The first ever EuroHockey Institute National Association webinar series kicked off on Thursday, with a special focus on Hockey ID (Intellectual Disability).
The EuroHockey Institute was joined by special guest speakers from the FIH and Special Olympics to help learn how to develop Hockey ID in national associations.
Participants learnt an understanding of who the stakeholders are that can help and support national associations.
This included a wide-reaching session finding out more about the programmes and resources that are being piloted thanks to a co-funded European Union project (Love is all) to help coaches, officials and volunteers.
Over 30 participants, representing 20 nations, joined the webinar and were given a better understanding of the competitions and events available.
Natasha Bruers, Sports Director at Special Olympics was on hand to show solidarity with hockey national associations and continue to press home how she can connect national bodies together.
Angus Kirkland (Director General, EuroHockey) was delighted to see so many nations join the call. “In recent years we have held a face to face forum in Brussels, which has been the foundation to grow this aspect of the game.
“Moving the forum online has given us the opportunity for new nations to join who do not have the means to travel to a central location so it was inspiring to see so many from Bulgaria to Gibraltar to Greece to Sweden.”
Norman Hughes, Global Lead for Hockey ID, FIH whom has been instrumental in developing coaching and officiating resources, enforced the message for those nations that had not started: “If you have 2, 3, 4 players, then start with that.
“Integrate and create game situations with the coaches and volunteers playing, be flexible with rules and regulations, and let them have fun and explore”.
This was evidenced by a pre-recorded video from the GB Special Olympics Hockey ID International Rob whom expressed the life changing moments Hockey and the Special Olympics has given him as an athlete.
** Above picture: Col Morley from the EuroHockey ID Championships 2019, Antwerp.
