The Junior Kings Inline Roller Hockey team was formed by a group of aging parents who did, or have played Ice Hockey, Roller Hockey or both at some point in their lives, not surprisingly for a team named “The Sheffield Kings”.
With their children now at an age in which they are able to participate in the sport they grew up with, the “team” was formed to enable the children to play in a safe space, no matter the weather.
“Team” is used loosely – we are not an official team, yet… but in time, who knows. Initially this started out as a small group of dads and lads. Word has since spread and we now have a sizeable group of friends of friends of friends who regularly attend.
Communication and Coordination
Spond is utilised for managing session schedules and attendance. Eventually, it may be used for payments. Spond is a free application available on iOS and Android devices. Please respond to the invites that go out through Spond ahead of the sessions. Knowing an approximate attendance will help us to plan the sessions and ensure sufficient equipment is available.
WhatsApp is also used for communication before, during and after sessions. You can be added to the group if you intend to participate.
Costs
The sessions cost £5 per household family. We’re not in this to make money. We simply need to cover the costs of the hall hire, equipment and sundries. So whether you have one child, or four, we only need £5 from you. This may change if we start to struggle, but so far so good. Of course, we’ll gladly take more from you if you feel the session is worth more to you. Any additional funds raised will go into the pot and cover equipment costs and future hire.
About the sessions
The sessions are booked for 90 minutes. Some of this time is lost to setting up and clearing down. We try to split the sessions into three periods. Arrivals & Warmup, Basic Hockey Drills and Skills and then a “game”.
Throughout the sessions many of the parents will be on skates and will be involved, some will be able to assist with the basics of skating and hockey knowledge – but note, none of the parents are registered or qualified coaches. As we get busier, adults will be asked to step aside to allow the children to participate.
Hockey is an exciting and fast-paced sport, but it is important to remember that it can also be dangerous. Injuries are always a possibility, and participants take part entirely at their own risk. We encourage everyone to play safely, use the proper protective equipment, and enjoy the game while being mindful of their own safety and that of others.
Occasionally, photos and videos may be taken of children participating in our activities. The main reason for taking photos is for parental use and for sharing within the WhatsApp group, primarily for making memories and sharing with family members. Photos will NOT be published externally without identities being hidden or permission sought. As an example of when and why photos might be used externally, venue(s) have occasionally asked for photos demonstrating the use of the facilities.