What started with a few nervous moments quickly turned into one of the biggest successes of the summer! As registrations opened for this year's Summer Hockey Camp, numbers were initially lower than expected and there were genuine concerns that the camp might not be able to go ahead. Then, with just two days remaining before the first whistle, registrations came flooding in and we were delighted to welcome an incredible 41 young players for a fantastic week of hockey.
Seeing so many children arrive on Monday morning, full of excitement and eager to get started, was a wonderful sight. Alongside many familiar faces were several new players experiencing hockey for the very first time, and we hope this is only the beginning of their journey with Navan Hockey Club. The morning sessions welcomed our younger players aged 6–12, where the focus was on learning the fundamentals while having as much fun as possible. With the weather treating us to sunshine throughout the week, our coaches made sure everyone stayed safe with regular water breaks and plenty of opportunities to cool off in the shade.
One of the real highlights of the camp was seeing our fantastic Young Leaders step up to help
throughout the week. A huge well done goes to Leah, Andrea, Amabel, Penny, and Jack, who volunteered their time to help coach, encourage and support the younger children before taking part in the afternoon sessions themselves. Their enthusiasm, patience and leadership were outstanding. Spending long days in the sunshine helping coach younger players is no easy task, but each of them embraced the responsibility with smiles on their faces. Every one of our coaches was incredibly proud to see these young leaders giving back to the club and becoming fantastic role models for our newest members.
The afternoon sessions welcomed our older players, bringing together familiar teammates alongside several newcomers who quickly became part of the group. Throughout the week the players worked hard on developing a wide variety of skills, including:
- Aerials
- Sweep Passes
- Ball Control
- V-Drags
- Jab Tackling
- 3D Skills
- Deception Passing
- Lifting Skills
- Game Awareness
Each day finished with fun match play, allowing everyone to put their newly learned skills into practice. It was fantastic to watch players grow in confidence throughout the week, with many trying techniques they had never attempted before. The improvement from Monday to Friday was remarkable, and there is clearly plenty of talent coming through the ranks at Navan Hockey Club.
A huge thank you goes to our incredible committee members, coaches and volunteers who gave up their time to make the week such a success. John, Helen, Bronagh, Ruairi, Christine and Roisin, thank you for your commitment, enthusiasm and countless hours spent ensuring every child had a memorable experience. Without volunteers like you, events such as these simply wouldn't be possible.
We would also like to thank SHADSolutions for their support in designing and organizing the
new Summer Camp jerseys for this year's camp. The jerseys looked fantastic, and we truly appreciate their contribution to making the week even more memorable for our young players.
As another fantastic Summer Hockey Camp comes to a close, excitement is already building for the season ahead. Coaches are busy finalizing training groups and schedules, and preparations are well underway for another exciting year of hockey.
We look forward to welcoming back all our returning members, while also seeing many of our new Summer Camp participants join us for their very first season in a Navan Hockey Club jersey. The future of Navan Hockey Club is looking brighter than ever, and we can't wait to
get back out on the pitch with everyone!