Young hockey players will be coached by some of the sport’s leading names next week.

The National Sports Centre will host the Matt Taylor Hockey Camp for 10 to 18-year-olds of all abilities on 10th and 11th August.

Matt was capped 13 times by England and now runs MT13, a coaching company that encourages up and coming talent.

Coaches will include Scotland goalkeeper Jamie Cachia, England player Suzy Petty and England and Great Britain under-21 players Will Byas and Anna Toman.

The event is organised by Manx Sport and Recreation (MSR) and the Manx Hockey Association. It ties in with the Strategy for Sport 2014-2024, which pledges to increase levels of physical activity among the young, give them access to community sport and improve coaching.

The strategy states: ‘Providing the right environment, with opportunities for participants to flourish and develop, is key to assisting individuals to achieve their potential, whether that be socially and for fun or as an elite competitor.’

Matt has brought his camp to the Island several times.

He said: ‘Every year we see an improvement in the level of hockey. This is credit to the players and, of course, the coaching on the Island. It has improved tremendously since our first visit five years ago.’

Tim Leeming, Manx Hockey Association chairman, said: ‘It is brilliant that we are able to bring quality coaches over to the Island to bring different ideas and techniques to the local players. Hockey remains one of the most inclusive sports on the Island and we have also seen remarkable success of individuals at regional and national level. As a small community, we continue to punch well above our weight.’

For information on how to get involved in hockey, ring Gianni Epifani, Senior Sport Development Officer with MSR, on 01624 688556.