HARD WORK and dedication from both players and coaches is paying off for Fjordhus Reivers as their mixed Under-14 squad takes its first steps into league competition.
Last weekend, the team travelled to Edinburgh to continue their campaign in the East Under-14 league and came away with two victories against well-established junior outfits.
The group train at Tweedbank twice weekly under the guidance of Pippa Bell, who told TheSouthern: “Competition at this level is important for the youngsters, so they can gauge how their training is going and it also allows the coach to assess their progress.”
Without doubt this proved positive on both counts at the weekend as the mixed team of boys and girls put on fine demonstrations of skill, team work and sportsmanship to win against Erskine Stewarts Melville (ESM) 4-1 and Waverley Inveresk Trinity (WIT) 4-0. These two clubs have been involved in junior hockey for many years, so it is testament to Pippa as coach and her young players that they are competing so confidently at a high level in their first year in the league.
It is also encouraging to see so many boys playing within the squad, which has so many members that the travelling team is selected on a rotational basis ensuring that all participants take it in turns to play.
The club is still developing and has the capacity to run five Under-12 squads, an Under-13 squad, an under-14 squad, a boys’ squad of 15 years plus, and two senior women’s and a men’s squad.
The club has also worked hard to ensure that all their squads have qualified coaches running every session and they, along with the many volunteers within the club, are providing the structure for its continuing success.