THE Hockey South West season paused on Saturday to give players an opportunity to compete in an 11-a-side game, compared to the usual format of five-a-side.

Once a month the league is combining teams across their age groups to give players the opportunity to experience the game on an Olympic-size pitch in the traditional 11-a-side format.

Portland’s under-12 and under-14 players combined with Strikers to test out their skills and learn different aspects of the new format.

The full field hockey festival was played out across Friday and Saturday with the league wanting to give younger players a chance to learn more of the game.

“We've been working hard the past 18 months to build back better after the effects of the pandemic which saw player and volunteer numbers plummet across community sport,” a statement from the league said.

“This weekend is a significant step in our rebuild. It's time for our innovative and popular Hockey5s competitions to take a backseat as we re-introduce traditional 11-a-side full field hockey for one of two weeks this term (the other one being the last weekend in August).

“For many of our new and young members it (was) their first taste and we hope to offer them even more full field hockey in future as our membership rebounds!

“It was great to see everyone playing the traditional game again and for many of our youngest juniors to learn short corners, long corners and play on an Olympic sized pitch for the first time in their lives.”