British hockey stars coach disabled players at Flyerz event
On 30 March 2014, Forest Flyerz (the disability section of Waltham Forest Hockey Club) will host the first Flyerz Day at Walthamstow Academy. It is an event that brings together disabled players from hockey clubs around the country, for some master-class coaching and games. Around 50 disabled players will be coached by 13 British non-disabled hockey internationals, who will then join in with the games.
The hockey stars attending include Olympic medal winners Alex Danson, Sally Walton, Georgie Twigg and Nicola White. Event organiser Pani Theodorou of Forest Flyerz said:
“Disability hockey is a growing sport in this country, so we’re proud to organise and host this event; the first opportunity to bring together players from Flyerz clubs around the country. The challenge always for events like this is getting enough people to attend, and in particular disabled participants who have more barriers to overcome – so we’re happy that over 50 players will be joining us, in particular as so many of the clubs are so new."
Forest Flyerz started running in 2011 and has already attracted over 60 people to their regular weekly sessions. They have delivered outreach to over 500 disabled participants, and provided support to other clubs setting up their own Flyerz section.
Forest Flyerz will host an even bigger event in June of this year, Flyerz Festival 2014, an international hockey tournament for disabled players. Last year they hosted the first Flyerz Festival, with 10 teams competing, including two from Holland, and 10 international hockey stars. You can watch a video from the event below.
Or use this link to view photos from the event. This year’s Flyerz Festival will be even bigger, with twice the number of teams, and even more from around Europe.
Pani continued:
"Of course it helps that we can offer them the opportunity to play alongside England hockey players! We’re extremely grateful and proud of their ongoing support. We’re also hopeful that this event will inspire other clubs to set up their own Flyerz section and this event will keep growing year on year.”
(Photo shows a few Forest Flyerz members and volunteers at a previous event which England hockey players supported – among the GB stars in the photo is GB captain Kate Walsh)
