Young hockey players learn from the best

Young hockey enthusiasts in the City of Karratha had the chance to learn from the best last week when two members of the men’s national team led their first training session.

Kookaburras player Joel Carroll and national development squad member Ross Hall helped run small groups of primary school children through hockey training drills at the Bulgarra Tennis Courts on Thursday, after visiting several local schools.

Carroll, who has played with the Kookaburras for seven years and competed in the London Olympics, said he has visited the Karratha area about four times now and enjoyed bringing hockey to regional WA.

“I used to love it when people would come to (my hometown) Darwin to train with us, so hopefully it means the same to them as it did to us,” he said.

“I just love that (the children) all want to get involved and be active, and it’s good that hockey can do that.”

Nickol Bay Hockey Association juniors co-ordinator Steve Cook said interacting with athletes who played on a national level was an exciting opportunity for local young children.

“It’s something special. We don’t have Olympians come to town every week,” he said.

“With the Olympics coming up on TV, it’s a great chance for kids to see sporting role models in person.”

The Kookaburras are part of the National Indigenous Hockey Program sponsored by Fortescue Metals Group, which sees them visit Karratha, Roebourne and Wickham for two terms each year.

The program has recently been extended for another three years.

The Kookaburras players will be at the courts every second week for the next two months to help children train in the lead-up to their junior interschool hockey carnival.