Club Open Day Events

• Raise the profile and embed your club in the local community​
• Engage with new, different audiences by offering new playing opportunities and hockey experiences​
• Develop and build relationships with local companies and schools for long-term sustainability​
• Recruit new members (all ages), volunteers or bring back some of those players that have drifted away​
• Celebrate our sport with your members 
   

There are loads of things you can do at a Pick Up a Stick Open Day to engage with your local community and existing members – taster sessions for different age groups, Olympic watch parties, BBQ, social matches, Walking Hockey, skill sessions etc... the list endless.


 

England Hockey will provide support and resources for clubs on a local and national scale, including: 

• National Marketing Campaign – Central ClubSpark platform to host, promote and manage sign ups for your Pick Up a Stick Open Days. Supported by a paid social media campaign to help promote and signpost participants to your event. 
• Capri Sun ​'Free Sports Sessions' Campaign - A new campaign which encourages young people to try new sports – one of which will be hockey. Starting on 1 May 2024, they will be adding a QR code to 3.7m multipacks of Capri-Sun, directing customers to a central page where they can find participating sports clubs.  All of our Pick Up A Stick Open Days will appear on their campaign microsite. 
• Activation Packs with digital assets, top tips and guidance to help you kickstart your activity​
• Summer of Hockey Web Hub – Support and resources including Summer of Hockey Activity Booklet  
• Marketing Portal – Summer of Hockey branded marketing templates and assets to help kickstart your activity
• Fixture Generator – Make tournament planning a breeze​
• ClubSpark – Training and guidance​ to support your Pick Up a Stick Open Days
• Buddle - Marketing & promotion forum and ongoing support, guidance and workshops to help engage with new local audiences

Follow these simple steps to get signed up:

1. Reach Out: Speak to your club, include everyone - committee players, coaches, umpires, parents, families, supporters to start to plan your Summer of Hockey activity
2. Sign Up: Complete the expression of interest form  
3. Create Your Event: Once we have this, we can set up a page for your clubs Pick Up a Stick Open Day on our central registration platform (ClubSpark). Having your event listed on this page will allow you to benefit from all national marketing from England Hockey and Capri Sun. 
4. Resources at Your Fingertips: To support your "Pick Up a Stick Open Day" journey, we'll provide you with some resources to help you make the most of hockey, get everyone excited and develop a long-lasting partnership between your club and the local community: 
   • An activation pack 
   • Summer of Hockey Activity Booklet packed with fun and educational hockey resources to share with your Junior members and young people across your local community. 
   • Digital creative assets to help promote and reward participant for taking part in activities. 
   • Delivery support and guidance. 
      

Building long-term links between hockey clubs and schools isn't just about short-term wins; it's about cultivating a sustainable partnership that nurtures future players and enriches educational programs for years to come.

One exciting way to kickstart this is through Club Pick Up a Stick Open Days, capitalising on events like the Olympics to spark student interest.

Here's how to make these events a success for schools and your club:

• Pre-Event Buzz: 'Buddy Up' with your local state primary school to generate excitement!
  • School Assemblies: Pitch the event to students, showcasing hockey highlights and inviting club players for a Q&A session.
  • Promotional Posters: Design eye-catching posters with the "Summer of Hockey" theme, distributed around the school and displayed on social media.
  • Teacher Involvement: Engage teachers with the event, potentially incorporating hockey-themed activities into PE classes leading up to the event.
• Open the Doors! What to expect at Club Pick Up a Stick Days:
  • Welcome Station: Greet pupils with enthusiasm! Have school staff or volunteers present to answer questions and make them feel comfortable.
  • Skill Stations: Set up fun, engaging stations where students can learn basic hockey skills from experienced club coaches. Think: stick handling drills, passing challenges, and shooting targets.
  • Mini-Games: Organise small-sided games that are easy to learn and keep students active and engaged.
  • Meet the Stars: Schedule meet-and-greet sessions with current club players, allowing pupils to ask questions and get inspired.
  • Equipment Check-Out: Offer loaner equipment to eliminate barriers and ensure everyone can participate.

Beyond the Pick Up a Stick Day:

• Follow-Up Fun:
  • Send personalised thank-you notes to all participants, including information about upcoming club taster sessions or beginner programs.
  • Offer "Bring a Friend" promotions for students who attended the Pick Up a Stick Day.
  • Share photos and videos from the event on social media, tagging the school and encouraging further engagement.

By creating a welcoming and exciting environment during Club Pick Up a Stick Open Days, your hockey club can build a strong foundation for a long-lasting partnership with the school and it’s pupils.