National Training weekend is 16th and 17th January. Player Groups and Groups Timetable Over the past few months I have been working on reorganising my training structure for young players within the National Roller Hockey Association’s national training weekends. Whilst in a perfect world a player should be placed in their own age groups from as young an age as possible, we have to work with many constraints (i.e. numbers, financial costs, rink availability, distance etc.) within English Roller Hockey. Having given this matter much thought I feel that I have settled on a format that will not only serve the needs of today’s players but players for years to come. Format for National Training National training will be split into five sessions: 1. Basic training – 3 hours 2. Pre Project Development Squad – 3 hours 3. Final three years Preparation Squad – 3 hours (project 2012) 4. Final two years Preparation Squad – 4 hours (project 2011) 5. Final year Preparation Squad – 6 hours (project 2010) The 4 hours for the final 2 years preparation will take place on Saturday to ensure that for the Project 2011 works with Project 2012, then on their own and finally with Project 2010 – the cost for these 4 hours sessions will be £15. Project 2010 will have 3 hours on Saturday and 3 hours on Sunday to ensure that this Project can have time with Juniors Squad – the cost for both sessions will be £18. Basic Training These sessions will be adapted for the very young and inexperienced player. We will concentrate on basic skating, stick control and fundamental understanding of the game and rules. Pre Project Development Squads This group is for the more advanced players of any age group. While this group may be sub divided during its time allocation the structure will be the same i.e., covering a higher level of understanding of all aspects of the game. One major asset of this group will be for the development of the player coming into the project late, by allowing them to feel more comfortable and capable whilst they close the ability gap with their peers. Project Development Squads While players are grouped to allow for the successful development of teams for the Schoolboy European Championships, I may at my discretion introduce players above and below the age category to: a) enhance an individual’s development i.e. a younger player b) Strengthen groups for group experience i.e. an older player At all times the groups will constantly be re-assessed and players switched around to suit individual and squad needs. After each European Championship the year groups will automatically be moved up and a new year group introduced always giving more training/rink time to the final one and two year preparation squads. The cost of all other sessions will remain as they are at the moment, which is £12 for each 3hr session and £6 for siblings. Where a player is invited to attend a second session in NTW this cost will also be £6. Carlos Amaral