Our Philosophy
The mission of the Worcester County United Field Hockey Academy is to raise the G A M E of field hockey in Massachusetts. G A M E represents Grades, Ability, Motivation and Exposure. Our focus is to provide a safe and effective learning environment for players including field hockey instruction as well as health and fitness training.
The Recruiting
Process for Parents
- Take
your daughter to a few local schools during her junior year of high school
to get an idea of the type of school she may want. It is good to get a feel for
schools of all sizes and locations and then start a list of schools that
fit the criteria your daughter thinks may be a good fit for her.
- Do
your homework early by checking out schools online. Almost every college will have a
profile of the incoming freshmen class. Compare your daughterÕs academic profile with her list
of schools.
- Start
a notebook with a section for each school on her list. Write down everything that she
liked and disliked about the school when she visited. Also, write down everything that
you hear or read about the school that captures your attention.
- Go
online and find field hockey schedules for local college teams. Try to watch a DI, DII, or DIII
game and get an idea of the level of hockey. Then try to assess your daughterÕs ability and see what
level is a good fit for her.
- Send a
coach a letter or email of interest (I prefer emails). Keep the email short. Write a brief description about
her academic background and athletic background also try to add something
personal in the email if you know anything about the school, the coach, or
any player on the team mention that in your email.
- Coaches
are allowed to send information to a potential recruit but NCAA rules
prohibits most contact until September 1st of her junior
year. I would recommend
sending out emails/letters in the end of August or early September.
- Make a
highlight tape. Many coaches
will not have the opportunity to see your daughter play so a highlight
tape/DVD is essential. Keep
the tape brief (5 to 8 minutes max) and include skill work and game
play. The more footage you
can get on turf field or flat surface the better. You do not have to get a tape
professionally done. As long
as the coach can identify your daughter on the tape you are all set.
- When
you are going to visit a school email the coach ahead of time and ask to
set up a meeting. Help your
daughter research the program a bit, mainly by going on the website and
also help her make up a few questions to ask the coach.
- During
the meeting parents should ask about financial aid. Do not ask about scholarships, if
the coach is going to offer you one then she will bring it up.
- Should
your daughter be interested in playing in the off season there are a few
local club teams as well as the futures program where she can play in the
winter/spring.
- Division I and II athletes need to be cleared
through the NCAA clearinghouse.
Information can be found on this link. http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/ncaa/NCAA/common/index.html
- Do not
do the work for your daughter.
Have your daughter email and talk with the coach. She is going to be the one playing
for the coach and it is important that she develops a good relationship
with her early.
Helpful websites:
http://www.leadthewayfieldhockey.com/
http://www.usfieldhockey.com/futures/
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal
www.wcufha.com
www.capeanncoalition.com
www.fieldhockey.tv
http://www.worldhockey.org/
www.talkfieldhockey.com
www.planetfieldhockey.com
Field Hockey Equipment:
www.cranbarry.com
www.longstreth.com
http://www.mantishockey.com/store/
www.fieldhockey.net