I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as Club Captain, and to thank my predecessor Ella for her service. I hope I will be able to fill her very large (metaphorical) shoes. I am very grateful to have taken over the role in what is a very exciting time for the club. With the season in full flow, all five of our teams are playing fantastic hockey and continue to surprise opposition teams with an exciting, ruthless and fun brand of hockey. We have welcomed many new members this year and it is humbling to see so many people starting, continuing or restarting to play hockey.

BZ to all.

If you are one of the people that may not be familiar with the meaning of my last sentence I would like to specially mention you. (BZ is the abbreviation for Bravo and Zulu flags that are traditionally hoisted in the Royal Navy to signal a message of "Well done"). We too regularly mention (hark on about) the military component of our club, however, I would like to acknowledge the invaluable contribution that our non-military members bring to the club. You are the people that put up with endless stories of sea-time exploits and absorb the slack in squad numbers when each sailor gets called away at short notice to make yet more stories. You are all the bedrock of our club and ensure we continue to function and thrive. Please keep bringing your essential new fresh ideas, motivation and enthusiasm to the club. You are the best of us.

Thank you on behalf of the committee for the feedback you continue to give us on all aspects of the club's running and administration. The committee members remain dedicated to running and improving the club to be as good as possible. We need your opinions because without them our club will fall flat. A recent topic of discussion around the club and committee has been coaching so I would like to take this opportunity to relay the committee's thoughts on the subject.

Almost a year ago now, the committee decided that, in order to provide a better coaching product to the club, an additional training session should be added on Thursday evenings. As in most clubs around the country, the impracticality of running one session for the full range of playing standards in the club requires compromise on some player's development. To continue to run a common session, the club risked alienating new beginner joiners and also would remain unable to run complex tactical drills that enable the most advanced players to continue to develop, without moving to another club. This is the reason why two tiers of training were implemented at US. We do acknowledge that in return we now face a different set of compromises, such as; financial, how we decide who meets the standard to attend on Thursdays and forever the perceived injustice regarding the allocation of coaching resources across the club. The challenge for the committee is to balance this compromise and reach a solution that best fits the majority of club members.

At the same time as implementing an extra training night, US also set up a Coaching Development Pathway to try to develop coaches from within the club membership. This practice happens at every other local club in the area and is a recognised England Hockey process. Under the mentorship of the Professional Coach, we have players take the club training session on Wednesday evenings. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement that sees each developing coach hone their coaching skills whilst the club gains affordable and sustainable coaching. As a developing coach, there is always a risk that (like learning to walk) there will be activities that not everyone sees as instantly beneficial. It is the responsibility of everyone at training to recognise the development process of a coach and conduct themselves accordingly. Please note that although the club training is delivered by a developing coach, there is a basis of mentorship and high-level training knowledge behind it that would turn most local clubs green with envy.

Finally, I would like to end with a huge plea for your help. The club relies on all of its members to chip in and get involved. If you have some spare time and can see something that might be of benefit to United Services then do not hesitate. This could be engaging with the committee to improve the lived experience of the club, qualifying to umpire, getting involved with the coaching pathway yourself, organising a small social event or just participating to make the hockey as fun as humanly possible for all our members. Every small input will make United Services Portsmouth continue to be the best club in the area.

Good luck in the final games before Christmas, make the most of training before we break to counteract the mince pies and I will see you in the New Year for the push for promotion of all our teams.

Merry Christmas.

Yours in hockey,

Jamie Martin
Club Captain