior goalkeeper kit now costs around £800. KHS, our excellent Parent Council and local charities provide valuable support, but we also require a £40 annual fee per player to be paid through ParentPay by end of September to help us to book bus travel for the season. If anyone requires longer to pay, we can arrange that.
Full information on high school hockey, with contact details and the mandatory consent form, are now available below – consent form has to be completed by parents of ALL CHILDREN, S1 to S6, at the start of each season, and returned to David (davidferg@btinternet.com), before your child can play.
Our new S1 squad will wear red tops this season and you can order these by emailing David, stating the size you require (XS, S, M or L). S3 and Senior players will also need white alternative tops for cup matches. They will be priced £25 each to be paid to Kelso HS via ParentPay. Details on the rest of the kit is available in the information letter (link below).
Fixtures
Important Documents