Saturday Badgers League for 9-13 year olds

Badgers hockey is a specific development program designed to bridge the gap between junior and senior-level field hockey. It provides a structured, supportive environment for younger players, typically between age 9 and 14, to help juniors transition into adult competitive play. It’s a crucial step in the player pathway for juniors. If you would like your child to play please contact Del on [email protected]

A Badgers team is a hybrid squad that includes both junior and adult players in an informal league in West Northants. This mix is central to the program’s success.

The role of the adult players is not to dominate the game, but to guide, mentor, and support the juniors. They are restricted from scoring goals or taking penalty corners, to ensure the junior players are the focus of the game.

Badgers games are played on a full-sized pitch with 11 players per side, replicating the format of senior hockey. This helps juniors get accustomed to the pace, tactics, and physical demands of the adult game.

The primary goal isn’t to win a league title, but to provide a learning environment. Match results are not recorded and there is no league winner, its solely about junior player development.