Field hockey clubs feedback

[Anonymous]

LOL not sure you ever played Lacrosse to say lower skill level but if so then it makes the point made previously that more opportunities for girls in Lacrosse than Field Hockey. I do know more ACL do occur in lacrosse but that may even say it is a more athletically demanding sport. If international players take up college roster spots for field hockey maybe other sports offer more opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the NCAA changes the funding like I have heard for field hockey scholarships then the game changer will be that U.S. will have to directly compete against the International girls for Roster spots. In this this blog International girls have been touted as amazing and on a different level. Schools that have deep pockets and desire to win will place as many as they can. Then the
max 100s will see where the compare against them. Now I see field hockey as a losing money sport for a college so many schools will still go get the girls willing to pay for their education and play. D3s will be for all the USA girls since they offer only merit aid and the prestige for playing for that school. D2 still too small to matter one way or the other.

I do think goalies in America have the best chance with dedicated training like the The Goalie trainer and also many girls coming from soccer or ice hockey . Most clubs it seems are not doing much for them so it is on parents to pay and make decisions on training required


Throwing this is also but many more colleges have good Lacrosse programs searching for mostly US talent. Many FH girls play both and if are athletic the transition is that far off. In the DMV one of the best Field Hockey player is actually a soccer star..

Different skill level (lower) for lacrosse plus college rosters are much larger, also way more injuries.

^^^ 100% agree. Girls pickup lacrosse in high school and can leapfrog in ability over club players pretty quickly. You will also see a lot of girls commit to D1 lacrosse schools who are pretty mediocre athletes in general. It’s a weird sport and say what you will, the D1 money for lacrosse is not as much as you think it would be. But at least mummy and daddy can say DD is a D1 lacrosse commit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the NCAA changes the funding like I have heard for field hockey scholarships then the game changer will be that U.S. will have to directly compete against the International girls for Roster spots. In this this blog International girls have been touted as amazing and on a different level. Schools that have deep pockets and desire to win will place as many as they can. Then the
max 100s will see where the compare against them. Now I see field hockey as a losing money sport for a college so many schools will still go get the girls willing to pay for their education and play. D3s will be for all the USA girls since they offer only merit aid and the prestige for playing for that school. D2 still too small to matter one way or the other.

I do think goalies in America have the best chance with dedicated training like the The Goalie trainer and also many girls coming from soccer or ice hockey . Most clubs it seems are not doing much for them so it is on parents to pay and make decisions on training required


Throwing this is also but many more colleges have good Lacrosse programs searching for mostly US talent. Many FH girls play both and if are athletic the transition is that far off. In the DMV one of the best Field Hockey player is actually a soccer star..

I will grant you, she is an amazing athlete, but not one of the best field hockey players in the DMV. Yes, a strong one, but not the best. Yorktown plays on a lower level in the public sphere than the best high school field hockey. Sorry. Yes, she's amazing, but come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the NCAA changes the funding like I have heard for field hockey scholarships then the game changer will be that U.S. will have to directly compete against the International girls for Roster spots. In this this blog International girls have been touted as amazing and on a different level. Schools that have deep pockets and desire to win will place as many as they can. Then the
max 100s will see where the compare against them. Now I see field hockey as a losing money sport for a college so many schools will still go get the girls willing to pay for their education and play. D3s will be for all the USA girls since they offer only merit aid and the prestige for playing for that school. D2 still too small to matter one way or the other.

I do think goalies in America have the best chance with dedicated training like the The Goalie trainer and also many girls coming from soccer or ice hockey . Most clubs it seems are not doing much for them so it is on parents to pay and make decisions on training required


Throwing this is also but many more colleges have good Lacrosse programs searching for mostly US talent. Many FH girls play both and if are athletic the transition is that far off. In the DMV one of the best Field Hockey player is actually a soccer star..

Different skill level (lower) for lacrosse plus college rosters are much larger, also way more injuries.

^^^ 100% agree. Girls pickup lacrosse in high school and can leapfrog in ability over club players pretty quickly. You will also see a lot of girls commit to D1 lacrosse schools who are pretty mediocre athletes in general. It’s a weird sport and say what you will, the D1 money for lacrosse is not as much as you think it would be. But at least mummy and daddy can say DD is a D1 lacrosse commit!

Yep. Believe it or not, I was recruited to play D1 lacrosse at a major public university--25 years ago, and actually loved field hockey more, so walked on and played that as well (different time--sports were one-season back then). I hadn't even picked up a lacrosse stick until I was in high school. It's just a much easier sport for a player with a decent level of athleticism to pick up. Field hockey requires a level of skill that is much harder to learn. You don't see a lot of great hockey at the high school level around here--or anywhere other than PA really, because for some reason it tends to invite the girls who don't want to play lacrosse or soccer, but may not be the most athletic. Obviously, there are some great athletes playing the sport around here, but they're so spread out, you don't get super play.

[Anonymous]

Soccer helps with almost all sports - footwork, speed, quickness, agility, spacing, awareness... If you look at the roster profiles of a lot of the top D1 field hockey programs, you will find a bunch of the girls played soccer at high levels in high school (all-state selections, top club/travel teams, etc.) In fact, many D1 coaches encourage prospects to continue to play multiple sports in high school, not just field hockey.

[Anonymous]

I agree must stars are athletic and can and should play multiple sports in High School. Still can’t get over the comment about the soccer player at Yorktown not considered one of the best in the DMV. According to maxpreps she is one leading players in the district/region. She is 95 in the country for scoring and is a proven winner. Saying she and Yorktown play low level public field hockey is bias and not factual. She and Yorktown has won 3 State titles and came in second one year. Ummm that is pretty impressive. The school is ranked 3rd in the state and 13 nationally. That is above all others in VA. Did they lose games along the way? Sure true champions get around that and win when then need too. Now I am not sure if the inclusion of the word public meant that the parochial schools play better hockey?

[Anonymous]

Well, once again the Washington Post All-Met section shows itself to be completely political and not based on actual player strength. I have no dog in this fight… my player is at the college level now. But I could not help but notice that the top player in the area—without question, committed to the 2nd best college program in the country, USA field hockey U18 National team, selected for Honorable mention. Meanwhile ISL players who can’t get a single look from a d1, players for lower level VA publics are first and second team? Somebody help me understand how this happens, year after year? Are other sports this off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, once again the Washington Post All-Met section shows itself to be completely political and not based on actual player strength. I have no dog in this fight… my player is at the college level now. But I could not help but notice that the top player in the area—without question, committed to the 2nd best college program in the country, USA field hockey U18 National team, selected for Honorable mention. Meanwhile ISL players who can’t get a single look from a d1, players for lower level VA publics are first and second team? Somebody help me understand how this happens, year after year? Are other sports this off?

If you want to voice your displeasure with the girl who, in your opinion, is the best player in the area only making honorable mention, fine. But please don’t disparage others who you think, again in your opinion, are not worthy of making the list. Your post is offensive. And no, my daughter doesn’t fall into any of the groups you are disparaging.

[Anonymous]

First off congratulations to all the girls on the list! My issue is it never has enough detail to complain about. The first team selections have a write up and you can read and for the most point understand what each player accomplished tho be on this list. Sometimes it is more how the team responded to the play and achieve a team championship. Sometimes impact players are not the ones you think of first but without them the team suffers. My issue is we never have enough space to read what the coach submitted for consideration of second team and honorable mentions. Each girl should be proud of that and the nomination for such an award. Now not criticizing the player but Leonardtown MD is all metro? How far away can you be? How com Stafford teams are not considered? Annapolis? Maybe the Post has high readership in Leonardtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First off congratulations to all the girls on the list! My issue is it never has enough detail to complain about. The first team selections have a write up and you can read and for the most point understand what each player accomplished tho be on this list. Sometimes it is more how the team responded to the play and achieve a team championship. Sometimes impact players are not the ones you think of first but without them the team suffers. My issue is we never have enough space to read what the coach submitted for consideration of second team and honorable mentions. Each girl should be proud of that and the nomination for such an award. Now not criticizing the player but Leonardtown MD is all metro? How far away can you be? How com Stafford teams are not considered? Annapolis? Maybe the Post has high readership in Leonardtown.

How is someone with only a few goals and assists this year a first team all met? I get that there are other intangibles but really?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know how the players are selected for all met? What is the process? Who decides?

[Anonymous]

As someone who competes against Yorktown on a regular basis (but not district play), I agree the player we are all discussing is an amazing player. If you want to start looking at schedules, how about a school like Independence or Loudon Valley who steam roll everyone simply because they are fortunate enough to have players with club experience vice other high schools who are teaching players the sport for the first time. Yorktown has been up there at the top for these last few years and as much as it pains me to say it, they deserve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who competes against Yorktown on a regular basis (but not district play), I agree the player we are all discussing is an amazing player. If you want to start looking at schedules, how about a school like Independence or Loudon Valley who steam roll everyone simply because they are fortunate enough to have players with club experience vice other high schools who are teaching players the sport for the first time. Yorktown has been up there at the top for these last few years and as much as it pains me to say it, they deserve it.

Loudoun Valley and Independence both have some great players, and you’re right, they do play a lot of weaker teams. It makes it hard to compare one team to another. I’m not sure most people look beyond the number of wins and losses and consider strength of schedule.

[Anonymous]

Agree. To do a true strength of team assessment you would have to consider the years of player experience and at what levels (rec or travel) and even then you would need more of a break out. Ws and Ls is easiest, but not always the best team is at the top -- it all just depends on what players end up zoned to your high school (or which ones find a way to transfer - not to open that can of worms!)

[Anonymous]

Happy holidays all you petty people, rational analysts and field hockey enthusiasts!! Thanks for years of entertainment! Looking forward to more of the same in 2025!