Men’s preseason 2024
Start early ~ Get prepared ~ Make friends
What is Preseason?
Preseason is one of the best opportunities available to an incoming fresher of Warwick University. Preseason allows us to assess the ability of prospective performance players and often means that we can fast track you through trials and put you directly into the team that suits you the best. You will have the chance to play alongside some of our top players in friendlies and against other University sides in our preseason tour. Above all, our preseason is about giving you a head start, socially as well as in our hockey program. Preseason allows you to get to know some of our members before you start Uni and these relationships are built through a wide range of activities including joint socials with the Ladies club. Finally, its just good fun, I don’t know anyone that’s come and said they regretted it!
FAQ
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Throughout your stay, you will be boarding with an existing member of the club, in a spare room (most likely in Leamington spa). We will try to place you in a house with other freshers so you have every opportunity to get to know other freshers before you start uni.
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You will need to bring plenty of sports clothing for the pitch sessions, strength & conditioning sessions and Pool recovery sessions. Hockey equipment is obviously preferred but if you would like to come with no prior hockey experience we will do our best to provide any hockey gear you should need. Red and white hockey kit is also useful to bring for matches, but this can easily be provided if necessary. You will also need to bring bedding, towels, swim gear and all regular essentials including casual clothes for nights out etc.
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You can register by clicking the button at the top of this page or following the link to the sign up form via the Linktree in our Instagram bio, also make sure to join our 2024/25 freshers Facebook page. The sooner you register the better because we allocate spaces on a first come first served basis.
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NO! Preseason is absolutely free of charge so anyone can come along if they want to. Although please bear in mind that your hosts are volunteering to house you, so it is suggested that you help out with meals and contribute to any costs.
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If you come to preseason you will get to meet our first/second team Coach before selections which is always useful. You will also get to meet most of our primary performance squad, second and some of our third team. There have been a number of freshers that have already registered their interest so far so you may be lucky enough to meet them if you are visiting at the same time. Once you are registered you will be added to a fresher group chat so you can ask when others will be attending. There will also be a mixed tournament and social with the ladies club so you will get an opportunity to meet some of them too.
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Come for as long as you want! Even though it runs for around 3 weeks, you can come and go as you please. It is recommended that you stay for around a week or more so you can get the full experience, but there is no pressure as we understand that the weeks prior to moving out can be quite hectic.
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Read our preseason testimonials below (written by previous attendees).
Preseason testimonials
Harry Stembridge
(Current President, Fresher of 2022/2023)
I came to preseason after seeing a post on social media. I was unsure whether to go at first but eventually realised its better than sitting around waiting for Uni to start. I’m so glad I went, getting to know all the club members and understanding the Uni before term began took a lot of the pressure off of Freshers week. On top of this it’s a great chance to focus on improving hockey ability along with some top socials. Anyone of any ability (I’m hardly a hockey prodigy) should definitely come along even if it’s just for a few days.
Max Taylor
(Current Club Captain, Fresher of 2022/2023)
Preseason is by far the best thing you can do before coming to Uni. Not only was it a really enjoyable experience, it allowed me to get to know loads of people both inside and outside of the club. This was truly invaluable because it gave me a huge head start. With Warwick being a fairly small University, you see familiar faces from preseason everywhere you go in freshers week and the weeks beyond. Whilst everyone else is struggling to adjust to Uni life, you can focus on whatever you want to do because you have already solved the same problems 2 weeks earlier.
Morgan Clarke
(Current 2XI captain and former social sec, Fresher of 2022/2023)
Attending preseason before having actually started my life at Uni is a decision I’m so happy I made. It gave me the opportunity to get to know the older boys already at the club as well as meet other freshers who, like me, were looking forward to starting Uni soon and taking advantage of all the benefits of being a member of one of the bigger sports clubs here. For those of us freshers that were looking to fight for a place in the first or second team, it gave us a chance to show off our ability before trials took place in freshers’ week as well as show our dedication. Even though we are a performance club, Men’s Hockey has a very active social side to it. I loved getting to know the guys on nights out and various other socials that were often joint with the Ladies’ club with whom we have very close ties – as you will find out once you get here. All in all, preseason was a great experience that made me feel like a part of the club.
