Lights Off, Scores On: X-Skills at HC Alliance’s Glow in the Dark Clinic

The lights go out at the Kennemer Sportcenter in Haarlem. Sticks, lines and shirts light up, the music starts playing, and dozens of young hockey players are ready to go. Between exercises, their eyes keep returning to the same screen: the leaderboard. Who’s at the top? On December 30, 2025, the women's and men's first teams of Hockeyclub Alliance hosted their Glow in the Dark clinic for their youngest players. X-Skills was there too. It was a great opportunity to test a question we often get: does X-Skills work indoors as well? The answer is yes, and in the dark, it might work even better.

A clinic to kick off the indoor season

The clinic was organised for the O9, O10 and O12 age groups, as preparation for the indoor hockey season. Players from other clubs were also welcome to sign up. The day was split into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The programme had everything you would expect from a great hockey day. The children were welcomed by the 'Glow' players from the women's and men's first teams before being divided into smaller groups. They worked on different exercises, received individual tips, learned tricks such as the tip-in and the turn, and played matches in the Glow in the Dark hall alongside their own coach from the first team. All accompanied by music, refreshments and plenty of traditional Dutch oliebollen. X-Skills had its own dedicated spot in the programme: a station where players could do more than just practise. They could immediately see the results of their efforts.

How it worked: tap your tag, play and see your score

For the children, it was simple. Just three steps.

• 1. Your own Skill Tag
• Every player received a personal Skill Tag. By scanning their tag at an exercise station, their scores were automatically linked to their profile. No lists, no stopwatches and no need for coaches to keep track manually.

• 2. Different challenges
• Several exercises were set up using the Beams. The Beams' lighting system provides instant feedback, and every action earns points, allowing players to see how they are performing straight away. In a dark indoor hall, the Beams naturally become the centre of attention.

• 3. The leaderboard
• All scores appeared live on the leaderboard. Children could see their own names, compare their results with teammates and, most importantly, have another go.
• And that's exactly the point. An exercise that a player might normally complete three times suddenly gets repeated ten times, simply because they want to improve their score. The repetition coaches are looking for happens naturally.

Why X-Skills works indoors

Many clubs know X-Skills from outdoor hockey. The clinic in Haarlem showed that it works just as well indoors.

• Easy to set up. The Beams are wireless and can be quickly attached to an indoor hockey board. Switching to a different exercise between groups is just as easy.

• Requires little space. Just one corner of the hall is enough, while matches can continue on the rest of the court.

• Easy to get started. Within two minutes, everyone understands how it works, including children from other teams or clubs. Scan your tag and play.

• Perfect for the theme. Lights, scores and a live leaderboard turn a training session into a game. A Glow in the Dark setting makes this combination even more effective.

Winter doesn't have to mean a quiet period. The indoor season is actually a great opportunity to organise a clinic, tournament or additional training activities. Curious about what a regular indoor training session with Beams looks like? Read our article Indoor Training with X-Skills.

Something for your club or event?

The women's and men's first teams of Alliance showed how to organise a clinic that children will remember for a long time. X-Skills added something extra: a personal score to take home, and the motivation to improve it. Are you organising a clinic, indoor hockey day or tournament and wondering how X-Skills could fit in? Discover what we offer through Events & Clinics or get in touch. We'd be happy to visit for a demo or help you create a ready-to-use activity, both indoors and outdoors.