Hockey Clubs Celebrate First Season

Our club is a grassroots project which aims to promote the game of hockey in the locality. Absolutely no experience is required to join any group. This is particularly applicable to the adult session. The aim here being to get out, try something different, meet new people and challenge yourself to learn something new!" Jennifer Hyde

Ballinasloe Lions Hockey Club is coming to the end of their very successful 12-week trial period.
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Over the past number of weeks boys and girls aged 8-16 and a mixed adult group have been training weekly as they all came together to try out the sport, some for the first time.

The woman behind it all is Jennifer Hyde a star hockey player who started the project as she felt people in the locality would love to try the new sport out. “Our club is a grassroots project which aims to promote the game of hockey in the locality. Absolutely no experience is required to join any group. This is particularly applicable to the adult session. The aim here being to get out, try something different, meet new people and challenge yourself to learn something new,” states Jennifer.

​“As adults we push children out of their comfort zones but all too often we like to stay firmly in our own comfort zones. We have a number of adults who only started hockey this year and the feedback from them has been fantastic. Reassuring us that sport is for all and that we can indeed still surprise ourselves with our abilities once we allow the barriers to come down and let go of the fear of failure,” she added.

The club’s underage players had their first blitz recently in which they played against all four newly founded clubs in Connacht. They played the Loughrea Lakers, Athenry Swans and Tuam Falcons in what was a fantastic experience for all the new players.
“The club has a wide range of boys and girls in all age groups and it has been so rewarding to see the progression of these players week by week. Connacht Hockey has been incredibly supportive of our endeavours and they are running coaching courses for the fundamentals of hockey this Summer. Again, no experience is required to complete this one day course. Thanks to everyone for the fantastic support we have received so far, particularly from Ballinasloe Town Football Club who allow us to use their Astro turf pitches to run training sessions,”  Jennifer concluded.
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If you have any queries about the club and getting involved in any capacity, you can get in touch via their social media platforms on both Instagram and Facebook as well as via email at [email protected]  

Ava, Lydia, Lauren and Ryan front row - Cailín, Katie and Rebecca enjoying the blitz