Club Development

England Hockey Clubs 1st

This is England Hockey’s accreditation scheme for clubs. It is a national recognition of clubs that can demonstrate they are working towards minimum operating standards. All clubs achieving Clubs 1st also achieve the Sport England Clubmark accreditation, another nationally recognised award for sports clubs.  Bedford Hockey Club are proud to have gained this accreditation in February 2007.

To download pdf versions of the Clubs 1st documents visit our Club Documents Page

Why do Clubs 1st?

Bedford Hockey Club's achievement of this award brings the following benefits:
  • We are nationally recognised as working towards providing a Safe, Effective and Child Friendly hockey Environment.
  • Improved overall communication, development and volunteer recruitment.
  • We receive priority support from the County Sports Partnership in Bedfordshire (called Team Beds & Luton) as well as other funding agencies.
  • In particular, achieving Clubs 1st was a key requirement of England Hockey in the granting of funding for the new pitches.
  • Access to a range of benefits including, priority bookings and other services available to Clubs 1st clubs.

How We Achieved Clubs 1st

We are required to prove good practice in the following areas:

Section 1 - Duty of Care and Child Protection
  • The Club has implemented a Child Protection Policy (which includes codes of conduct for coaches, players, parents / carers, etc.
  • Members of the Club have attended certain (short) training courses in Child protection, 1st Aid, Sports Equity, etc.
  • Basic 1st Aid procedures are in place (including fully equipped 1st Aid kits, access to emergency phones, injury report forms, etc.).
  • The Club holds accessible (but secure) medical information & emergency contact details for junior members.
Section 2 - The Playing Programme - Coaching & Competition
  • The club provides regular coaching and competition sessions for boys and girls
  • Juniors Receive an Individual Development Programme including:
    • Regular player assessment (including written feedback e.g. Stix).
    • Umpire development opportunities (e.g. HROK).
    • Leader development opportunities (e.g. CSLA, Hockey Leaders award).
  • The coach:young player ratios should be 1:12 in order to ensure quality coaching & safety.
  • The coach responsible for the programme is a minimum of Level 2 licensed coach.
Section 3 - Sports Equity and Ethics
  • The club has an open constitution that welcomes new members from all areas of the community.
  • The club has an adopted the EH Equity Policy and/or its own equivalent policy statement.
  • The club has a set of rules for children and young people.
Section 4 - Club Management
  • The club is affiliated to England Hockey.
  • The club has as a minimum public liability insurance, equivalent to that provided through the EH insurance scheme.
  • The club has a specific membership category and pricing policy for young people.
  • The club has a communications plan for communicating internally and externally, which may include media contacts, newsletters, Internet and email.
  • The club has two cheque signatories for the club account.
  • The club has someone responsible for junior development issues.
  • The club has a strategy for recruiting young people, their parents/carers & volunteers.
  • The club is working on a Development plan that will be reviewed, at least annually, by the Club Management Committee.
  • The club has local partnerships with a minimum of one school.