We have a successful youth training programme within SMHC. It all started about 11 years ago when the club was introduced to a concept call Champion Coaching. Whereby loacal clubs provided sports specific coaching to 13/14 year olds. Steve Tyley, a long time member both playing and club development
took on the role of chief coach, having already attained the necessary coaching qualification and with the support of a few club members started the ball rolling.

Our 1st group was small and consisted of 10-15 youngsters eager to learn the finer art of hockey: somewhat surprisingly the group was dominated by boys and with only one girl attending. From this base we set up groups
catering for younger players, this gave the youngsters a good grounding and they were all able to slot into the Champion Coaching programme once they reached 13. The luxury of having astroturf was at this time some
years off so the youngsters grazed their knees and wore their shoes out on the redgra shale pitch and even at times on the tarmac netball courts at Whitstone school.

From those somewhat humble beginnings and in no short measure due to much improved facilities the capacity grew accordingly to 2 sessions a week, split by age group as follows:

Under 11: 6pm-7pm

Under 10s 2011