An exciting variation of traditional hockey has launched in Shepparton, with a goal of increasing fitness and skills.
Kicking off on Monday, February 28, indoor hockey is a whole new take on a much-loved sport.
Indoor hockey takes place on a hard surface, such as a basketball court, with fewer players and sideboards to stop the ball going out of play.
These differences to outdoor hockey make the sport more accessible, but until now, indoor hockey has only been available to play in metro Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga in Victoria.
This all changed on Monday night, when the first Goulburn Valley Hockey Association indoor hockey ‘‘come and try’’ event was held.
Association president Cameron Druitt said indoor hockey was another offering on the city’s hockey calendar.
”Monday night was good, it sparked interest in the people that were there,“ Druitt said.
He said the initiative emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and after receiving grants, including VicHealth’s Re-imagining Health Grant and from Greater Shepparton City Council’s Our Sporting Future Funding Program, it could begin.
“We’ll just initially see if it grows,” he said.
“If it grows it can be good and really add onto our traditional hockey offering.”
This format has potential to change the game for hockey in the region, with Druitt outlining that smaller teams may allow separate boys and girls competitions, which was currently difficult to organise on the larger fields.
With dedicated time for juniors and seniors to participate, there was a great turnout for the first week of action and people are encouraged to head along to the next ‘‘come and try’’ event.
It will all be happening once again on Monday evening, with juniors starting at 5.30pm and seniors at 6.15pm at the Visy Community Centre.