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An increase in the number of teams in the Warkworth Hockey Club Summer Competition may spark growth in the winter league season. The summer comp has attracted over 200 players in 24 teams, four more than last season. Warkworth Hockey Club committee member Monique Hatfull says the winter competition struggled this year, losing two teams, but believes the summer season could fix the problem.
“We have a lot of new players in the competition and hopefully they will enjoy the game and get involved in winter,” Monique says.
The summer season runs from September 29 to December 14.
“We are at capacity with the number of teams we have this year, otherwise we would have to play until at least 10pm.
“We have also dissolved the competitive and social grade this year, and turned it into just a single grade. Each team gets to play a lot of different sides.”
The summer comp has a different format to winter hockey with only seven players in each team, half sized fields and some other alterations around play. Each side must include at least three girls to make the comp more even.
Monique says the number of umpires has also increased with five currently signed up.
“When we started the competition it was almost impossible to get any umpires but now a good group is coming through from the college.
“We’ve also started paying them, which is a good incentive to participate, but having around eight would be an ideal number.”
Once the seven-a-side competition wraps up for the New Year’s break, a nine-a-side full field comp will start in February.
“I think people are really enjoying the hockey at the moment and hopefully that carries into next year.
