Anonymous
Post 03/05/2025 16:41     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/05/2025 15:52     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 14:32     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 14:27     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 12:40     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
Who is this coach? What team?
Anonymous
Post 03/04/2025 12:11     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 10:42     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 08:02     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 07:53     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/04/2025 07:30     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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
Post 03/03/2025 18:00     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
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.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 16:55     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
I know there are clubs in NOVA that are willing to accept players who may be displaced due to Husle not existing anymore. For example, hammers! Seems like it’s been a great experience for MANY under new leadership!

Email them - even though they had tryouts (I think last month).
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 16:42     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
I agree too many people pay for Nexus when their money would be better spent on clinics or private sessions.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 11:39     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
Nexus can often be predetermined and is simply a money grab for most families, as their child will not make the championship or national selection camp or the national team. They are closely tied to the Max rankings, and thus they choose who they "should" choose. But there are certainly exceptions. Girls get pulled up into the top group and make the championship all the time as unknowns. They just have to really stand out.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2025 09:45     Subject: Field hockey clubs feedback
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Can you expand on this? How do the club coaches get to select?

Completely agree with this, USA field hockey has a Nexus problem and allowing club coaches to select for their national tournaments etc is a disservice to all athletes.


Anyone can sign up to be a coach. In this area (and probably some other areas) we don’t have enough people in the field hockey world to not use coaches. They have in the past brought in coaches from out of the area, which is an added expense.

I don’t think I’ve heard of any club coaches from this area taking part in regional selection camp in VA Beach. Yes, local coaches rank the girls who go to VA Beach for regional selection camp, but the invites to Nexus Championships are made by USA field hockey officials. They stand out because they walk about with clip boards watching, not necessarily running drills with the girls.


Don't kid yourself, those Championship selections--especially at the U16 level--are made before the regional selection camp. They know which players they are going to watch and pretty much pick before the event even starts. There may be one or two breakthroughs, but that selection camp is a joke.