Field hockey clubs feedback
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Anonymous
I hear every year of clubs not having enough spots for all their interested players at the big tournaments. The club offers tryouts or has first come first serve sign ups and those who don’t get a spot are on their own. It sounds like the wolves coach found a team for the players they didn’t have space for vice making the players find a team to play for on their own. I don’t see a problem with this. The alternative is a kid doesn’t go at all. |
Anonymous
| Can’t have your daughter stay with a club that won’t let her play at a showcase with them. Unfortunately those girls that probably had to play with a different club are seniors so their chances of recruitment have been greatly minimized. If your DD is a junior….run! |
Anonymous
Run to where? Another club without enough space for all their players at the big tournaments? There are a limited number of teams allowed at all the big tournaments. Not all clubs are able to get enough teams registered for all their players. Sometimes a club can even get one team per age group. This also happens at NITQ for u16 and u19. |
Anonymous
No, they were juniors and sophomores--so U16s and younger U19s. It's not optimal for sure but the WW set up an opportunity where those kids could go and play instead of sitting the bench or staying home. All of the WW players got lots of playing time and touches--they made it work, which speaks volumes for them as teammates and people. No club is going to be perfect, and coaches do the best they can. Y'all need to lighten up. |
Anonymous
| Ha seriously, we’re talking about kids club field hockey here. This isn’t the Olympics. All these helicopter parents need to chill. |
Anonymous
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Interesting and telling comments, if “helicopter”parenting is being involved and committed to their future, then that is every parent who has signed up for a sport. We wouldn’t put our kid into such an expensive sport if it wasn’t a big deal. These pp sound like they have money in the game and is oblivious. If hearing from parents and kids is not important and gaslighting is the club’s/coach strategy then these clubs will continue to be a revolving door of disgruntled families. There are reasons why most parents have issue with certain previous mentioned clubs who generalize families like the pp. A couple of kids leaving is normal, mass exodus is a problem, and if families have the same complaints, this can be a warning.
Freedom as of lately seems to have best reputation and from what I have heard, this is because they are professional and transparent in their selection with opportunities to move to their top teams. They have a lot of practices and good facilities. They don’t play head games which a lot of the previous DMV clubs have been accused of. If you bounce from club to club your kid could get a bad reputation, so try out a few clubs for the fit and really listen to the parents and the kids, you will begin to hear a common thread. This will help you choose. I know changing clubs is a huge decision for a kid, what is really sad is when the previous coach react with either or apathetic. |
Anonymous
I also been told that WW don’t have captains except if they are needed for certain tournaments. So kids don’t get to be leaders or work for this achievement, just fear that they will be ignored or not get touches. A crazy thing I heard from SS with the WW U19 had one of their new, former Husel, senior already committed player as one of the WW captains for a game. Not a good look, kids talk, tell their friends at other clubs and it’s just weird overall. Especially, when there are uncommitted juniors and seniors players on the team, who have been on the WW a lot longer than a couple of months, if favoritism is seen, it looks like it’s with the new players and their old players are just SOS. Bad for kid’s confidence and probably why they fail to win. |
Anonymous
I can't think of one time my daughter has had a team captain for the entire season. Its only been at tournaments that require one. You don't need a title to fill a role. Should a club treat new players like they are not equals or treat them like any other player? If a club has a reputation of not giving new players a fair chance then no new players will want to move to that club and the club will not grow. I have no idea if a new player was a captain at SS, but maybe if she was, its because she is a good leader. |
Anonymous
| I don’t know about that but agree with the poster, we have two - four for all age groups per season, having captains is helpful. |
Anonymous
It should be up to the players to welcome the new team members to the club and the parents. I know many of my field hockey families left because the families were not as welcoming or the club culture was toxic but it comes from the coach and director. We have parents who help our club welcome new parents and do the extra things like team dinners. Our captains are responsible helping new players. It works well, at least in our club, it shows when they play too. |
Anonymous
They used to have captains, I wonder what changed? Our club has captains. |
Anonymous
In general, chosen Captains for tournaments tend to be the coaches “favorites” whether they are leaders, good players or not. A new player on a club, especially a “committed” player goes right to the top of the totem pole. Unearned favoritism can create a lot of animosity. |
Anonymous
^ this plus coaches playing favorites doesn’t always win games or tournaments. Probably why the Wolves had such a poor showing at Shooting Star Thanksgiving. Coaches will never learn - they think their favorites are the best players because they are blinded by their power. |
Anonymous
WW use to have year long captains but that went away. I don’t know why but post covid they only had captains when required in tournaments. As for putting players on other teams during showcases, WW has taken on too many players and all players pay the same costs unlike Freedom where you try out for the showcase tournaments and pay the fee if selected. Since they have too many players (but not enough to register a second team) and charge the same fee, this is the situation you get into. At least they could do is register a second team under their own name and find other teams that might need to send players. At least they play under their own name WW umbrella and hopefully coached by WW. As for playing time, if you aren’t a starter or a favorite you may touch the field for 7-10 min a game and 0 minutes if it’s a crucial game even if you are on the top team. That is to be expected in u16/19 but this happens across even the younger age groups of u12. Word of advice, if your player isn’t strong or a favorite, leave by u16 to goto a team where they can be developed. See exodus of WW players that went to NL and they thrived. Do not wait. Make a decision to stay or go before you start u16. The u12/u14 coaches are excellent. They teach fundamentals and positioning well. U16/u19 coaching is subpar. No strategy, field positioning strategies etc also they lack the ability to score because their team has been thought to be defensive minded. Watch the games, they do not pass with intent or vision. It’s under pressure throw away the ball. The WW players that started at the earlier age group lack in field positioning and passing because the u16/u19 coaches also coached the younger age groups. Now with better u12/u14 coaches, those WW players as they move up will have those skills. Again, great u12/u14 program. U16/u19 Solid recruiting support for favorites. Owner has lots of connections but soon that will fade because the talent pool is fading. Wait for class of 2028/29/30. That team under the u14 coaches will produce great players. 2026/2027 - not strong at all. |
Anonymous
| True summary. WW only recently added the U12 teams, I have been told they have a healthy culture with their new coaches. It seems that the owner and the U16 coaches don’t really care or know how to develop the older girls. Something, that could have helped their development is allowing the girls to play up to build skill and confidence. She only played up her favorites, the same ones she helped get recruited. WW also do not go to enough tournaments or will have just one team with a deep bench. In the past years during indoor season, with the smaller indoor tournaments, there are a lot of girls ready to play and only one team will be registered. Some girls are left at home without explanation. A lack of tournament opportunities can be frustrating. We will see if the U16/19 qualify for NITs. Our club has indoor tournaments most every weekend and I was told that WW will only have one tournament this year for most of the girls. It does seem that there is less focus on the older girls and this may be why many of them leave for other clubs. |