By Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport EditorTHE FORMAT for the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF) schoolboys Under-16 league will be altered to an eight-a-side competition for the upcoming season set to begin almost a week from now.
Junior boys played a six-a-side championship last year but Richard Wisdom, a member of the JHF's Board and Development Committee, told The Gleaner that growth shown by the youth last year dictated the change.
"You have more boys wanting to play," Wisdom said.
Explaining further the reason for change, he added: "Why we had gone to six-a-side is because we thought they wouldn't have managed the formation adequately enough, but they have improved and we think they can manage the eight-a-side now."
Apart from the numbers, the size of the playing area has been extended also. The six-a-side was played in one half of a full-sized field but three-quarters of the playing field, stretching to the area almost just on top of the D on a regular pitch, is the playing area for the eight-a-side competition.
There will be three other competitions - the girls Under-16 and boys and girls' Under-19 which will be played under the existing format. This is six-a-side for Under-16 girls, eight-a-side for the older females and 11-a-side for senior boys.
There was a time when both senior competitions constituted a 22-player game on a full pitch but in recent years, according to JHF director Peter Edwards, that was altered to fit a module for development designed by German Horst Wein, who had done some work with the federation here.
"Some of our development model is based on the Horst Wein programme. It's a simple model ... start them off at three-a-side to have them develop their basic skills, then move them up," said Edwards, who is also a member of the development committee.
"When you reach the Under-21 level you step them up to the 11-a-side game. But what we do is kind of a watered-down version of the model," he added.
"In terms of age group hockey, some international coaches believe the 11-a-side should be left for Under-21s. But because of tradition, locally we feel our boys can handle the 11-a-side game," Edwards said.
"On the girls side, eight-a-side had been recommended last year. In terms of their skill development, the eight-a-side is seen as more useful to their development."
Wisdom said the Under-19 competitions will bully off with a six-a-side rally on February 7 which will be followed by league matches the following week, while the Under-16s are to start in March with a three-a-side rally, tentatively set for March 6.
Black River and Wolmer's won the respective Under-19 and Under-16 boys titles last year, while St. Hugh's copped the double in girls play.
The organisers are also trying to seal confirmation for increasing numbers and sponsorship.
"We don't have a sponsor right now. That's one of the things we're trying to work on," said Wisdom.
They have been without one since Dairy Industries shelved a long-term commitment a couple of years ago.
In regards to additional participants, he said: "STATHS have showed an interest and St. George's as well."
