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- England and Wales Hockey Players Coach at Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School welcomed Hockey Wales and England Hockey players Toby Reynolds-Cotterill and James Oates
On a Friday late afternoon, after a busy week at school, one might expect pupils to be ready to get home before a busy Saturday of sporting fixtures or plans with family.
However, that was the last thing from the minds of Mill Hill School Hockey Academy players on Friday 21 March, as the School welcomed two Hampstead and Westminster Men’s 1XI Hockey players onto the astroturf at Mill Hill School.
Toby Reynolds-Cotterill and James Oates both play for Hockey Wales and England Hockey respectively. They have also made their debut for Great Britain, with both earning their first caps in 2022 during the FIH Pro League, where James opened his GB goal account.
Pupils had the opportunity to learn from some of the best in hockey. They were put through their paces and instructed on a variety of hockey-related skills, from different ways to receive a pass to techniques for shooting on goal.
There was a chance for one-on-one goalkeeper training with Toby, who plays the position and gave advice on how to kick through correctly to hand placement for balance.
It was an incredible time for pupils to pick the brains of hockey players who are amongst the best in the country, all while having fun and developing their skills.
The Mill Hill School Hockey Academy, which takes place every Friday after school, builds upon the skills developed in the Games Programme. Pupils focus on advanced techniques, teamwork, and match play alongside other talented hockey players from Mill Hill School and Belmont, Mill Hill Prep. They benefit from high-level coaching, including the School’s own professional coaches, and occasionally, guest coaches from Southgate Hockey Club and Hampstead and Westminster Hockey Club who challenge and inspire our players.
Thank you to Toby and James for coming to Mill Hill and running the session. This is a fantastic example of the opportunities that can be provided to pupils thanks to the sporting relationships that the School has.
