England Hockey launches National Public Schools Festival in 2023

England Hockey has planned for public school hockey by launching a national 7-a-side festival scheduled for 2023.

The Nottingham event will be open to girls and boys under 14 and competitions are open to public schools anywhere in England, the national governing body announced on Friday.

The May 5 event at the Nottingham Hockey Center can accommodate 32 teams of each gender and the timings will maximize field time for each school. England Hockey says it is committed to “driving positive change in the sport, and hosting this event is an important step in broadening access to players from all walks of life”.

The Midlands and North East Yorkshire regions have introduced new public school competitions for the start of 2023 as part of a pilot for the new regions.

England Hockey chief executive Nick Pink said: “As a sport, we know more needs to be done to promote opportunities for all children and young people to benefit from physical education and school sport.

“Earlier this summer, our women’s and men’s teams wrote to the country’s prime minister candidates asking them to prioritize school sport, and I fully endorse that view. It starts with more qualified teachers. in every public school as a minimum provision.

“We are also grateful to the Midlands and North East Yorkshire for holding public school competitions in their areas; it is important that the sport at large helps us on this journey for the good of the game across the country.

The Hockey Diarythrough its open access campaign, called for more public schools.

England Hockey said there will be a £20 entry fee per team and schools will have to travel to Nottingham on their own, but EH will arrange the rest – pitches, times, referees, officials, presenter and system sound system, trophies and medals, risk assessment, medical coverage and coverage.

To register your interest, please complete this form by January 20 and places will be allocated based on when you register, so please act quickly.

The Midlands competition will take place on March 17, 2023 at Rugby School, Warwickshire – please contact Mindy on rd@rugbyschool.net

The North East Yorkshire event will take place on 7 March 2023 at Queen Elizabeth School, Hexham – please contact Maggie or Claire-Jane on jlc@yne.hockey