Alex Danson programme aims to get 10,000 youngsters into hockey

Alex Danson, who won a Rio 2016 gold medal with Team GB’s hockey team, is aiming to get 10,000 children involved in the sport in partnership with Everyone Active.

The sport and leisure provider has launched the Alex Danson Hockey Academy with the intention of getting more 7-11 year-olds playing hockey over the next three years.

Danson and Everyone Active will take the Alex Danson Hockey Academy into 500 primary schools, and will host 100 hockey camps across Everyone Active centres.

England Hockey, the sport’s national governing body, has approved the 24-week programme, which will be framed around a 4-a-side version of the game as introduction.

Danson – who is now the team captain – said Everyone Active’s facilities were “brilliant” and the amount of facilities it owns makes the offer “UK-wide”.

“Research tells us the importance of engaging with young people, before they reach the age of 11, in physical activity and ensuring it’s coached in a fun and engaging way,” she added. “Our primary school programmes are designed to do exactly that.”

Duncan Jefford, Everyone Active’s regional director, said Danson was “one of Britain’s greatest sportswomen”.

He added: “The partnership forms part of our major drive towards increasing sports participation, as it continues to decline across the UK.

“We firmly believe in the benefits of playing sport at a young age and will continue to diversify our offering to provide opportunities to get involved in sports which are disappearing from the school curriculum.”