News for 01 January 2020
All the news for Wednesday 1 January 2020
2019 - a PAHF year in review
Sarah Juggins
The year started with the Pro League – the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) showpiece global home and away league that pits the best of the best against each other – and ended with an announcement that there will be a Hockey5s World Cup in 2023.
While the big guns of Argentina men and women and USA women are involved and centre stage in the FIH Pro League, and Argentina and Canada men have their sights on Tokyo 2020, for most nations within PAHF, it is the news of the Hocky5s World Cup that should be the most exciting. Here is an opportunity for nations who cannot afford multiple astroturf facilities and a state funded national team to really get a foothold on the international stage.
Many PAHF regions have a head start when it comes to Hockey5s. Costa Rica held an international clubs competition in October, with teams from Honduras and Guatemala taking part. Just a month later and the Central American Hockey 5s Championships took place in Panama, with four men’s and three women’s team competing. Guatemala were successful in the women’s event, beating Costa Rica on shoot-out after a tense final ended 1-1. Puerto Rico were crowned men’s champions after they beat Costa Rica, again on shoot-out.
And PAHF has form when it comes to showcasing Hockey5s after the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018 saw people flocking to watch the exhilarating matches. By 2023, the PAHF teams currently developing their Hockey5s national squads should be in a great place to contest the medals.
The FIH Pro League brought mixed results for our teams. Argentina women enjoyed a good campaign and finished second overall in the league standings. Their participation in the Grand Final weekend in Amsterdam was less successful as they finished fourth after losing to Germany in the shoot-out for the bronze medal. Despite this, Micaela Retegui was awarded best Goal of the Grand Final after she scored a beautifully improvised goal in the match against Germany and Carla Rebecchi enjoyed a triumphant return to the national squad with a number of Player of the Match awards.
For the men, it was a less rewarding experience. Los Leones finished just outside the top four, beaten to a place in the Grand Final by Great Britain. The Argentina campaign had been soured earlier in the competition when their home match against Germany was cancelled due to highly volatile weather conditions. Under the FIH regulations the match was not rescheduled and the teams were awarded just a point apiece. Had Argentina won that match, they would have finished higher in the league than Great Britain and appeared in the Grand Final.
FIH has since changed both the format of the Pro League and the cancellation policy. For the 2020 season, teams will not play home and away fixtures against every other team. They will play half their fixtures at home and half away but each fixture will comprise two matches. For example, if USA travel to play Argentina, they will play two matches in Argentina on consecutive days. For this season, Argentina will not travel for a return fixture against USA. The revised schedule cuts the travel for teams in half.
In the event of a cancelled match, the winner of the other match will receive double points. If the second match is drawn then the winner of the shoot-out will receive four points and the loser two points. If both matches are cancelled, the teams each receive three points.
For USA women, 2019 was a year probably best forgotten. The team finished at the bottom of the Pro League, with no wins to their name. They finished in bronze medal position at the Pan American Games in Lima – their lowest finish at the event since 1991, and they failed to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after losing to India in the Olympic Qualifier in October. Head coach Janneke Schopman stepped away from the role in November and the search is now on to find a replacement head coach who can reverse this slide in form.
It wasn’t all bad news for USA hockey. The men’s team performed well at the FIH Series Finals, winning their way through to the semi-finals. Here they met a tough South African side and so the USA team’s dream of an Olympic place ended. However, the team rose up the world rankings to 24th and won admirers for their attacking style of hockey.
2019 was also the year of the Pan American Games. The spotlight was on Lima in Peru as the Central American nation hosted its first multi-sporting international event. Two brand new water-based pitches were laid to host the hockey events and these facilities will now provide a home for Peru’s hockey teams as they seek to increase participation and raise their international hockey profile.
The event itself was a triumph, with Argentina men and women claiming gold at the expense of Canada men and women, but the bigger picture is about what the new facilities will mean for hockey in Peru. Gianni Delucchi, President of the Peru Hockey Federation is is no doubt as to the importance: “We are looking forward to making much more progress. We are going to rekindle and develop the passion for hockey that we have always had in South America and look to shorten the gaps between us [Peru] and the other, higher-ranked countries in the Pan American zone.”
Much of 2019 was focused on qualifying for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. As Pan Am Champions Argentina men and women booked their places automatically. For Chile men and women, the already mentioned USA men’s team, Canada men and women, Mexico men and women and Uruguay women, the FIH Series Finals represented a chance to take a step closer to joining Argentina at the blue riband event in Tokyo. In the event both Canadian teams and Chile women made it successfully through this stage. Canada men beat Malaysia to make it to the Olympic Qualifiers, while the women finished second to Spain but also qualified for the next stage. Chile women lost in the semi-finals to higher ranked India by a 4-2 scoreline but a third place finish meant they also earned a place in the Olympic Qualifiers.
The Olympic Qualifiers were a thrilling set of double-header matches. By a twist of fate both Canada men and women faced Ireland, while Chile found themselves up against the reigning Olympic champions, Great Britain.
Canada men had probably the most talked about match of all 28 Olympic Qualifier encounters. They lost the first match 5-3. They dragged the result back to 6-6 in the second game before then going on to win the shoot-out, despite going 3-1 down.
Canada women had a similarly close encounter with the Irish. Nothing could separate the teams and so they finished 120 minutes of hockey drawn at 0-0. The results of the men’s matches were reversed as Ireland overturned an early Canadian lead in the ensuing shoot-out to win and secure a place at Tokyo.
For Chile, the trip to London to play Great Britain was a step too far. The eventual 3-1 scoreline was no disgrace but the difference between the higher ranked Great Britain team and the up and coming Diablas was clear to see. Captain Camila Caram reflected on her team’s results and the harsh realities of a world where some teams are better resourced than others: “Many PAHF teams do not receive that much support. Canada, Chile and Mexico, for example, are all completely amateur teams that have to live a double life, combining work, study, playing and training. We live a completely different reality to the European countries so it is very hard to compete. When an amateur team plays a professional team and only loses by one or two goals, that is a great achievement.”p
For teams such as Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Canada women, 2020 will be a quiet year in contrast to 2-019’s emotional roller-coaster. But for the players, coaches and officials who are Tokyo bound, it could be a defining year. We hear from some of those people here.
Scott Tupper, Canada’s inspirational captain says: “I am greatly looking forward to Tokyo, and the several months leading up to it. I always enjoy the build-up and anticipation as we lead in to a major event, so 2020 on the whole is going to be really special.
“What would I like for 2020? Aspiring to compete with the best teams in the world in 2020, to hopefully upset the rankings and wishing for our group to arrive healthy and compete in Tokyo to the best of our abilities.”
Delfina Merino spent a lot of 2019 suffering and then recovering from a knee injury. For her there is only one thing on her mind: “I want to enjoy every aspect of my hockey next year, both on and off the field. We will be training so hard for the Olympics but I will embrace and enjoy that whole process. And of course, it is time Las Leonas won Olympic gold.”
Reigning Olympic champions Argentina men will be looking to win back-to-back medals. Multi-capped Lucas Vila is hoping for a repeat performance: “My wishes for 2020 of course are focused on Tokyo 2020. I really would like to enjoy it in the same way we did in Rio. We still have to build the team and be strong in Tokyo. We have got to be a team that is hard to beat, that nobody wants to play against.
“Then, I hope to stay healthy to be able to play my best hockey.”
The last words for this year-end review go to one of the sport’s up and coming officials, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ayannah McClean: “For me 2019 has been an amazing, yet exhausting, hockey year. The announcement that I had been named to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics Games team was, hands down, no doubt, the number one highlight.
“As we head into 2020, my main focus is on all the training and preparation needed for the Games and I plan to encompass all aspects to ensure success. I want to wish the entire Games team success in their training and prep. To my PAHF family, in 2020 I wish everyone all the best for themselves and their families, and success in the upcoming events. Remember to embrace change, improve on your strengths, work on your weaknesses and have fun doing it.”
Pan American Hockey Federation media release
USA Field Hockey: 2019 Year in Review
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – December 31, 2019 – The calendar year is nearly complete and much like the years preceding it, 2019 was packed from start to finish with field hockey action on and off the pitch. Before midnight chimes in a new decade check out everything that happened around the USA Field Hockey Family this year.
Level 1 and 2 Instructional Coaching Clinics & Technical Skills Workshops
January – December 2019
Various Locations
More than 30 Level 1 and Level 2 Instructional Coaching Clinics and Technical Skills Workshops took place around the United States in 2019. Field hockey coaches of all levels from all regions share the common goal to help develop, network and learn how to grow their programs. USA Field Hockey would like to thank each and every participant from the 2019 Coach Education Clinics and Workshops!
Croatia Cup
January 4 – 6, 2019
Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia
Both the senior and U-21 U.S. Women’s National Indoor Teams competed in the six-team event. The senior Indoor USWNT finished strong on the final day with two wins to secure first place and the championship. The U-21 Indoor USWNT’s lone loss of the tournament was to the senior squad on the first day and finished second with 15 points. Corinne Zanolli (Newton Square, Pa.) received the Best Player of the Tournament Award and Top Goal Scorer Award with 14 total goals throughout the tournament.
U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Chile
January 26 – 29, 2019
Santiago, Chile
The U.S. Women’s National Team prepared for the inaugural FIH Pro League with a test series at Club Manquehue in Santiago, Chile against the host nation. USA dropped the first match 3-2 before tying 3-3 in the second game. The series also marked several milestones for USWNT athletes, including the first international caps for Mackenzie Allessie (Mount Joy, Pa.) and Linnea Gonzales (Bel Air, Md.), as well as the 150th cap for team captain Kathleen Sharkey (Moosic, Pa.).
3 Nations Invitational
January 28 – February 3, 2019
Benalmadena, Spain
The U.S. Men’s National Team kicked off their 2019 competition schedule against No. 24 Wales and No. 27 Brazil. Facing each squad twice, USA finished with a 2-0-2 record. At the end of the 3 Nations Invitational event, Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.) was named Player of the Tournament.
Disney Field Hockey Showcase
February 1 – 3, 2019
Kissimmee, Fla.
A total of 159 registered teams between the U-12 Co-Ed, U-14 Girls, U-16 Girls and U-19 Girls divisions played at ESPN’S Wide World of Sports Complex for this USA Field Hockey Sanctioned Event. The three-day tournament featured some of the best up and coming athletes from across the United States as college coaches scouted along the sidelines from dawn to dusk in the shadow of Walt Disney World.
FIH Pro League
January 26 – June 22, 2019
Global
Nine nations competed across 144 games in the women’s side of the first season of the FIH Pro League, including the U.S. Women’s National Team. The red, white and blue finished with seven points in 16 matches, which included several landmarks for USWNT athletes. In their first FIH Pro League game on February 2, Lauren Moyer (York, Pa.) earned her 50th international cap. Alyssa Manley (Lititz, Pa.) picked up her 100th international cap in the team’s next game versus The Netherlands on February 16 on USA’s first home game. In their third game, goalkeeper Jess Jecko (Sauquoit, N.Y.) was named Player of the Match against Australia. Fellow USA goalkeeper Kelsey Bing (Houston, Texas) earned the same honor in USA’s fifth FIH Pro League game in a thrilling shootout victory on March 29 against Belgium.
On April 14, Ashley Hoffman (Mohnton, Pa.) earned her 50th international cap when USA faced The Netherlands on the road, while Erin Mason (Chadds Ford, Pa.) secured her 50th on May 12 versus Argentina. The following weekend, Bing picked up her second Player of the Match honor in USA’s home win against China. In USA’s final road game of the FIH Pro League season against China, Kelly Marks (Elverson, Pa.) earned up her first international cap.
World Masters Hockey (WMH) Masters Indoor World Cup
February 14 -17, 2019
Hong Kong
The first ever tournament under the banner of the WMH, USA was represented in the Men’s O-40 and O-50 and Women’s O-40 age divisions. Both Men’s teams finished sixth while the women’s squad placed fourth.
National Indoor Tournament, presented by YOLO Sportswear
February 15 – March 3, 2019
Lancaster, Pa. & Richmond, Va.
Seven age divisions competed across three weekends at the annual Sheetz National Indoor Tournament, presented by YOLO Sportswear. USA Field Hockey would like to thank all competing teams, coaches, umpires, families and fans who helped make the 2018 NIT another memorable tournament indoors.
U.S. U-16 and U-20 Men’s National Team vs. Chile
March 9 – 16
Santiago, Chile
In their first international competition of 2019, the U.S. U-16 and U-20 Men’s National Teams competed against Chile. A week of fast-paced matches saw the U-20 USMNT clinch their series against the host nation while the U-16 USMNT saw strong growth as both teams played four games each.
Learn to Play Day Field Hockey Clinic
March 13, 2019
Baltimore
USA Field Hockey and the Living Classrooms Foundation teamed up to provide boys and girls ages 5 to 14 a free opportunity to try field hockey at UTZ Field at Patterson Park.
USA Field Hockey Summit, presented by AstroTurf
March 15 – 17
Baltimore
For the second year in a row the atmosphere at the Lord Baltimore Hotel was filled from end to end with informative insight, sessions and more at the USA Field Hockey Summit, presented by AstroTurf. Education, inspiration and networking were the goals of the first-ever USA Field Hockey Summit, presented by AstroTurf.
USA Field Hockey would like to thank each and every individual that attended Summit and contributed to the continued mission to Grow the Game, Serve Members and Succeed Internationally!
USA Field Hockey Annual Awards Ceremony
March 16, 2019
Baltimore
At the midway point on the second day of the USA Field Hockey Summit, presented by AstroTurf, was the USA Field Hockey Foundation's Annual Awards Ceremony, featuring five award winners. In 2018, these awards were created to more broadly recognize, honor and celebrate individuals across the field hockey community whose contributions have made a major and lasting impact on the sport in the United States.
Regional Club Championships, presented by Harrow Sports
March 30 – June 16, 2019
Various Locations
An exciting opportunity for clubs to compete against each other, the Regional Club Championships, presented by Harrow Sports, featured teams in the U-14, U-16 and U-19 Girls age divisions who battled for the right to appear in the National Club Championship, presented by Harrow Sports.
Junior Premier Outdoor League
April 6 – June 2, 2019
Various Locations
Under the umbrella of Junior Premier Hockey, the Junior Premier Outdoor League saw 60 clubs participate across U-14, U-16 and U-19 age divisions in the seventh edition of the event. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners.
U.S. Women’s National Development Team – The Netherlands Tour
April 13 – 22, 2019
Haarlem, The Netherlands
The U.S. Women’s National Development Team played in four games over 10 days. Their first two matches were victories against Scotland’s Senior team. Next, they faced Belgium’s U-21 team where USA prevailed in a thrilling shootout. They wrapped up their tour of The Netherlands with a game against Dutch powerhouse club team Stichtsche HC. USA competed well throughout the match but unfortunately lost 1-5.
U.S. Men’s National Team vs. South Korea
April 18 – 22, 2019
Seoul, South Korea
In their second test series of the year, the USMNT played a four-game test series against No. 17 Korea at the Korea National Training Center. Using the series as preparation for the FIH Series Finals, USA concluded the week of competition with resilient performance as the team accomplished many of its personal goals in a short amount of time.
U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Germany
April 18 – 20, 2019
Cologne, Germany
The U-17 USWNT tour of Europe featured three games at the Rot-Weiss Koln tennis and Hockey Club. The first two were against Germany’s U-16 team where despite losing the first match 0-5, the stat lines remained even. USA rallied late in the second match but ultimately came up short 3-4. Their third match was against Belgium’s U-16 squad, where USA dueled to a 1-1 draw.
U.S. U-19 Women’s National Team vs. Germany & Belgium
April 18 – 21, 2019
Dusseldorf, Germany
Also touring in Germany was the U-19 USWNT who faced Germany’s U-18 team in two matchups and one against Belgium’s U-18 team. Germany claimed a win in their first meeting but USA held on to win the second. Their match versus Belgium concluded in a scoreless 60 minutes despite both sides having several scoring opportunities.
U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team 3 Nations Invitational
April 20 – 24
Viersen & Mönchengladbach, Germany
The 3 Nations Invitational featured the U-21 USWNT, Germany’s U-21 team and Great Britain’s U-21 team. USA adjusted game by game, showing improvement in each outing, but ultimately fell in their first three games before tying Great Britain in the fourth and final match.
Regional Futures Tournaments, presented by Harrow Sports
May 4 – 19, 2019
More than 2,700 Futures athletes participated in the 2019 Regional Futures Tournaments, presented by Harrow Sports, throughout all USA Field Hockey regions in the annual opportunity to demonstrate their talents. Each athlete that decides to be a part of their region's RFT was placed on a team within their age division and had an opportunity to play against other teams in their region in hopes of being selected to move forward in the Olympic Development Pathway.
Coaching Goalkeeping Workshops
May 11 & 18, 2019
Lancaster, Pa. & Fairfax, Va.
USA Field Hockey added a “Goalkeeping Workshop” to its workshop series. Teaching goalkeeping and developing and managing goalkeepers is a common challenge. The three-hour workshop was designed to help coaches teach the correct goalkeeping skills and provide suggestions on working with multiple goalkeepers in a team setting. The workshop also focused on teaching skills in a developmentally appropriate way.
Attacking Principles Workshops & Defending Principles Workshops
May 11, August 11 & 24, 2019
Lancaster, Pa., Millersville, Pa. & Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
A new addition to the Coach Education Workshop series, the Attacking Principles and Defending Principles Workshops were facilitated by USA Field Hockey’s Director of Coach Education and Learning, Craig Parnham, and Phil Edwards, USA Field Hockey’s Senior Manager of High Performance.
The Attacking Principles Workshop is designed for coaches who are looking to further develop their teams attacking play. It also includes key technical and tactical elements that support player and team development.
The Defending Principles Workshop provides coaches with the essential principles and supporting sub-principles to help build more effective defensive teams. The workshop looks at the individual technical defensive skills required and how those skills can be utilized to develop tactical decision making relating to areas such as pressing and managing counter attacks.
California Cup
May 24 – 27, 2019
Moorpark, Calif.
The 48th edition of the California Cup saw field hockey teams and fans as far as the eye could see as one of the world’s oldest field hockey tournaments on Memorial Day weekend. More than 2,000 athletes competed across 13 divisions from the United States, as well as Canada, Mexico and Taiwan in Moorpark, Calif., including the U.S. Junior Men’s National Team, in this USA Field Hockey Sanctioned Event.
U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Ireland
May 24 – 26, 2019
Dublin, Ireland
In their final preparation for the FIH Series Finals, the USMNT played in a two-game test series against No. 11 Ireland. Perfect playing conditions awaited the two sides in the first game, where despite even exchanges, Ireland used an early lead and advantages by USA turnovers to secure the win. The red, white and blue adjusted in the second match with a new tempo but was not enough to overpower the Green Machine. The series also saw the first international caps for Alberto Montilla (Allen, Texas) and Julian Croonenberghs (Tervuren, Belgium).
FIH Series Finals
June 6 – 15, 2019
Bhubaneswar, India
Primed for a strong performance since their first-place victory in the Hockey Series Open in 2018, the USMNT set their sights on the opposition at the FIH Series Finals. Sitting in Pool B against No. 16 South Africa, No. 18 Japan and Mexico, USA finished first with a 2-1-0 record to advance to the semifinals. Matched up once again against South Africa, the two sides were tied 1-1 heading into the final quarter, but South Africa managed to pull ahead in the final seconds to send USA into the bronze medal game against Japan. In their second meeting, the match was tied 2-2 before Japan broke ahead to win 4-2. USA’s Jonathan Klages (Berlin, Germany) was named Odisha Mining Corporation Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament for his performance throughout the event.
Young Women’s National Championship
June 14 – 18, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
Five days of elite competition unfolded at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. in the 2019 Young Women’s National Championship. More than 130 of the most elite female collegiate and post-collegiate athletes battled it out between eight teams which showcased their skills in the annual tournament in front of coaches and selectors for a chance to advance within the Olympic Development Pathway.
Grand Masters Hockey (GMH) European Cup & Trophy
June 19 – 29, 2019
Antwerp, Belgium
The U.S. Men’s and Women’s Masters Teams each sent an O-60 team to Antwerp, Belgium for the 2019 Grand Masters Hockey (GMH) European Trophy. With more than 70 men’s and women’s international teams participating, the U.S. O-60 Men’s Masters Team finished sixth and the O-60 Women’s Masters team claimed the gold medal, its first ever.
National Futures Championship, presented by Harrow Sports
June 20 – 28, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
Taking place at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. the National Futures Championship, presented by Harrow Sports, featured some of the top talent in the United States which and was evaluated by USA Field Hockey’s High Performance staff. USA Field Hockey would like to thank and congratulate all athletes who participated in the NFC, as well as every coach and umpire who helped make the event possible.
Junior National Camp
June 29 – July 2, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
The Junior National Camp is the premier camp for high school athletes, comprised on the top 100 athletes selected from the National Futures Championship and Stars and Stripes Elite games. Based on their performances during the camp, athletes may be selected to participate on the 2020 U.S. U-16 and Rise Women's National Teams.
Junior U.S. Men’s National Team Holland Training Camp
July 6 – 9, 2019
The Netherlands
In addition to their training camp in Holland, the Junior USMNT played three friendly matches against local clubs. USA played against the Hilversum A1 squad at the Hilversumsche Mixed Hockey Club in Loosdrecht, The Netherlands, where the team claimed a 4-1 victory. They then faced Wageningen A1 at the Wageningen Mixed Hockey Club, losing a close defensive match 1-2. Their final game was against Houten A1 at the HC Houten, where despite a strong performance in the second half, USA fell 0-3.
U.S. Men’s National Team vs. France
July 6 – 9, 2019
Cambrai, France
In their first series since the FIH Series Finals and in preparation for the 2019 Pan American Games, the USMNT participated in a three-game series against No. 13 France. Taking place over four days, USA lost all three matches to the host nation.
National Club Championship, presented by Harrow Sports
July 8 – 16, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
It was another year of faced-paced action at Spooky Nook Sports as teams sought to be named the top club in the National Club Championship, presented by Harrow Sports. The top sixteen U-14, U-16 and U-19 Girls teams from across the country fought hard day after day but it was the WC Eagles who would claim gold in all three divisions.
USFHL Adult National Championship
July 12 – 24, 2019
Newark, Del.
For three intense action-packed days, the top-eight men's and top-twelve women’s club teams in the United States competed at Rullo Stadium on the campus of the University of Delaware in the third annual United States Field Hockey League (USFHL) Adult National Championship, a USA Field Hockey Sanctioned Event. Teams qualified locally through USFHL Sanctioned league play, concluding with Olympic Club and Running on Empty in the women’s championship game and San Jose Khalsa against dcDragons in the men’s championship game.
Summer Bash at the Beach, presented by YOLO Sportswear
July 19 – 21, 2019
Virginia Beach, Va.
2019’s edition of the Summer Bash at the Beach, presented by YOLO Sportswear, saw teams play in the
U-10 Co-Ed, U-12 Co-Ed and U-14 Girls age divisions at the Virginia Beach National Training Center in Virginia Beach, Va. More than 50 teams participated in the three-day event while playing a total of six games of 7v7 field hockey. USA Field Hockey would like to thank all participants, coaches, umpires and fans for making this annual event a success for the fifth year in a row!
AAU Junior Olympic Games
July 29 – August 1, 2019
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Field hockey at the 2019 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games, known as the largest multi-sport event for youth in the United States, featured a U-16 Girls division which consisted of seven teams who competed in a round robin style competition while providing athletes the opportunity to experience an Olympic-like, multi-sport competition while enjoying the camaraderie and inspiration from top athletes in other featured sports.
Pan American Games
July 29 – August 10, 2019
Lima, Peru
Field hockey at the 2019 Pan American Games was both unforgettable and rewarding for the USMNT and USWNT. Both USA teams earned a bronze medal at the international tournament. It was the first time the USMNT medaled at the event in 24 years, while the USWNT continued their streak of medaling in each Pan American Games since its infusion in 1987.
The Pan American Games also saw multiple milestones among USA athletes. The bronze medal game against Chile marked the 150th international cap for Harris, making him the highest-ever capped male athletes in the program. In their respective bronze medal match, Anna Dessoye (Mountaintop, Pa.) and Julia Young (Yorktown, Va.) both played in their 50th international competition.
World Masters Hockey (WMH) European Masters Championship
August 8 – 17, 2019
Krefeld, Germany
The U.S. Men’s Masters Team sent an O-50 team to play at the WMH European Masters Championship which featured more then 30 men’s and women’s international teams from ten countries in the O-50 and O-55 age categories. USA finished last in pool play before moving on to finish tenth at the event.
Foundations Course
August 10 & December 6, 2019
Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. & Carson, Calif.
The Foundations Course is an entry level offering, delivered by USA Field Hockey coach educators, for individuals with little to no field hockey experience. It is an interactive course that will get participants moving and playing the sport and is suitable for groups of all sizes. This course is specially designed to provide sports leaders with everything they need to know to start or build field hockey programs and leagues in their respective communities.
Stick2Sports
August 25, 2019
Sparks, Md.
USA Field Hockey partnered with US Lacrosse to offer a dual sport clinic for boys and girls ages 5 to 14 to discover and try both sports in one, two-hour clinic. Each participant received a field hockey stick, two practice field hockey balls, lacrosse stick, one ball, t-shirts and a one-year membership to both USA Field Hockey and US Lacrosse.
National Field Hockey Day
September 14, 2019
United States
The seventh annual National Field Hockey Day was celebrated all around the nation and on social media by athletes, teams, coaches and families. Thank you to all who shared their love of the game!
U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Canada
September 24 – 27, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
As part of their preparation for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier, the USWNT played three matches against No. 15 Canada at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. The teams previously met during the Pan American Games one month prior as USA finished with one win and two losses.
Discover Field Hockey
October 6 & November 3, 2019
Hempstead, N.Y. & Oak Ridge, N.J.
Discover Field Hockey is a 90-minute introductory clinic for boys and girls who have never participated in or have had limited exposure to the sport. Boys and girls learn from trained coaches from local schools, clubs and recreational programs in the area. The clinic also provides boys and girls with a fun, active and learner-centered approach to the game.
Junior U.S. Men’s National Team Talent Identification and Training Camp
October 12 – 14, 2019
Greenwich, Conn.
More than 60 athletes participated at Sacred Heart Greenwich at the Junior U.S. Men’s National Team Identification and Training Camp, with athletes representing 13 different states in addition to Washington D.C., China and The Netherlands. Athletes who also arrived early joined members of the senior USMNT against the USWNT in two friendly scrimmages. USA Field Hockey would like to thank all athletes and coaches who took the time and resources to travel to the East Coast!
Coaching Goalkeeping and Goal Scoring Workshops
October 27, 2019
Portland, Maine
USA Field Hockey’s Edwards led both offerings at the Portland Sports Complex. The Goalkeeping Workshop is designed to teach skills in a developmentally-appropriate way that helps coaches tech the correct goalkeeping skills. The Goal Scoring Workshop is designed to identify and teach the key skills required to help coaches develop effective goal scorers.
FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. India
November 1 – 2, 2019
Bhubaneswar, India
With a chance to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the line, the USWNT challenged No. 9 India in a two-game series. USA was outplayed in the first game, falling 1-5, meaning they would need to score early and often in their second game. They did just that to the shock of the home crowd at Kalinga Stadium as the red, white and blue produced four goals prior to halftime, tying the aggregate score 5-5, but a late goal by India put the overall goal count in their favor as USA fell heartbreakingly short of field hockey’s ultimate stage. Following the conclusion of the second game, USA’s Bing was named Player of the Match.
Junior U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Canada
November 24 – 28, 2019
Moorpark, Calif.
The Junior U.S. Men’s National Training Squad began their first training camp in conjunction with eight friendly matches against Canada in Moorpark, Calif. The USMNT staff selected the competing roster each game day based on athletes’ performance at the training camp and were fielded from athletes in the U-16/U-18 and U-21 divisions.
National Hockey Festival, presented by CranBarry
November 28 – 30, 2019
Tampa, Fla.
Thanksgiving weekend and field hockey met once again descended upon the state of Florida for the 39th edition of National Hockey Festival, presented by CranBarry. Thousands of players and thousands more field hockey fans celebrated a unified passion at the Tournament Sportsplex of Tampa Bay.
California Field Hockey Symposium, presented by AstroTurf
December 7, 2019
Westlake Village, Calif.
More than 80 California field hockey stakeholders and community sports leaders attended the 2019 California Field Hockey Symposium, presented by AstroTurf, to network and collaborate around growing and developing the sport throughout the state for players, coaches, umpires and fans. The Symposium was made possible and affordable by funding from the USA Field Hockey Foundation, United States Men’s Field Hockey Foundation and AstroTurf, and was the first state specific conference of its kind.
Thank you to all participants and attendees for a great weekend of field hockey in California.
Umpire Education Workshop
December 8, 2019
Moorpark, Calif.
Following the conclusion of the California Field Hockey Symposium, presented by AstroTurf, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Umpiring, Steve Horgan, offered an Umpire Education Workshop targeted to beginning umpires. The workshop provided an introduction umpiring the game of field hockey and included topics such as basic skills and rules, blowing the whistles and signals, umpire cooperation, penalty corners, managing the games, keeping the game safe, rules application with video examples, and how to get started.
National Goalkeeping Coaches Forum and National Coaches Forum
December 12 – 14, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
The third annual National Goalkeeping Coaches Forum and sixth annual National Coaches Forum saw eager educators, high school, club and collegiate coaches who flocked to Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster, Pa. USA Field Hockey would like to thank all participants of the weekend-full of Coach Education Programs!
Sheetz National Indoor Tournament Qualifiers, presented by YOLO Sportswear
December 14, 2019 – January 26, 2020
Various Locations
More than 550 teams are competing at a total of 35 different qualifier locations for spots in the Sheetz 2019 National Indoor Tournament, presented by YOLO Sportswear. Good luck to all participating squads!
Women in Coaching Workshop
December 15, 2019
Lancaster, Pa.
As part of the 2019 National Coaches Forum, this inaugural workshop was led by keynote presenter Sarah Kelleher and supported by USA Field Hockey’s Director of Coach Education and Learning, Craig Parnham, and Senior Manager of Coach Education, Liz Tchou. The workshop was also a practical session in understanding personal strengths, how coaches can grow resilience and use strategies to overcome barriers to ultimately develop the confidence to truly excel as coaches.
From everyone at USA Field Hockey, thank you for helping 2019 be unforgettable for so many field hockey players, coaches, umpires and administrators. See you in 2020!
USFHA media release
Indoor Hockey Festival – Update
Hockey Australia wishes to advise that at present, the Australian Indoor Hockey Festival in Wollongong beginning on 4 January will go ahead as scheduled.
Over the past days, Hockey Australia has been and continues to be in contact with the Rural Fire Service, Wollongong Council, Destination Wollongong and Wollongong Police in regards to monitoring and preparing for risks to the Indoor Hockey Festival and its participants.
Hockey Australia and tournament officials will also continue to monitor the air quality through the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Events will continue, however in line with the ever-changing conditions, Hockey Australia will provide updates as it continues to monitor all available information sources as well as contacts with relevant authorities.
Ahead of the Indoor Hockey Festival, below is some advice on the proposed approach to risk and safety of participants and spectators.
Participants and anyone intending on attending the festival is encouraged to monitor the risks and emergencies themselves.
Respect any road closures, advice from Police/RFS/SES or emergency broadcasts.
Monitor the Risk(s) and Emergencies
Hockey Australia recommends monitoring the below for information on risks and emergencies in NSW, as it may relate to the Indoor Festival of Hockey;
Rural Fire Service – Fires Near Me
Information available at https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
It is recommended to download this from Apple Store or Google Play. You can set an alert or ‘watch zone’ for Wollongong which will provide you with an alert on your phone for any hazards or emergencies.
For those flying into Sydney Airport and travelling to Wollongong, it is recommended to set up a secondary watch zone for halfway (i.e. Helensburgh) to ensure you are aware of anything that occurs on the road from Sydney to Wollongong.
Live Traffic NSW
Download through the Apple Store or from Google Play. This app will alert travellers of road closures. You can pre-set a trip for alerts on your preferred routes.
Emergency Radio
When in NSW tune in radios to the most relevant emergency radio station for live updates on any emergencies that may occur.
A list of these can be found at https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/local-region-information/isr/local-radio-stations/
Note: 97.3FM for Illawarra or ABC Radio.
Event/Match Cancellation
In relation to the event (any age group) once it is underway, in addition to Hockey Australia’s policy on heat management, Tournament Directors will monitor air quality (smoke etc from fires not in the direct area).
Information on the Air Quality can be found at https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/air/Pages/aqi.aspx
The Illawarra Hockey Centre has large fans which will be active inside the hall which will address heat and move air. As a general guide, Hockey Australia will adopt the recommendations on this page as relevant for ‘Other Adults’.
If the AQI (updated hourly) is Very Poor, the Tournament Director may evaluate the situation at the centre and make a call on specific matches whether they should be cancelled/postponed.
If the AQI is Hazardous, the Tournament Director should move to stop/postpone matches until the AQI is revised and re-graded.
All circumstances of match cancellation, postponement, abandonment can be found in the Tournament Regulations.
If at any stage participants or the venue is seen to be under the threat of fire, Hockey Australia will communicate directly with event officials and team managers by TEXT and EMAIL. Please ensure all contact details are updated and correct.
This advice is relevant as at 12:00pm AEDT Tuesday 31 December 2019. Further updates may be provided.
In addition, during the festival the Management of the Illawarra Hockey Centre will be collecting front door donations which will be distributed across the RFS, fire victims and drought relief.
Hockey Australia media release