Campbelltown City Women's Hockey Association branching out of their boundaries

FOR the first time since Campbelltown City Women's Hockey Association was formed, they won't play within Campbelltown.

FOR the first time since Campbelltown City Women's Hockey Association was formed in 1978, its teams will not play within the boundaries of Campbelltown.

Instead, dwindling numbers have forced the association to seek a joint competition with neighbouring Macarthur Hockey Association, based at Narellan, this year.

CCWHA president Pip Sanders said the committee's decision to ask to play on the turf at Narellan instead of at its traditional grass fields at Raby was not made lightly.

Sanders said the joint competition would be trialled this season and and then reviewed.

"We had to acknowledge that a lot of kids play at both Campbelltown and Macarthur, and players and parents are keen to play on the turf," Sanders said.

"Our juniors see the turf as the be-all and end-all of hockey. There's also a lot more sporting choices for kids so it has been difficult to attract players. And hockey is one of those sports that you play from a young age; it's hard to be older and come in to give it a go."