To provide a safe environment for the development of young players (both boys and girls.)
Targeted at U13s and players not yet comfortable playing adult league hockey.
To provide regular Saturday fixtures to help advance youngsters and prepare them for the adult leagues.

There are no special rules for these fixtures, only guidelines.

We encourage players of all genders to play.

The choice of senior players is very important. Ideally, senior players should be able to work with the young players (sometimes, and if necessary, helping both teams) and be prepared to give the opposition the freedom to learn the game against teams with a similar ethos.

There is a gentleman’s agreement for senior players not to score goals. It is OK for senior players to enter the opposition's “D” with the ball, but they must not shoot directly at the goal and generally limit goals to only the youngsters (U15).

Senior players are also expected to “hold back / shadow” to enable all the junior players on either team to play, learn and practice their skills.

A “senior player” is classified as a player who regularly plays in a senior team or is 15 or older. Care needs to be taken when playing against very young or inexperienced players. Things such as “Drag Flicks” and “Aerial Balls”, whilst they are part of the game and need to be learnt, are rarely used in these matches (They must be controlled so that the whole experience for ALL players is a safe and satisfying one.)

The number of seniors you have on the pitch will partly depend on the team’s ability. Ideally, this should be 2 to 3 (max) - all ideally out field players.

Senior players should not try to dominate games or start to compete against each other.

Over the years, it has been great to see clubs buying into the ethos of the friendly fixtures and young players benefiting from the experience.

We want to thank club coaches, organisers, senior players, and parents at all clubs, who give up their time to make sure these fixtures work for the benefit of both their club juniors and the opposition juniors.

GUIDELINES FOR TEAMS IN THE DEVELOPMENT FIXTURES

GENERAL

The basic principle of the Development Fixtures is to provide an opportunity for young players to make an easy transfer from junior hockey to adult hockey, alongside and with the support of experienced players and coaches. It was initiated to provide a playing opportunity in a safe environment for young players, who, due to their age, are not allowed to play in adult teams. Another benefit is to reduce the number of players who leave the sport because of a lack of playing opportunities at the junior level.
The clubs entering teams in the Development Fixtures adopt the EH policies for the inclusion of young people in sport. Most young people who participate in hockey do so safely and enjoyably. However, there have been cases nationally where players have had a bad experience and adopting this document will help to reduce the risk of this happening in the future.
Clubs should promote the social side of the Yorkshire Development hockey by entertaining the opposition after the match (where possible and if required).
All members of the Yorkshire Development hockey support a code of behaviour for spectators and players to develop good discipline and sportsmanship, as well as an appreciation for good hockey.

TEAM STRUCTURE

The teams should comprise 8/10 juniors and 2/3 experienced players/adults. It is recommended that there should be a minimum of 2 adults and 8 juniors on the pitch at any time.
Juniors can be under 15 (max) but not regularly playing in a normal adult team.
Usually, mixed sex teams consisting of players under 13 years of age are the main target range.
It is recommended that Clubs use adults who have been DBS checked.
Only clubs that have a Child Welfare/Protection Policy in operation will be allowed to join the fixtures league.
Ideally, at least one qualified coach and First Aider should be present.
Umpiring to be done by individual clubs and encourage the use of junior umpires.
Entry is restricted to those clubs that wish to have their team play against like-minded junior development teams.
All other England Hockey rules to apply.

DUTY OF CARE NOTE - Safeguarding and Protecting Young people in Hockey.

The England Hockey Board (Website) is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all young people involved in hockey under the age of 18. It accepts the responsibility to help safeguard the welfare of young people and protect them from harm.

Every individual and Organisation within the hockey family has a role and responsibility to help ensure the safety and welfare of young people.

All clubs providing opportunities for young people in hockey must accept that they are required to fulfil their duty of care, which means that they must do everything that can be reasonably expected of them to help safeguard and protect young people from any reasonably foreseeable harm.

EHB’s policy is that players under the age of 13 are restricted from participating in adult hockey leagues until they reach their 13th birthday. This restriction is not intended to apply to the practice of mixing junior and adult players in formalised matches where these are specifically organised to ensure that the primary purpose is the development of the junior players.