Press Release - Salford Advertiser HOCKEY PUPILS GET SKATES ON TRAINING sessions to improve children's skills in inline hockey and prevent them coming a cropper have been launched in Salford. Around 200 young people in the city play the sport with local clubs in Pendleton, Walkden, Boothstown and Irlam as part of the Greater Manchester Inline Hockey League. Now youngsters are being encouraged to join a Salford City Council-run scheme to learn the basics of the game and develop the skills needed to reduce the risk of injury. Salford Council worker Phil Worthington has devised the skills award scheme which is now run through the National Governing Body, GB Hockey Inline. Phil explained: "Around three years ago there was a sudden explosion of children buying skates and playing the game on the street. I got together with some other parents to form a club to provide these children with a safe environment to play the sport away from the obvious dangers of playing on the street. We were inundated with children who wanted to join and now have 80 members and run five teams in the Greater Manchester League but one of the problems we came across was large differences in ages and abilities of the children. The scheme was initially devised for use just within my own club environment, but when other clubs found out about it they wanted to use it. So far 25 clubs and four local authorities have registered for the scheme and 500 children have already passed basic level tests. Details of the courses are available from Nick Chapman or Henry Ramsey at Pendlebury Recreation Centre on 01617931750. Back