YOUNGEST YOUTH
Welcome to the information page for the youngest youth of Hockey Club 's-Hertogenbosch!
This information is intended for all children and their parents/guardians aged 4 to 10 (Funkey hockey players and the youngest youth) who would like to play hockey at Hockey Club 's-Hertogenbosch (HCDB). We currently do not have a waiting list for the youngest youth.
On this page you will find information about:
- Teams
- To register
- Trainings
- Matches
- Parents
At HCDB, around 375 members of the Junior Youth team train and play every week, with fun being the top priority! The Junior Youth teams are divided into: the Funkeys (training minis), Under 8s (groups of 3), Under 9s (groups of 6), and Under 10s (groups of 8). The age groups run (based on date of birth) from October 1st to September 30th.
Like many clubs, HCDB relies on volunteers. This means we're always looking for enthusiastic parents! This could be for coaching a junior team, leading a weekly mini-training session, managing Saturday morning games, or serving on one of HCDB's committees. If you're interested in any of these activities, please contact minicommissie@hcdenbosch.nl.
Teams
Depending on the children's ages, they play in different formations. Below you'll find information about how these formations are formed.
Als we de 6-jarige Jongste Jeugd periode opdelen in 12 blokken van een half jaar kunnen we dat schematisch als volgt weergeven:
| Youngest Youth Period | Name | Youngest Youth Period | Name | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st half year | FunKey | 4 years | 7e halfjaar | Under 8 / 3-persons | 7 years |
| 2e halfjaar | FunKey | 4 years | 8th half year | Under 9/6s | 7 years |
| 3rd half year | FunKey | 5 years | 9th half year | Under 9/6s | 8 years |
| 4th half year | FunKey | 5 years | 10th half year | Under 9/6s | 8 years |
| 5th half year | Trainingsmini's | 6 years | 11th half year | Under 10/8s | 9 years |
| 6e halfjaar | Under 8 / 3-persons | 6 years | 12th half year | Under 10/8s | 9 years |
FunKey training courses
Children aged 4 and up are welcome to join the Funkeys. The children play and exercise once a week, on Wednesdays. Depending on the composition of the Funkey group, time is set aside during training for playing hockey-related games. There is currently no waiting list for this youngest group. Classes are for boys and girls together.
Once your son or daughter has registered, they can start training immediately after contacting the mini-committee. They can also try out two Funkey training sessions and then become a member. This can be done throughout the season by appointment with the mini-committee. Friends who haven't yet registered with HC 's-Hertogenbosch but would like to attend a trial lesson can sign up using the registration form on the website or by contacting the mini-committee or the secretariat.
Training minis 6-year-olds
As a (nearly) 6-year-old, you become a training mini. You'll be assigned to a team consisting of approximately 8 children. Training takes place once a week on Wednesday afternoons. Training is limited to regular training sessions until the fall break. After the fall break, matches are played against the other training minis, which continue until the winter break.
After six months of training and competitive play, the Under-8s participate in the spring competition after the winter break. The team is split into two teams and plays two 3-a-side matches. Matches are played on a 1/8-inch pitch with six goals. Each team plays two matches simultaneously.
The matches last 2 x 15 minutes.
After the 12th half year in the Youngest Youth period, the Youngest Youth flows into Under 8 / 3-teams.
Under 8 / 3-groups (6 & 7 year olds)
After playing for six months as a training mini in the Under 8 team, you will play in the Under 8 team as a 3-man squad at the start of the following season until the winter break.
Under 9/6s (7 & 8 year olds)
After the winter break, your team will continue as a group of 6. This means you'll play on a quarter-sized pitch, with 6 players on the pitch, including one goalkeeper. Matches last 2 x 25 minutes; this competition is called the Under 9s.
Training will take place twice a week throughout the season, on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Every Friday afternoon, starting in the second half of the season, there will be a goalkeeper training session for the child playing that week's match. This will take place before or after the team training session between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, so the goalkeeper can participate in both sessions.
Under 9/6s (7 & 8 year olds)
After the summer, the 6-teams will continue playing as a 6-team in the Under-9s for the entire season, albeit with a new team composition. Training will continue twice a week this year. In addition, there will be a goalkeeper training session every Friday afternoon before or after their own training session for the child playing that week's match. This session will take place before or after the team training session between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Goalkeepers are welcome to participate in both sessions.
Under 10/8s (9 and 10 year olds)
The eight-a-side teams are the last teams to be classified as "Youngest Youth," the competition being called Under 10. The following year, teams move up to the youth level, and the teams become eleven-a-side teams. A team of eight consists of approximately 10 players. Games are played on half a field, and matches last 2 x 30 minutes.
Training takes place on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. There's also goalkeeper training every Friday afternoon for the child who is playing in the match that week.
After your child turns 10, the youngest youth group moves on to the Under 11 (O11) group.
Procedure for Team Composition for the Youngest Youth HCDB
The most important thing for the youngest youth is that they enjoy playing hockey. They experience this enjoyment when they collaborate with their teammates, coaches, trainers, and parents to create a fun, social, and sporting season. Because the age at which children start playing hockey is getting earlier, differences in skill level between children are more likely to arise, which can impact their enjoyment of the game.
As a mini-committee, we strive to form teams of children who are roughly like-minded in hockey, within the age range established by the KNHB (Royal Dutch Hockey Federation). (According to the vision presented by the KNHB in 2018). This involves considering: motivation, team attitude and behavior, coachability, child characteristics (thinkers, doers, dreamers); tactical insight, game insight, motor skills; ball control and stick agility.
Friends' requests are ignored. This is to ensure all children start on a team with equal social skills. Cliques are prevented, and playing hockey with a variety of children stimulates social development (making new friends, forming groups).
The mini-committee's principle is that children are placed on the new team with at least two other children from the current team. It's not always possible to maintain this principle. Friends can be requested from youth onwards.
Registration/enrollment
Interested? Come take a look, or even better, sign up for a trial session!
Click here if you want to register your child. We'll do our best to contact you as soon as possible so your child can train with a team. Joining is possible throughout the year if there are teams that don't yet have the maximum number of children. There are three times during the season when we can form an additional team, provided all teams are full and numbers allow.
At the end of each season, new teams are formed. We currently don't have a waiting list for the youngest youth team.
For information about the options, please contact the mini-committee by email. Please include your child's name and date of birth, along with your question, and your phone number.
Trainings
Shin guards and a hockey mouthguard are required for training and matches. Children also need artificial turf shoes, a hockey stick, and comfortable sportswear.
We appreciate it if you let us know if children are unable to attend training. If training is cancelled, for example due to bad weather, we will notify you around noon on the day of the training. The season calendar lists all regular training dates.
Training schedule
At the youngest youth on the following days:
- Funkey's: Wednesday afternoon
- Training minis (first-years): Wednesday afternoon
- Groups of 3 (Under 8): Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon
- 6-a-side (Under 9): Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon
- Groups of 8 (Under 10 years): Tuesday afternoon and Friday afternoon
The complete and up-to-date training and competition schedule can be found elsewhere on the website and, of course, in the HCDB app. The HCDB app also includes news and a calendar function.
On Wednesday afternoons, training sessions are provided by students from Koning Willem I College, among others. The other Wednesday training sessions, as well as those on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, are led by our own youth players trained by the club, or, of course, by parents who volunteer to coach their youngest youth teams.
Keeperstraining
On Friday afternoons, all teams that play with a goalkeeper have goalkeeper training, provided by the goalkeeper school. The player assigned as goalkeeper on Saturday participates in goalkeeper training before or after the team training session.
Matches
In addition to shin guards and a mouthguard, a club uniform is required for matches. This can be obtained from Teun van Pelt in Hinthamerstraat or from the Club Shop in the clubhouse lobby.
Team sport
When you start playing hockey, you're participating in a team sport. No one can be left out at the matches, otherwise your team will be short-staffed. The hockey season consists of the fall competition from September to December, followed by the winter break. In the spring, we play the spring competition. The hockey season concludes with the mini-final day. This is a competition day with games that brings the hockey season to a close in a fun way (all teams are expected to be present).
Game guide
All mini teams have two coaches, and all mini team matches are supervised by parents. Because not all parents are familiar with coaching or the rules of the game, a coaching evening and a rules evening are organized annually.
The information desk in the clubhouse is staffed during competition days. Coaches can register and pick up match supplies there. In principle, a member of the mini-committee is always present, along with two parents from a Junior Youth team. These teams are designated in advance by the mini-committee.
Parents
HC 's-Hertogenbosch is a club that unites members and parents. Without each other's support, it's impossible to give everyone a good experience at the club. That's why we need each other. What can the club expect from parents?
Coaching the youngest youth teams
The club is reaching out to parents for coaching. After the team roster is finalized, the mini-committee will contact all parents about coaching their child in the Juniors category. All parents are welcome to participate, including those without hockey experience. The goal is to provide enthusiastic and structured guidance to a team. Having fun is also paramount. A maximum of two coaches per team may apply. Coaches are expected to enjoy coaching in a positive way, promote team building, arrange substitutes, maintain contact with parents (planning and communicating announcements from the mini-committee), distribute tasks among parents, and complete the match form digitally for each match. A coaching evening is held at the beginning of the season. Coaches with little experience can consult the coaching booklet (available on the KNHB website – Juniors category). Highly recommended!
Whistling Youngest Youth Matches
At our club, parents referee the matches of our youngest youth players (groups of 3, 6, and 8), including, of course, the match of their son or daughter. The club aims to encourage greater parental involvement and promote hockey knowledge. Our youngest youth players still have a lot to learn about hockey and the rules, so explanations during the match, while refereeing, are sometimes necessary and desirable. At the beginning of the season, we always organize a special rules evening for parents. Afterwards, if you're interested, you can take the full referee course (2 evenings exam). You can find more information about this on the Refereeing page.
Rijschema
To be able to play away games, parents are expected to drive. The driving schedule is set by the coach or manager. If parents are unable to attend, they must swap places. Coaches rotate their team's driving shifts. It is preferable to travel to away games together to promote camaraderie and team spirit.
Information desk for the youngest youth on Saturday
On Saturday mornings from 7:30 AM to 10:15 AM, parents of a Junior Youth team staff the information desk. The team receives an email requesting that two parents be present at the designated time. A member of the mini-committee is always present to assist with the initial set-up. Starting at 10:15 AM, the junior team's parents take over.
Tasks include:
- Provide information to own and visiting teams,
- Provide pylons,
- Provide orange juice and coffee tokens to coaches,
- Collecting cones after the match.
Ranjabar Youngest Youth
During the information desk service, parents are also asked to staff the "juice bar." This involves filling the juice jugs, setting them up, and cleaning them up.
