Benalla Hockey Club has been selected as Hockey Victoria’s ‘Hook In2 Hockey’ Club of the Month for May.
After over 65 kids aged between five and 12 years old participated in a series of free ‘come and try hockey’ afternoons in March, the Hook In2 Hockey program continued as ‘Stick 2 Hockey’ for 11 weeks from April to July, finishing in a fantastic presentation pight to celebrate the 33 players and 12 coaches.
Benalla's success truly stems from their dedicated coaches: all junior players themselves who teach the basic hockey skills through engaging games like ‘Hoctopus’, ‘Rob the Nest’, and ‘Number Hockey’, which many of the kids learn when the club brings the Hockey Victoria Hockey Roadshow to all of Benalla’s Primary Schools in February each year.
“Those girls (coaching) out there need medals, they do an absolutely fabulous job with the kids,” an U8 player’s mum was overheard saying.
Benalla’s Tomorrow-Today Foundation was acknowledged by the club, with their assistance with registration fees in 2025 being crucial in ensuring that every child in Benalla can access activities and belong to a club.
“We are honoured to be selected as a H2H Club of the Month,” said H2H coordinator and club president Lee Manning.
“It’s such fantastic recognition of all the hard work put in by our junior competition players who coach each week, as well as the effort of the H2H players themselves, they really all just have great fun together.”
Benalla is now in the running for Hook In2 Hockey Club of the Year, announced at Hockey Victoria’s awards dinner in September.
Further information can be found at www.hockeyvictoria.org.au/news.