From Drag flicks to Square Passes and Goal Scoring, young kids get the chance to learn from their Hockey Heroes during the Adina Community Clinics. (Players from L-R: Sophie Taylor, Andrew Scanlon, Peter Scott, and Josie Lawton) — Photo by TFE Hotels
MELBOURNE - Hockey’s next generation of superstars flocked to the Melbourne Sports Centre over the weekend, as part of the popular Adina Community Hockey Series. Over two action packed hours, the kids got to meet their hockey heroes and learn the skills and drills needed to master the game.
Adina’s Community Hockey Clinics were first launched at the Brunswick Hockey Club last year as a way to connect kids with their favourite hockey heroes. Clinics have since been staged in Western Australia as part of the Perth International Festival of Hockey; and in Melbourne, with the next slated for Sydney in February 2025.
It’s an initiative that Hockey Australia Chief Executive Officer, David Pryles, says is vital for the longevity of hockey in Australia.
Hockey Australia was delighted to run another of these highly successful Adina Community Clinics in Melbourne and on the very pitch that hosts our top players in the Hockey One League, he said. I want to thank Adina Hotels because it's with their support that we're able to send our hockey heroes into communities across Australia.
More than 100 hockey kids joined top players from Hockey Club Melbourne (HC Melbourne) including Peter Scott; Hockey Veteran, Andrew Scanlon; Young gun Kade Leigh (Junior National Representative for the Kookaburras); Ash Utri (Footy pro turned budding Hockeyroos hopeful), 2023 Junior World Cup representative, Josie Lawton; Jillaroos player, Charlotte Hodgson; Sophie Taylor; and Zali Ward at the Clinic. The professionals helped teach physical literacy skills and were happy to pose for photos in their team kit and sign autographs.
The kids, as expected, had some fun in the great outdoors with their sporting heroes!
According to David Pryles, this face-to-face interaction is really important to inspire audiences young and old all over the country. TFE Hotels’ Chief Executive Officer, Antony Ritch, agrees.
Adina’s partnership with Hockey Australia really resonates with our core values of community, family and a shared sense of belonging, Antony said.
In April this year, TFE Hotels announced a two-year extension of Adina Hotels’ sponsorship with Hockey Australia. In addition to the clinics, the agreement will ensure Adina Hotels maintains a strong presence with the sport’s flagship teams – The Hockeyroos and The Kookaburras.
Adina is also the official partner of Hockey Australia’s suite of National Hockey Championships including U14, U16, U18, U21, the Indoor Championships, Country Championships and Masters Championships.
David Pryles says Hockey Australia is committed to working with Adina for the betterment of the sport.
We will continue to work closely with the Adina team to ensure Community Clinics are delivered regularly across Australia and on an ongoing basis.
Adina’s Amanda Halim hooks into hockey with some young fans at the Adina Community Clinic. — Photo by TFE Hotels
Hockey Australia is the National Sporting Organisation for hockey, overseeing the sport in Australia.
Hockey Australia exists to provide Australians with the opportunity to participate in hockey from recreational junior levels through to elite senior competition, including the Olympic & Commonwealth Games. It is responsible for delivering these benefits to Australian hockey members through its member States and ensuring hockey in Australia achieves consistent success, a strong positive public profile and continuing player, officiating and spectator support at all levels. In total, more than 125,000 registered participants regularly play hockey in Australia.
Hockey Australia is also responsible for the administration and operation of Australian national representative teams, including the world-renowned Kookaburras and Hockeyroos, which between them have won 13 Olympic medals, 17 World Cup medals, 14 Commonwealth Games medals and finished on the podium at 44 Champions Trophy tournaments. https://www.hockey.org.au/
WHO ARE TFE HOTELS?
TFE Hotels (TOGA Far East Hotels) is Australia's International Hotel Group - headquartered in Sydney and operating in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Singapore, and Switzerland. TFE has a portfolio of seven hotel brands - A by Adina, Adina Hotels, Vibe Hotels, Quincy Hotels, Travelodge Hotels, Rendezvous Hotels and Collection by TFE Hotels, with more in the development pipeline.
