U11 Boys’ IAPS Hockey Qualifier
@ Bedford School
Monday 26 January 2026
9.30am to 2.30pm
Welcome from Bedford School
It is an honour to be hosting the IAPS U11 Boys’ Hockey Qualifier here at Bedford School, and I warmly welcome all the boys, teachers and supporting parents, who have come along to enjoy the day.
Bedford School has a long-standing history of hockey, having played the game since the late 19th century. After stopping for a brief time during the First and Second World Wars, it was former Head Master CIM Jones (a former Great Britain hockey international) who reintroduced the game in 1974 and we have gone from strength to strength ever since.
Last year our hockey boys had an outstanding season with 91 fixtures played and 55 wins. The highlight of the season was the U16A team reaching the semi-finals of the National Tier 2 Cup, having been crowned champions in the Plate Final at Olympic Park the previous year.
Today’s competition is about enjoyment first and foremost. I am sure we will see some magnificent hockey on display, but the important thing is that we see the boys enjoy themselves and learn and, indeed, demonstrate true sportsmanship, teamwork and integrity.
Ian Silk (Prep School Head) and I wish all the teams the very best of luck.
James Hodgson Head Master Bedford School
Mr Ian McGowan, Director of Sport
and a warm welcome
from our Director of Sport
It is a genuine pleasure to host another IAPS Hockey qualifier at Bedford and I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all the boys, staff and supporters. I am sure that we can look forward to a day of highly-skilled, competitive hockey played in the right spirit on the pitch and with positive support for all teams from the sidelines. Very best of luck to everyone involved.
Welcome from IAPS
First and foremost, sport is about participation and enjoyment. Sport is an incredibly important part of the personal development of children. Thanks to our eager and enthusiastic membership, over 22,000 children take part in the IAPS Sport programme every year. With 22 sports to choose from and over 170 events organised annually, there are plenty of opportunities for our member schools to get involved in.
Whether this is your first time at an IAPS event, or you have been entering them for many years, we hope you enjoy the competition and good luck!
IAPS Sport
Safeguarding
IAPS believes that the welfare and wellbeing of all children (young people under the age of 18) and adults at risk attending an IAPS event is of the highest concern. All such persons have the right to safety and protection and any suspicions, concerns or allegations of harm will be taken seriously and will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.
IAPS expects all adults who are engaged with the delivery of sports events to fully comply with safeguarding procedures as laid out in the IAPS Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, and the KCSiE document (these are available on our website: sport.iaps.uk/safeguarding).
IAPS expects all coaches present to be DBS checked and have received relevant safeguarding training at their school/club.
IAPS expects that all adults attending events have read the IAPS code of conduct, photo policy and anti-bullying policy. These are available to read and download from our website here - https://iaps.uk/sports/usefulinformation/documents-links.html.
If you have any safeguarding concerns today, please don’t hesitate to speak to Emily Nunan, Mike Kershaw or a member of the organising team.
IAPS Designated Safeguarding Officer
Emily Nunan
Head of Sport and Pupil Experience
egn@iaps.uk
IAPS Deputy Safeguarding Officer
Mike Kershaw
Sport and Pupil Experience Manager
mjk@iaps.uk
Code of Conduct for Spectators
Where permitted, we are delighted to welcome spectators to attend IAPS events.
As a spectator/parent at an IAPS sports event, you have a responsibility to:
1. Be a positive role model and lead by example; children are involved in sport for their enjoyment and without undue spectator pressure.
2. Encourage children to play by the rules and respect the officials.
3. Always respect the officials and their decisions. Video evidence will not be accepted in any cases to dispute decisions.
4. Always respect the coaches and their decisions. They give their time, energy and experience to coach the children.
5. Refrain from any form of bad language or poor behaviour towards players, officials and fellow spectators.
6. Be friendly and respectful to the opposition.
7. Teach children that effort and teamwork are as important as victory so that the result of each game is accepted without undue disappointment.
8. Turn defeat into victory by helping children work towards skill improvement and a positive sporting attitude.
9. Be aware that IAPS events have comprehensive safeguarding policies and procedures, available on our website: https://iaps.uk/sport/safeguarding.html
10. Try to relax and enjoy the event!
IAPS wants all competitions to run without any negative incidents. Excitement and emotions can run high at events, not least amongst the supporters. Unpleasant and inappropriate behaviour is very rarely seen but you should be aware that IAPS retains the right to ask you to leave the event if you fail to comply with the code of conduct.
Event Information
Timetable
• Schools to arrive from 9.30am
• Coaches’ meeting at 9.45am
• Matches commence at 10.00am
• Presentations at 2.10pm
Umpires
One neutral umpire will be provided for each group game and the first-named competing school should please provide the other umpire. Neutral umpires will be provided for the Cup Competition, however please be prepared to umpire if required. Schools will be required to umpire their own games in the Plate Competition.
Qualification Process
The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed teams in each group go through to the Cup Quarter Finals. The 5th and 6th placed teams play in the Plate.
The top two placed teams from the Cup Competition will qualify for the national finals at Repton School on Friday 20 March 2026.
First Aid
Please make sure you bring a first aid kit with you. There will be qualified first aiders on site.
Changing Facilities
Please can all boys arrive at the tournament already changed in their kit. While there are changing rooms available, access is limited. We will also have gazebos on site but we recommend that schools also bring their own gazebo to provide additional shelter.
Refreshments
Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available for supporting parents and staff throughout the day. Snacks will be provided for boys but please can all boys bring water and a packed lunch for the day.
Results
Results of each match will be published live using SOCS. You can access the live fixtures and results using the links below:
Group Tables & Results
Knockout Competitions
There will also be updates from the day on the Bedford School Instagram account at BedfordSchool_UK
Parking
The Bedford School hockey pitches are situated at Gordon Field which is a 10-minute walk away from our main school car park. We would therefore advise you to drop your boys and a member of staff off at the Bedford Park entrance to Gordon Field (MK40 2LR), which is shown on the map, before parking your minibus for the day either along Park Avenue, the free-to-park side roads or in the school’s main car park. The school’s postcode for Sat Nav is MK40 2TT.
There will be Bedford School staff on hand to help direct you at both Gordon Field and the school.
Parents can park in any of the side roads shown in blue below which are all free-to-park roads. Alternatively, parents are also welcome to park in the main school car park.
Merchandise
IAPS are delighted to have Team Elite as our official merchandisers, to sell branded products both online and at events throughout the year. All commission made from merchandise is directly put back into running the sports programme. Merchandise can be bought online or at several IAPS sport events.
Photography Advice
There is no professional photography at IAPS Sport events. However, parents and spectators can take their own pictures. There is no law against taking photos at public events for personal use, including pictures of other people’s children (Ask the Police, 2018). IAPS asks parents and spectators to be cautious when sharing any images on social media.
The NSPCC have useful advice on sharing images here: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/briefings/ photography-sharing- images-guidance/
We reward sporting talent.
Bedford School has an enviable sporting tradition and our facilities more than live up to this legacy. We offer excellent opportunities for boys to develop into world-class sportsmen.
Generous scholarships and bursaries are available for talented boys at 13+ and 16+
Boarding and day for boys aged 7-18
Bedford School is part of the Harpur Trust
Order of Play
Pool Matches
• This qualifier consists of 2 pools of 7 teams.
• Matches will be 12 minutes one way.
• The 1st-4th placed teams in each pool will progress to the cup competition.
• The 5th and 6th placed teams in each pool will progress to the plate competition.
Pool 1
Bedford Prep School
Gayhurst School
Winchester House School
Felsted Preparatory School
Bilton Grange
St Anthony’s Preparatory School
Haberdashers’ Boys’ Preparatory School
Schedule
10.00am
Bedford v Bilton Grange
10.15am Gayhurst v Felsted
10.30am
Winchester House v Bilton Grange
10.45am Felsted v St Anthony’s
11.05am
11.20am
11.35am
Bilton Grange v Gayhurst
Bedford v Winchester House
Bilton Grange v Felsted
11.55am Gayhurst v Bedford
12.10pm Haberdashers’v Felsted
12.25pm
12.40pm
St Anthony’s v Bilton Grange
Bilton Grange v Haberdashers’
Pool 2
St John’s Beaumont
Warwick Junior School
Heath Mount School
The Beacon School
Stephen Perse Cambridge Junior School
Merchant Taylors’ Prep School
St Martin’s School
Winchester House v Haberdashers’
St Anthony’s v Bedford
Haberdashers’ v Gayhurst
Bedford v Haberdashers’
5 minute catch up/break
Felsted v Winchester House
Haberdashers’v St Anthony’s
Gayhurst v St Anthony’s
5 minute catch up/break
St Anthony’s v Winchester House
Winchester House v Gayhurst
Felsted v Bedford
Heath Mount v The Beacon Stephen Perse v Merchant Taylors’
St John’s v Warwick
Stephen Perse v The Beacon
Warwick v St Martin’s
The Beacon v St John’s
Heath Mount v Stephen Perse
The Beacon v Warwick
St John’s v Heath Mount
St Martin’s v Heath Mount
Merchant Taylors’ v St John’s
Heath Mount v Merchant Taylors’
Warwick v Stephen Perse
Merchant Taylors’ v St Martin’s
St John’s v St Martin’s
St Martin’s v Stephen Perse
Merchant Taylors’ v Warwick Stephen Perse v St John’s
St Martin’s v The Beacon
The Beacon v Merchant Taylors’
Warwick v Heath Mount
Knockout Matches
• Matches will be 12 minutes one way.
• The top two placed teams from the cup competition will qualify for the national finals at Repton School on Friday 20 March 2026.
Cup Competition
1.10pm
1.30pm
Semi Final 1 Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF2 Semi Final 2 Winner of QF3 v Winner of QF4
1.50pm Final Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2
Plate Competition
1.10pm 1.30pm
3rd and 4th Play-off 2nd place of SF1 v 2nd place of SF2
1.50pm Final Winner of SF1 v Winner of SF2 3rd and 4th Play-off 2nd place of SF1 v 2nd place of SF2
Rules and Regulations
All IAPS Hockey tournaments follow the In2Hockey Rules and regulations. The full rules and regs can be found on the England Hockey website here:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/rules-of-hockey
Pool Stage
The group order will be decided by the number of points scored by each team.
In the event of a tie on points, the following will decide final placings:
1. Goal difference
2. Goals scored
3. Winner of match between the tied teams*
4. Barrage of 3 penalty shuffles (3 players selected from the squad)
5. Sudden death penalty shuffles**
*Head-to-head result between two teams is the result of the match played between the two tied teams.
**Sudden-death is started by the team that did not start the shoot-out and players may proceed in a different order from the initial best-of-three round.
Knockout Stage
In the event of a draw at full time, the winner will be decided by:
1. A period of “Golden Goal” extra time up to a maximum of 5 minutes
2. Barrage of 3 penalty shuffles
3. Sudden death penalty shuffles
