Field hockey clubs feedback

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know what happened with Hustle. We need more club teams in the DMV, not less.

It doesn’t really matter at this point and we may never know the real reason. Even what the players were told may not be the truth. All those girls will find a new club or some will move on to a new sport.

I don’t necessarily think we need more clubs, but more practice space and coaches could help the existing clubs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know what happened with Hustle. We need more club teams in the DMV, not less.

You can ask a certain Arlington Coach what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you prioritize development and not selections, Nexus is a pretty good value. 18 hours of training over three weekends with competitive kids and sound instruction for roughly $600.00.

Sorry, but this just isn't true. My DD did Nexus and whatever it was called before that--I can't remember--for multiple years. She did make it through to the Championship because she was a strong player and played for the right club. But she hated it. There was very little instruction, and mostly just very stressful evaluation. She has to keep going because college coaches require it, but I do not recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know what happened with Hustle. We need more club teams in the DMV, not less.

It doesn’t really matter at this point and we may never know the real reason. Even what the players were told may not be the truth. All those girls will find a new club or some will move on to a new sport.

I don’t necessarily think we need more clubs, but more practice space and coaches could help the existing clubs

I think in the end, Hustle just lost too many players. The exodus spanned June-November (maybe even later). Players following coaches, friends/carpools, school teammates, etc. Other clubs are also better with helping players get recruited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anybody know what happened with Hustle. We need more club teams in the DMV, not less.

It doesn’t really matter at this point and we may never know the real reason. Even what the players were told may not be the truth. All those girls will find a new club or some will move on to a new sport.

I don’t necessarily think we need more clubs, but more practice space and coaches could help the existing clubs

I think in the end, Hustle just lost too many players. The exodus spanned June-November (maybe even later). Players following coaches, friends/carpools, school teammates, etc. Other clubs are also better with helping players get recruited.

If you mean 1 coach engaged in a coup to get half the team to go with them, then yes, this is correct. She was at NIT doing the same thing. Looking to pull more players away.

[Anonymous]

Who is this coach? What team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you mean 1 coach engaged in a coup to get half the team to go with them, then yes, this is correct. She was at NIT doing the same thing. Looking to pull more players away.

As someone who witnessed this first hand, this statement is flat out wrong. There was no "coup." A confluence of factors came together for the exodus to happen. Many families were unhappy with the club's leadership and culture and were looking for a change. When a very well-liked and dynamic coach and club administrator moved to Maryland and decided to join up with Wolves, several of the families (which included kids at multiple age levels) decided to follow. This led to others, particularly in younger age groups where many were recruited into the club by the departed coach, to decide to stay with their friends and coaches and switch clubs. The transition to the new club has been very positive for most, if not all, involved and word has started to get out. The field hockey world is very small and, like it or not, people are always looking around (too much in my opinion). If people are unhappy with a club, they will talk to other programs. If you build a culture that people appreciate and gravitate towards, you don't have to "pull more players away," they come to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you mean 1 coach engaged in a coup to get half the team to go with them, then yes, this is correct. She was at NIT doing the same thing. Looking to pull more players away.

As someone who witnessed this first hand, this statement is flat out wrong. There was no "coup." A confluence of factors came together for the exodus to happen. Many families were unhappy with the club's leadership and culture and were looking for a change. When a very well-liked and dynamic coach and club administrator moved to Maryland and decided to join up with Wolves, several of the families (which included kids at multiple age levels) decided to follow. This led to others, particularly in younger age groups where many were recruited into the club by the departed coach, to decide to stay with their friends and coaches and switch clubs. The transition to the new club has been very positive for most, if not all, involved and word has started to get out. The field hockey world is very small and, like it or not, people are always looking around (too much in my opinion). If people are unhappy with a club, they will talk to other programs. If you build a culture that people appreciate and gravitate towards, you don't have to "pull more players away," they come to you.

100% agree, +1, etc., etc.

[Anonymous]

What I'm curious to know: Were those visiting South African players that H used in NITQ registered with USA field hockey? If not, that was so wrong--taking a spot in Nationals away from some other team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I'm curious to know: Were those visiting South African players that H used in NITQ registered with USA field hockey? If not, that was so wrong--taking a spot in Nationals away from some other team.

Honestly does it matter at this point? Hustle isn’t a club anymore and NITs are over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

If you mean 1 coach engaged in a coup to get half the team to go with them, then yes, this is correct. She was at NIT doing the same thing. Looking to pull more players away.

As someone who witnessed this first hand, this statement is flat out wrong. There was no "coup." A confluence of factors came together for the exodus to happen. Many families were unhappy with the club's leadership and culture and were looking for a change. When a very well-liked and dynamic coach and club administrator moved to Maryland and decided to join up with Wolves, several of the families (which included kids at multiple age levels) decided to follow. This led to others, particularly in younger age groups where many were recruited into the club by the departed coach, to decide to stay with their friends and coaches and switch clubs. The transition to the new club has been very positive for most, if not all, involved and word has started to get out. The field hockey world is very small and, like it or not, people are always looking around (too much in my opinion). If people are unhappy with a club, they will talk to other programs. If you build a culture that people appreciate and gravitate towards, you don't have to "pull more players away," they come to you.

Many families are unhappy at a lot of clubs. Just look at this entire thread going back however long. And it is absolutely fair to find a better fit or culture or whatever. That is NOT exactly truthful about what happened here. And you know it.

While a couple of families left with coaching changes, one parent coordinated the departure of several other families (mostly associated with one HS program) to another club and did so in return for recruiting. This was well understood. I’m not defending Hustle’s director or how they handled recruiting. But the coordination of families leaving to go to another club, especially when that family (& some of others who left with them) was promoted and given preference for everything was not cool. To the club. To the longtime teammates. That same coach was still reaching out to hustle families just before they disbanded. That may be the politics of it and if that’s how some people choose to operate, fine. But it definitely did not sit well with many. And I happen to agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I'm curious to know: Were those visiting South African players that H used in NITQ registered with USA field hockey? If not, that was so wrong--taking a spot in Nationals away from some other team.

Honestly does it matter at this point? Hustle isn’t a club anymore and NITs are over.

Will it change anything- obviously, no. But if that is what that club did, then shame on them and they deserved what happened to them.

[Anonymous]

There were other issues at Hustle. Players don't leave a competitive club unless there are other issues. Especially, if a move requires a much longer commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Many families are unhappy at a lot of clubs. Just look at this entire thread going back however long. And it is absolutely fair to find a better fit or culture or whatever. That is NOT exactly truthful about what happened here. And you know it.

While a couple of families left with coaching changes, one parent coordinated the departure of several other families (mostly associated with one HS program) to another club and did so in return for recruiting. This was well understood. I’m not defending Hustle’s director or how they handled recruiting. But the coordination of families leaving to go to another club, especially when that family (& some of others who left with them) was promoted and given preference for everything was not cool. To the club. To the longtime teammates. That same coach was still reaching out to hustle families just before they disbanded. That may be the politics of it and if that’s how some people choose to operate, fine. But it definitely did not sit well with many. And I happen to agree.

This is patently absurd - just because some other clubs do a much better overall job with recruiting support does not mean that there was some sort of quid pro quo for this kid or their family. Hustel simply underperformed [and lets be honest, they often did more than just underperform, they actively and threateningly used "recruiting" as a way to try and control the kids and their families.] Maybe it is your ptsd talking, but it seems you don't realize or understand that there are clubs and coaches that actually do help significantly with recruiting and do it for the sake of the kids? It certainly works that way at Warhawks, Freedom, Wolves, and Next Level

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There were other issues at Hustle. Players don't leave a competitive club unless there are other issues. Especially, if a move requires a much longer commute.

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