Field hockey clubs feedback

[Anonymous]

I’m looking for feedback on field hockey clubs in the DMV. I understand there’s been a lot of changes in the field hockey clubs in the DMV.

I’m looking to find clubs that coach kids and give playing time.

Here’s what I have gathered so far. I wanted to see what others think of the feedback I have gathered.

1. Next Level - great coaching, pretty good playing time, many levels of teams. Rising up in ranking by winning many tournaments. Strong connection to Upenn.
2. Freedom - great coaching for the elite players, good playing time because many levels of teams. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
3. Washington Wolves - so so coaching. Less coaching, more buddy buddy with players. Very limited playing time for non top players. Small club. Dropping in elite status.
4. Alpha - so so coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. So so in recruitment.
5. Warhawks - good coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
6. Hussel - so so coaching. Limited playing time for non top players. So so in recruitment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking for feedback on field hockey clubs in the DMV. I understand there’s been a lot of changes in the field hockey clubs in the DMV.

I’m looking to find clubs that coach kids and give playing time.

Here’s what I have gathered so far. I wanted to see what others think of the feedback I have gathered.

1. Next Level - great coaching, pretty good playing time, many levels of teams. Rising up in ranking by winning many tournaments. Strong connection to Upenn.
2. Freedom - great coaching for the elite players, good playing time because many levels of teams. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
3. Washington Wolves - so so coaching. Less coaching, more buddy buddy with players. Very limited playing time for non top players. Small club. Dropping in elite status.
4. Alpha - so so coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. So so in recruitment.
5. Warhawks - good coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
6. Hussel - so so coaching. Limited playing time for non top players. So so in recruitment.

If you've gathered this information, what more than you want?

[Anonymous]

How old is your kid and what is your end game? What you need for a 8 year old might be different than what you need for a 16 year old.

I know families on most of the teams you mentioned and they all tell me negatives about their clubs. Its just that right now, it is the best option for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking for feedback on field hockey clubs in the DMV. I understand there’s been a lot of changes in the field hockey clubs in the DMV.

I’m looking to find clubs that coach kids and give playing time.

Here’s what I have gathered so far. I wanted to see what others think of the feedback I have gathered.

1. Next Level - great coaching, pretty good playing time, many levels of teams. Rising up in ranking by winning many tournaments. Strong connection to Upenn.
2. Freedom - great coaching for the elite players, good playing time because many levels of teams. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
3. Washington Wolves - so so coaching. Less coaching, more buddy buddy with players. Very limited playing time for non top players. Small club. Dropping in elite status.
4. Alpha - so so coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. So so in recruitment.
5. Warhawks - good coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
6. Hussel - so so coaching. Limited playing time for non top players. So so in recruitment.

All of the clubs have limited playing time for non top players, in that if a team has multiple levels, only the top team is going to get a shot at Disney or Shooting Stars. We are on Freedom and I know families with players on Next Level, Wolves, and Warhawks and they are all different but not always in obvious ways. To go down your list:

1. Next Level - the strong connection to Penn is three players, all of whom are still in HS. The current senior is a phenom and will do great there and the other two are very strong players as well. It is a unknown if the pipeline will continue and it is really rare for any club to send so many players to a single school (save WC Eagles and UNC). We have a few friends there and they are mostly happy though there are grumblings about the team getting too big, too fast and the coaching being very uneven. Their recruiting other than Penn is a player to Georgetown and another to Bates so they are making strides there too.
2. Freedom - definitely the powerhouse team in the greater area, though fewer kids from DC proper. I'm not happy with the current practice location (distance wise - the place is fine) but they do a pretty good job with practices being worthwhile. Our top teams are very strong and the middle-ish group that my youngest is on is ok, but hoping she continues to get better.
3. Wolves - we have a few old friends on the Wolves and I would disagree with your points. They do only have a single team per age group and limit numbers of players. Everyone gets playing time but it isnt guaranteed and I would suggest that it is ok to have to fight for playing time when there is only a single squad. As for dropping in elite status, there I would definitely disagree. Most recent national tournament (Disney) their 19 team tied with both Texas Pride Red and Spirit of USA (0-0 in both and lost to Spirit of USA in shootouts) and then lost to AGH 0-1. Ask anyone in the club world and those stats put them up as a very strong team. I believe they had a pretty strong Thanksgiving tournament as well. Also, their 19 team has commits to Syracuse, Columbia, 2 to Davidson, Cornell, Hopkins, and Kenyon; that is a strong set of college recruits. One big negative is that with only one team per age group, trying out and making the team can be difficult and can lead to sour grapes for some. We live a little far away so we had to leave as getting to practices became difficult but if it were easier with three kids, we would still be there.
4. Alpha - Doug is a great technical coach but they are uneven in results. I don't personally like him, but the kids seem great.
5. Warhawks have grown tremendously recently due to the demise of several Baltimore are clubs. (Similarly, in DC and Moco, the disbanding of Storm and Koa sputtering has really bolstered Next Level's numbers and Spark selling to Freedom has really changed the makeup of the team as well) We were on Warhawks for a bit and I would argue that playing time there is a lot more haphazard than it looks from the outside.
6. Husel - the club in your list that I'm least familiar with. When we do play them, they play a little rough. Reminds me of when we play Shore Byrds.

I think there is a home at one of these clubs for most kids. But as the PP mentioned, it really does depend on what your end game is. I do know that all of these coaches would not say anything too bad about each other's organizations. They are all collegial and get along quite well. Welma, Gloria, Sarah, Doug, all have a healthy respect for each other even if some of the kids end up talking trash.

Finally, if the end game is college recruiting, than I would express caution no matter the dreams of your child. There are 2000 D1 players in any given year and ~25+% are internationals. That leaves around 350 spots. Unless your kid is one of the kids making NEXUS or otherwise being a rockstar and catching the attention of a coaching staff, you are talking about fighting for around 100 spots left. Even in D3, if you were to take the top 25 programs (in academics, the sport, or a mix) there are only what, 150 spots in a class? Long are the odds and it is great that we have so many good clubs to choose from in this area that play competitive field hockey.

[Anonymous]

10:46 gives a pretty good summary. I’ll add a bit.

Next Level- I know a family there who says it is not as competitive as they would like. I’ve also heard it’s getting too big and some things are falling though the cracks. Coaching is good, but they are not necessarily concerned with winning according to a family I know on the team. So playing time is more equal, which is likely why they are not as competitive as they could be.

Freedom - I know a family here who likes the coaching her daughter gets on a top team. They feel the club is too big and the location is not great for them. I know a few families left once they merged with Spark because practice moved north and the club got too big.

Wolves - I agree with the above poster. They are growing stronger. Gloria is great. I’ve heard she doesn’t support the need for strength and conditioning, which is a concern for some.

Alpha - I find the male coach to be a huge turnoff. He is so loud and obnoxious. Level of play is average for this area.

Warhawks - we considered Warhawks but their location is not great for us. I liked what I heard about recruiting support and coaching philosophy. I’ve heard it’s not perfect, though from some families on the team.

Husel - many feel their coach is crazy because of how she is on the sidelines. Some see it as passionate. More competitive than Alpha but still not top tier for this area.

Missing from your list is Hammers, Mustangs, and Metro. Not sure if that is on purpose.

[Anonymous]

What’s up with the Jackals? Or is it a case of the owner ruining another team?

[Anonymous]

My daughter has played Jackals at different age groups over the last several years and they have never been competitive. I know a girl who left because they were not competitive and the coach yelled a lot.

Nova Extreme is another area club. Also not competitive from what I’ve seen.

Rampage has only u16 and u19 to my knowledge. Husel came out of/broke away from them a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

DD switched from one of the clubs listed to Next Level as a u16. Best decision made. Other players have followed - more than 6 other players from u14 and u16. Welma is a great coach. She focuses on skills and team strategy when playing versus counting on individuals to carry the ball. My DD has grown a lot and because there are different teams, playing time is consistent. On the prior team which is a small club, the non top players were used to pay the bills. The number of times DD would go to an expensive travel tournament (Disney, Shooting Star) to play less than 30 minutes the whole tournament was ridiculous. Players can’t improve if they don’t get playing time. Next level focuses on the player and gives the players opportunities to grow.

[Anonymous]

Sshhhh...stop talking about Welma!

[Anonymous]

NP here-Does Next Level Field Hockey have a current website? I can only find info on Next Level lacrosse or an old looking website. Also, are there any teams (not rec) for 8 or 9 year olds? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here-Does Next Level Field Hockey have a current website? I can only find info on Next Level lacrosse or an old looking website. Also, are there any teams (not rec) for 8 or 9 year olds? Thanks!

Find them on Inst @ nextlevelfhockey click the link on the bio

[Anonymous]

Husel coaching can be um, difficult and if you decide their coaching style isn’t for you, they can be even more difficult when you try to leave.

What’s happened to Metro in Leesburg? Are they still doing well?

[Anonymous]

Agreed about Husel coaching etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m looking for feedback on field hockey clubs in the DMV. I understand there’s been a lot of changes in the field hockey clubs in the DMV.

I’m looking to find clubs that coach kids and give playing time.

Here’s what I have gathered so far. I wanted to see what others think of the feedback I have gathered.

1. Next Level - great coaching, pretty good playing time, many levels of teams. Rising up in ranking by winning many tournaments. Strong connection to Upenn.
2. Freedom - great coaching for the elite players, good playing time because many levels of teams. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
3. Washington Wolves - so so coaching. Less coaching, more buddy buddy with players. Very limited playing time for non top players. Small club. Dropping in elite status.
4. Alpha - so so coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. So so in recruitment.
5. Warhawks - good coaching. Pretty good playing time, many levels of team. Elite team - great D1 college recruitment.
6. Hussel - so so coaching. Limited playing time for non top players. So so in recruitment.

Have a kid at one of these clubs playing for a couple of years, and I think this description is fairly accurate on current trends

[Anonymous]

Metro is still around and does great at the tournaments we see them at. I think they are a bit further out in the burbs, which is why they may not have been mentioned earlier.