Summer hockey camps and regular after-school clubs are a great way for young players to get an intensive burst of hockey training and enjoy some coaching from top quality coaches, elite level players and even the occasional Olympian. In the USA, hockey camps are thriving with, it seems, every university and college offering hockey camps in the vacation periods and regular weekly clubs after the school day ends.
The camps vary in every aspect of their being. Some are open to all, with the intention of introducing new players to the sport; others are aimed at students who show potential to become good players; others still are camps that develop the very best talent.
While the audiences may vary, the content tends to follow a similar pattern. Much of the time is dedicated to skills and game play, with the students learning new skills and techniques and then getting the chance to put them into operation in game situations. These might be 3v3, 4v4 or any variation – it is only occasionally that the session will involve 11v11 – smaller games equals more time for each student on the ball.
There are also specialist camps – goalkeepers will often get specific training, usually with a goal-keeper coach or a current goalkeeper. Quite often, particularly in the higher ability groups, there will also be specialist coaching for specific positions or specific techniques – training for forwards, defensive practices and practices for penalty corner specialists.
Caroline Nichols is a double Olympian who represented USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, London 2012 and the Hockey World Cup in The Hague in 2014. She retired from international hockey in 2014 with 165 caps to her name. She is now head field hockey coach for Columbia University but she also takes up the role of camp director for CN19, a program of summer hockey camps at the University.
“Our camps consist of skill development, game play to develop game understanding – these are two important parts of the game, so we try to allot a good amount of time to these. We do touch on general fitness, but the expectation is that the athletes will manage their own fitness.” Alongside the physical aspect of the course, the camps at Columbia also offer video training, team building, question and answer sessions and relationship building. The last of these elements is something that Nichols stresses is an important part of a young person’s experience at a sports camp.
“Camps offer an opportunity for young athletes to develop relationship building skills, group work skills, and leadership skills as well as hockey specific training, these are all invaluable life skills.”
At Columbia, the camps are open to all players of all abilities and, depending upon the field size and facilities available, the camps can cater for anywhere from 50 to 150 athletes. The students tend to be younger students who are at school, rather than current college students.
“We find we attract all types of player,” says Nichols. “Young athletes who are interested in becoming better in their sport, young athletes who want to be a part of an experience with their high school team, and young athletes seeking playing opportunities at the next level (college). We cater to all age levels and skill levels.”
Hockey and hockey camps are widespread and highly popular on the east coast of America. Over on the other side of the country, the sport is not so popular. However, in San Diego, members of the USA men’s national team are working hard to change that.
The scene is a hockey match at the local stadium, being watched by a number of interested, but not yet converted youngsters and their parents.
As they watch the action a ball is crossed just off the post and in a split second the forward has to make the decision: “Do you dive for that ball and risk turf burn just totally a goal for your team?” Without hesitation, absolutely.
There are ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the youngsters watching from the stand. Before the game is over, some of the young audience might have already asked his or her parent if they can ‘have a go’.
Without knowing it, the athlete that scored that goal made an impact on a child’s perspective of sport. This athlete has now become an influential spark in the eyes of this child and possibly many more.
In recent years, there has been a concerted effort on the part of the USA men’s team to grow the sport in the local communities, as USA team member Alex Grassi explains: “With so many of the USA men’s national team (USMNT) athletes based in San Diego, we have a tremendous opportunity to work together to help grow the game.
“Unlike the East Coast where field hockey is well known, some people in San Diego don't even know what field hockey is,” adds the 24-year-old midfielder.
The members of the USMNT have found different avenues through which to make their own impact on the game. Grassi, who plays his club hockey for DC Dragons, is an assistant coach for the Poway Mystix, a club team based just north of San Diego with U-14, U-16 and U-19 age divisions.
Striker Manny Martinez spends a lot of time on the coaching field. He currently coaches on the US Futures program – aimed at athletes with the potential to become elite players – as well as coaching regional groups such as Coastal Clash and East County Gators. He also blows the whistle at high school leagues and tournaments.
Just recently Martinez, who converted from soccer to hockey when he was a teenager, has started to help coach the Chula Vista Chupacabras, a club team comprised of fourth and fifth grade students from various Chula Vista elementary schools. This after-school program runs from late September up until the National Hockey Festival at the end of November.
With a view to growing the game in his area, USA hockey star Kevin Barber started the Chula Vista program a few years ago. He traveled to local elementary schools in the Chula Vista area and gave free lessons to students during recess once a week. As well as Martinez, other members of the US-MNT joined in on Barber’s efforts to help the program run smoothly.
At the end of the fall (autumn) in the first year, all the young players gathered at the 155 acre Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Chula Vista and the local schools had a tournament. Hundreds of boys and girls participated and had a great time. It was clear that through the efforts of Barber and members of the USMNT, field hockey was an up and coming sport in the Chula Vista/San Diego community.
Since then, an after school program has been introduced for the children so they could practice more regularly. Barber has since moved from San Diego but members of the USMNT have continued his vision of growing the game in the local community.
“I took over the after school program and, with the help of my teammates have kept it going over the last year,” says Grassi. “This fall we will be doing introductory sessions at Olympic View Elementary School where there are over 400 students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades. We aim to build interest and enroll students in the after school program, which runs twice a week for two-hour sessions on the turf at the Olympic Training Centre (OTC).”
“I think it's great to have the kids practice at the OTC because they get to see how far field hockey can take them,” continues Grassi. “Once they start playing, the kids truly enjoy hockey and as a coach it's an awesome feeling to share the sport I love with so many young athletes. Maybe a couple of the players we are coaching today will one day play on the USA men’s or women’s national teams.”
Providing quality coaching to current middle and high school athletes is a great opportunity to continue sport growth. In addition to the ever evolving grassroots efforts, many Team USA athlete’s coach in USA Field Hockey’s Olympic Development Program, Futures, in the Spring at the Olympic Training Center.
Dedication, training and a real love of the game has driven these members of the U.S. Men’s National Team to give back to the local communities and continue to grow the sport.
“I love this game and I feel honored to help inspire the next generation of elite athletes to share in this incredible sport,” adds Martinez.
