AGM Updates, Elections and Summer Opportunities
Thanks to everyone who made Monday’s AGM. If you missed it the reports and slide decks can be found here. I would strongly recommend Lizzie’s performance report to understand the work happening in the background this year and what it means for the upcoming season.
Secondly a massive thanks to everyone who’s volunteered across the club this season, especially the outgoing committee members. Nominations for next year’s committee open on Monday and I would encourage everyone to take a look at the roles below and think about joining the crew.
Dates for your Diary
23/06: LV 10 Year Anniversary ‘team of 2014’ game (info and sign up below)
w/c 28/07: Performance teams pre-season training begins
w/c 04/08: Pre-season training for all teams
10/08 & 17/08: Trials and open sessions (coach facilitated sessions for current and prospective players)
24/08: Club Day (11am-6pm @ LV followed by social)
31/08, 07/09, 14/09: Pre-season games (provisional)
14/09, 21/09: First league games (provisional)
Wapping needs you!
One of the key areas highlighted at the AGM is the need for more coaches and players for the 2024/25 season.
As VCP, Lizzie, said, our coaches have been fantastic this season, but we need more, and we need to better support those we do have. Having support from the Mens 1s, Ladies 1s and some dedicated player coaches has enabled us to all train this year, but every team should have their own dedicated coach and there’s been a lot of work to try and make that happen.
In terms of support and development, we need to make Wapping a better place to coach and, at the AGM, a motion was approved to add a Coach Development Officer to our committee. It is a facilitation role that will be supported by the VCP and Head Coach so you do not need to be a coach to apply. If you’re interested in hearing more please reach out to Lizzie to chat.
In terms of players, every year it’s important we recruit at least enough players to fill gaps left by departing members. Membership is the club’s largest revenue stream and ensuring stability/slight growth in this area is essential to covering our costs.
Following a handful of demotions, we’re facing increased divisions between teams which could be detrimental to the club longer term. As gaps widen, movement up and down teams becomes more difficult. Players may struggle when pulled up or leave the club if dropped down, so one of the club’s aims for next season is to reduce gaps between teams, especially between the 1s and 2s.
what does that mean?
It means the club’s current focus is on recruiting coaches (of all levels), performance end players (1s-3s), and increasing the number of mens players slightly, to help bolster their availability.
So what can I do to help?
Share the recruitment social media posts. The wider our net, the more likely we are to catch the people we need.
Read the email you’ll be receiving regarding the new referral schemes, and reach out to your networks. This year we’re trialling a recruitment drive assisted by you - on the assumption that our collective reach will be far greater than that of just the committee 🫶
Summer Opportunities
umpire Development
Thanks to our three Umpire Development Officers (UDOs) we have a fab summer development program to help new umpires get started and existing umpires up-skill. If you’ve thought about trying umpiring now is the time to give it a go as Wapping will not only pay for your umpire course but also arrange two practice games with experienced (and very lovely) UDOs, assisted by our brand new radio sets to ensure you’re fully supported. It’s a fantastic opportunity so please reach out to VCC, Alex Corrie (wappingvcc@gmail.com), if interested.
Why umpire?
The better the quality of umpires we as a club provide to ANY level of match, the greater the enjoyment factor of those playing it. Thus the better the environment around the pitch, at teas etc.
Knowing the rules (heaven forbid…) and how they should be applied, makes you a better player.
It’s a great way to meet more people across the club.
Pocket a min of £15 per game umpired.
Get into coaching
As well as our umpiring program, we have a summer development program for anyone keen to get into coaching.
With weekly Back2Hockey sessions, bi-weekly Kidds’ sessions and paid summer camp opportunities it’s a perfect time to get involved.
Reach out to VCP, Lizzie, or Kidds’ Chair, Amy, to find out how to get started and the resources available (including our excellent Head Coach, Matt).
2024/25 Elections
The club is managed by the Executive (Exec) and Committee—the full list of positions is below. We encourage as many people as possible to get involved with running the club, whether it's your first season or tenth. If you have questions about any of the roles, please get in touch with a member of the Exec or Committee.
For nominations to the Exec, we encourage people to send in a short manifesto. Exec members pay zero-rate subs, while Committee members pay a concession rate.
Nominations in the first round of elections for Exec and Committee roles, excluding Captains, can be sent until Sunday 19th May at 9pm.
Nominations must be seconded by one other WHC member. To put yourself forward for a role, please email wappingelections@gmail.com confirming your interest and copy in the member seconding you. Positions can be shared by two members, even if that's not specifically highlighted below. Following AGM, Committee roles that are shared will also share the concession rate discount - you will not both get the full concession rate.
Once nominations close on 19th May, voting will be open to all members on Monday 20th May until Sunday 26th May at 9pm. Results will be announced on Monday 27th May and a second round will commence to fill any vacancies and open for Captains' nominations, until Sunday 9th June.
Club positions
Election Timetable
10 years at Lee Valley
On the 23rd June 2024 the team at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre will be marking the 10th Anniversary of the centre’s opening with a celebratory event. They have asked a Wapping “team of 2014” to play against one from East London at 1pm on pitch 1.
If you would like to join in the fun please complete this form.
Please note that anyone can attend the event but you will need to have played at Wapping in 2014 to be eligible for the game.
EOSD updates
Thanks again to Hannah and Jez for organising what was an absolutely fantastic End of Season Dinner. Hopefully everyone has just about recovered.
If you missed out on the fun, or want to relive it, be sure to check out the photos from the event and the awards presentation (complete with notes on all the worthy winners).
Please note that in addition to the Honorary Vice-President nominations made by the Exec (Vicki Wonders, Barbara Lo Giudice and Phil O’Hagan), members at the AGM also voted to approve Hon VP status for previous club members, Richard Musto, Greg Edmunds and Rachel ‘Hoff’ Edmunds. Nominations thanks to Iain Davidson.
Final league standings
Member discounts:
Check out our Members' area (Password: whc1989) which has all of our available offers, including:
20% off NuSmile dentists
A free Psycle session
Grubby: 50% off + free delivery on 1st box, plus 30% off for the rest of the month
2 weeks free trial of El Tab app giving members 4 free drinks in London nightly
20% off Sharp Movement
10% off all beers at Tap East
Discounted club trip to Leyton Orient on February 13th 2024
