Kate O’Reilly is hosting a free hockey coaching session aimed at girls who were in the year three and four age bracket on Thursday. Photo Erin TaskerDuring the winter months, Ashburton’s hockey turf is Kate O’Reilly’s second home.

Now, the Ashburton College year 13 student is trying to pass on the love she’s had for the game since she first picked up a hockey stick at the age of about six, to young girls.

O’Reilly is an ambassador for the Forward Foundation, a group which aims to increase the rates of participation in a variety of sports by girls.

O’Reilly’s focus is hockey.

A member of the Hampstead/Collegians senior women’s hockey team and the Ashburton College first XI, O’Reilly is hosting a coaching session aimed at year three and four girls this Thursday at the Ashburton hockey turf, where she hopes to help inspire others to keep playing the game as they get older.

“To me it doesn’t matter if they have never picked up a hockey stick, it’s all learning and having fun while you’re doing it, and it’s free,” O’Reilly said.

Mid Canterbury has just two senior women’s hockey teams, and as is the case with many sports, numbers tend to drop off as kids get older.

O’Reilly can’t understand why but is determined to do something about it.

“I just want other people to enjoy it as much as I do.”

O’Reilly applied to become a Forward Foundation ambassador at the end of last year and attended a conference earlier this year where they were given advice on how to plan and run an event, and mentors have since been helping them through the process.

O’Reilly is one of two Forward Foundation ambassadors in Ashburton, with the other being rugby player Kate Donald, who has been running girls’ rugby skills sessions on Friday evenings, and she’s set to help O’Reilly on Thursday along with some of her fellow hockey players who have put their hands up to help.

O’Reilly is no stranger to coaching. She’s coached for about the past two years and has umpired for two years.

“I don’t just love hockey, I love all sports and getting involved, and I thought it would be nice to work with girls and help to increase the participation in sport,” O’Reilly said.

Thursday’s coaching session will include skills and drills, and finish off with a game at the end.

Sign in is at 9.30am and the session will run until midday.

O’Reilly said the girls don’t need to have their own gear, and no previous hockey experience is necessary.

For more information or to register an interest in the coaching session, you can email O’Reilly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 15 July 2018