BYC Field Hockey: FAQs
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where do field hockey practices and games occur?
• The season will begin its first practices on September 6, 2009 and will run through October 2009.
• The teams will be practicing and playing games at the Garnet Valley Middle School field hockey field.
• Weekly practices will be in the evenings during the week and games will be played on Saturdays & Sundays. Schedules will be provided after registration is complete.
When is registration?
• Online registration will begin in June 2009. Because we are trying to accommodate various sport schedules (see FAQ Can my daughter play both field hockey and travel soccer?), we ask that you register as soon as possible to help us meet your needs and organize the program since this is the first year.
How much does the program cost?
• Mini’s registration fee is $40.
• Intramural’s Registration fee is $55
• Intermediate’s Registration fee is $75
What are the eligible ages?
• Placement in a division is based on the player’s school grade in September 2009. Some exceptions may be made based on a player’s years of experience.
• Girls must be in kindergarten in September 2009 to play intramural field hockey.
Are girls placed in leagues based on their birth date or school grade?
• Girls are placed in leagues based on their grade in school.
What if my child has never played before?
• Now is the time! We encourage players at every level of experience to participate. Most kids are fairly adaptable and catch on quickly.
Who are the coaches?
• To make the program a success, we will need parent volunteer to coach. BYC will offer a two hour interactive coaching clinic to provide basic skill instruction, drills, and sample practice drills. There will be one head coach and one assistant coach for each team.
How do I sign up to coach?
• You may volunteer to coach when you register your players on the Internet.
When will the coach’s clinic be held?
• Planning for the fall season happens during a busy time of year with vacations and back to school preparations, but we are planning to hold the coaches clinic on August 18th to allow sufficient time for coaches to prepare for the season.
What Equipment will the girls need?
• Players are responsible for buying their daughter a stick, shin guards, eye goggles, and a mouth guard. “Beginner Kits” may be purchased in a package. (www.longstreath.com or C&M Sporting Goods on Baltimore Pike in Springfield offers SAA field hockey players a Cranbarry youth package of a stick, stick bag, ball, and shinguards for a discounted price.)
What size stick do I buy?
• The length of a field hockey stick is a strong influence on the field hockey program. The following are recommended stick size guidelines:
Player Height Stick Length
4’ 0” and under 28”
4’ 1” – 4’ 3” 30”
4’ 4” – 4’ 6” 32”
4’ 7” – 5’ 0” 34”
5’ 4” – 5’ 6” 36”
What should the girls wear?
• Mini & Intramural players receive a team t-shirt in September.
• Intermediate players will receive a team t-shirt in September.
• Soccer cleats or sneakers will work well.
Who will referee?
• BYC will be looking for local girls to referee intramural games.
Will there be a travel program?
• Because the vast majority of our players do not have extensive experience with field hockey, the program is still designed as an intramural program.
• We will be adding an Intermediate program that will group the most experienced players onto teams who will also have playdays with local clubs who have similar experience and skill levels.
Can I request my daughter play with her friends?
• We will try as best we can to accommodate 1 (please no more than 1) request to play with a friend.
Can my daughter play both field hockey and travel soccer?
• Many parents asked if their daughters could play in both field hockey and travel soccer. Because this is the first year for the program and the format will fundamentally be an intramural program to begin with, we would like to be as flexible as possible to allow girls to try field hockey without having to stop playing soccer. During your online registration, please tell us about your daughter’s other sports activities (i.e. team name/age, practice nights, game times) and we will try to work around their needs as best we can.
