MIAA and USA Field Hockey to host free clinic Saturday

Shortly after Walpole beat Needham a couple weeks back, Porkers assistant coach Lisa Cropper briefly spoke on her travels overseas amid a casual conversation about the standing of field hockey in the United States compared to the world.

 

Cropper, a well-decorated former player and longtime coach, talked about boys field hockey. The World Cup came up, too. And in all, after attending a stadium packed to the rafters to watch a field hockey game, the general message is one that everybody in the sport’s community echoes often – field hockey isn’t nearly as celebrated here as it could or should be.

 

As longtime Foxboro head coach Melissa Bordeiri points out, a huge part of it is the presence of other sports in the country. The professional vision of field hockey compared to soccer is quite dim, and the random stigma of it being a “girl sport” doesn’t bode well to draw significant male interest. Especially with the flashiness and speed of American football displayed at least four days a week on national television.

 

Growth is a tough task. But with the MIAA and USA Field Hockey partnering up to host a free clinic on Saturday, this state could be getting a major jumpstart.

 

Sessions for officials and coaches lasts an hour in the morning at MacDonald Stadium, and athletes between seventh grade and high school are welcome at 10 a.m.Olympian and former Brown head coach Jill Reeves pairs with U.S. national men’s head coach Harry Singh to headline a cast of special guests, and boys of all experiences – or none – are welcome for a substantial boys-only session to cap off the day.

 

This certainly won’t bring in players by the hoards to switch to field hockey, girls or boys, right away. But an effort of this magnitude is a tremendous step.

 

“This clinic opportunity is the first of its kind for us,” said MIAA field hockey liaison Sherry Bryant. “To think all of these top tier sport leaders are willing to take their time to travel to our state to serve MIAA school communities is amazing and appreciated. … We are hopeful that this event will help generate more excitement and interest in the sport for both male and female athletes.”

 

Also slated to be at this clinic are boys development manager Marc Bakerman, head of umpiring Sean Rapaport, national development director Sally Goggin and USA Field Hockey board of directors and umpire representative Jeanne O’Brien. As Bryant put it, the representation from USA Field Hockey is power packed.

 

Aside from the slight inconvenience of holding the clinic the weekend before playoffs starts, coaches in the area are raving about what this kind of commitment means for field hockey in the state as a result. Pennsylvania has been king on the eastern side of the country in terms of field hockey prowess and recruitment, so to have that cast come in as a resource for continued growth and development locally is significant.

 

“I think it’s awesome, I’ve been really impressed with the MIAA field hockey committee that past two years,” said Westwood head coach Heather Joyce. “It really seems like they’re trying to create a real community.”

 

Added Bordeiri: “It’s an amazing opportunity, I think it’s fantastic. It’s what this region needs, having the head coach for the national team being here and putting on a free clinic not just for players but coaches and officials also. … I think it’s a big deal and a huge opportunity that should be promoted. It’s a free clinic.”

 

Added Walpole head coach Jen Quinn: “I think the more the better. I think the more they can get and the more these kids can see a high level and play at a high level, the better off everybody is.”

 

Added Franklin head coach Michelle Hess: “I think this is an amazing opportunity for players, coaches and officials, to have the opportunity to connect with USA Field Hockey. I hope it will be a big event.”

 

Growth in the sport as a whole is the idea here, but the biggest opportunity this weekend is to promote the sport for boys.

 

It’s been over a year since the MIAA approved a boys division in interscholastic play, but Malden just recently made history as the first sanctioned all-boys team. This state is unique in its inclusive laws to allow boys to play with the girls, which has drawn a significant amount of controversy for fans, coaches and players. It perhaps reached its peak a few years ago when a co-ed Somerset Berkley team became the first state champion with boys on roster.

 

Still, while there is growth in male interest in field hockey, it’s been at a snail’s pace. Central Catholic head coach Josselyn Wilson jokes it might be the boys seeing the skirt uniform. Jokes aside, many know there have been large efforts to discourage boys from playing.

 

That’s why a clinic like this could be a big step. The U.S. men’s national coach and boys development manager are excellent resources. The clinic is offering free loaner equipment for the day outside of a mouthguard, too, leaving plenty of room for any somewhat interested male to come out. The boys-only session from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. creates a safe space away from the stigma, and USA Field Hockey is hoping the boys will see how exciting the sport is from the session.

 

“The opportunity for boys in field hockey is tremendous,” Bakerman said via statement. “Field hockey is loved by men across the globe for its athleticism, skill and fast-pace. We welcome boys to come give it a try and are confident boys of all ages will fall in love with the game.”

 

Many coaches, especially those who have fought against boys playing with the girls, are excited to grow the game in that direction. Not just to get them off their own field, either, as many of those coaches said they’d want to coach a boys team too.

 

Again, this clinic won’t turn the tide on its own. Nauset head coach Cheryl Poore joins a couple other coaches that are a bit concerned this clinic could produce more boys on the co-ed field if it isn’t enough to field a whole team. She’s concerned in much of the framework in gender placement too, including what the outcome is for transgender student-athletes in the future. But at this stage, she knows it’s a good start.

 

So do many others.

 

“It’s always hard to get something started,” said Andover head coach Maureen Noone. “If it gets boys playing, it’s great.”

 

“I think it’s really a great opportunity for boys, especially for them to have a safe and comfortable environment to learn in,” said Needham head coach Steph Magni. “I think as a country we need to remember that the sport of field hockey is huge for all genders in most countries. I don’t have the answer to boys in field hockey here in Massachusetts, but I do know as a nation we are behind. Hopefully this can lead to more boys willing to come out and learn and play the sport, and sometime in the future maybe we will have boys and girls teams.”

 

“I think that any and all opportunities to grow the game are significant,” said Ipswich head coach Nikki Pignone. “As for the boys clinic, I think that is very significant and could decrease some of the barriers to men entering the sport. Field hockey in the USA being viewed as a ‘women’s sport’ and for men wanting to play they must join the ‘women’s team’ can steer many away. I think the chance to participate in a less restrictive environment might be just what is needed to grow the game for men as well.”

 

“I would love to see more boys teams because it’s such a great sport,” added Joyce. “It really stinks that there’s so much frustration and controversy when boys do play. … It’s just nice that they’re going to have their own space to be as competitive as they want. I just think it’s such an awesome sport, I would make everyone play if I could.”

 

Pre-registration is required, but there is no capacity. More information can be found at: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Field-Hockey/Features/2022/October/20/Join-USA-Field-Hockey-MIAA-for-FREE-Field-Hockey-Clinics-in-Malden-Mass-on-October-29

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/z37T2xn