CHSAANow

Category: Field Hockey

  • Face masks, religious headwear among major topics of 2021 field hockey rules changes

    Field hockey generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Guidance for the use of face masks and the allowance of religious headwear to be worn during play without state association consent are among the most significant rules changes that will take effect with the 2021 high school field hockey season.

    During its virtual meeting held January 11-13, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee included these subjects in its list of eight proposed rules changes that were reviewed and later approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    “Given that many schools played a modified or shortened season with the 2020 rules and some have not yet played or may not play, the committee thought it wise to limit changes to the 2021 rules,” said Anna Saccoccio, chair of the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee. “Safety of players is always a main concern, and the 2021 rules will clarify any confusion and concerns around the use of face masks during play.”

    Face masks were addressed as an addition to Rule 1-6-5, which now permits field players to wear face masks throughout the game provided they are smooth, rounded, preferably transparent or single-colored and fit flush with the face. Players may not affix masks to hard, unyielding headgear – even if padded – and are prohibited from using them to endanger opposing players.

    “With the NFHS Board of Directors making changes to the rules book pertaining to goggles in June of 2020, it was important for the Field Hockey Rules Committee to offer guidance for the state associations on the wearing of face masks,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Field Hockey Rules Committee. “The committee’s continued focus has been to make sure the rules book is organized effectively for high school officials.”

    To promote the participation of student-athletes from all religious backgrounds, Rule 1-5-4 was amended to include religious headwear that is secured to the body and made of non-abrasive, soft materials as acceptable player uniform attire. As a result of this change, which was first recommended by the NFHS Board of Directors, players are no longer required to seek permission from their state associations to wear religious head coverings and have a better ability to exercise their freedom of religion without increased injury risk to themselves or others.

    Schools may now display their team names and/or logos on the 18-inch goal boards at the base of the field hockey net, with the caveat the boards must remain predominantly dark-colored. Goal board decals are an optional customization element for schools and are strictly limited to team name and logo; advertisements are not permitted.

    Substitution procedures were edited to assist officials in managing field entries. Previously, players could join the game from the designated substitution area or the equivalent space on the opposite side of the field. Rule 1-4-5 now states that participants may only be substituted at the designated area, and the corresponding access point across the field has been eliminated.

    The 2021 Field Hockey Rules Book will also feature three new definitions that will provide necessary clarification of key terms. Two new articles in Rule 3-3 (Rule 3-3-10 and 3-3-11) define an “aerial ball” as “an intentional pass in the air above players, using a flick or scoop” and a “sweep” as “a legal stroke which involves a swinging movement of the stick, maintained horizontal and close to the ground, towards the ball.” The official definition of a “dangerous ball” is outlined in Rule 3-4-4 as “a ball that causes legitimate evasive action by a player.”

    Finally, minor changes were made to remove redundant language from Rules 8-1-1 and 8-1-1c, which deal with fouls and penalties.

    A complete listing of the field hockey rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Field Hockey.”

    Sixteen NFHS member state associations conduct state championships in girls field hockey, a sport that includes 60,824 participants in 1,768 schools nationwide according to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey.

  • Field hockey schools come to a consensus, decide to play the sport in Season C

    Field hockey generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Following a series of meetings over multiple days this week, the 15 schools that play field hockey came to a consensus decision on Friday that the sport would play in Season C next spring. The opportunity to have a collective start, a competitive season, and a celebratory culminating event outweighed any benefit that would have come from being split into two seasons.

    The administrators from the field hockey schools met because the door was opened for the sport to be played this fall as part of Season A, if schools elected to. The schools held hours of serious discussions weighing the opportunities each season would present. Though some schools wanted to play in Season A, the group ultimately decided together that playing in Season C is field hockey’s best opportunity for these student-athletes and the sport.

    The primary reason is deciding to play as one.

    “We met for two days, for more than four hours, as a group,” said Justin Saylor, the CHSAA assistant commissioner in charge of field hockey. “At the end of the day, all 15 field hockey programs felt that it was best for the sport of field hockey to move forward and play in Season C to remain together as a collective.”

    Season C is set to begin practice on March 1, 2021.

  • Board of Directors votes to give schools choice to start three sports in the fall

    (CHSAANow.com)

    During a meeting on Wednesday night, the CHSAA Board of Directors voted to approve variances from the Governor’s COVID Response Team which will provide member schools with the local option to play field hockey, football and sideline spirit during the fall (Season A) season.

    Schools will continue to have the option to play these sports in Season C, as previously upheld by the Board, if they elect not to play during Season A. The seasons will be treated equitably. Schools may not play in both seasons. This will allow local schools and districts to make the determination.

    “I want to thank my colleagues on the Board,” Troy Baker, the president of the Board of Directors, and the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “The CHSAA Board is charged to make the best decision for all kids in our state. We are a diverse state and many of our schools are faced with unique challenges that can elevate the complexity in making a decision that supports all schools and students.

    “We are in a pandemic,” Baker said. “It’s not normal times. We’re all trying to find a way to navigate through it, with the hope of trying to find some normalcy in our lives. There isn’t a guide of how to do this.”

    The Board met on Wednesday night to discuss the playing variances approved by the COVID-19 Response Team from the office of Gov. Jared Polis. The vote was 12-3 in favor of moving forward with those seasons.

    According to the Governor’s public announcement, the CHSAA Board of Directors has empowered its member schools and school districts to determine if their teams are able to proceed with a fall (Season A) schedule in field hockey, football and sideline spirit safely under the guidelines set by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

    “I would like to thank the CHSAA Board of Directors and the CHSAA staff for their commitment to reconsidering the options once the variances were provided to the CHSAA office. I would also like to thank our membership, who has been in this whirlwind as we sought a resolution,” said CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the Governor’s office to obtain variances for wrestling, swimming and other sports in Seasons B, C and D.”

    A major factor in the Board’s decision was the approval of the variances, and the COVID Response Team’s approval that these sports could move forward in a safe manner, with all the recommended guidelines.

    Specifically, these variances allow for 50 players, per sideline, to be on the field during a football game. In field hockey, the variance allows for 25 players per sideline, per game. Previously, these guidelines were 25 players, total.

    Spirit roster size is based upon CHSAA classification maximums.

    There are other restrictions that must be followed, per the variance:

    • All participants, including athletes, coaches, match officials, staff, and others, must wear masks while not actively playing, even outdoors. They must also be six feet apart from non-household members on the sidelines, or while not in active play. They may not go into the spectator area.
    • Spirit participants must perform off the field of play, and must be at least 25 feet away from participants and spectators at all times.

    These sports have been conditionally approved. If a community falls out of compliance and enters Level 3 in the Safer at Home Public Health Order 20-35, the Colorado Department of Health has said the approval will be re-evaluated and may be rescinded.

    Requested variances for the remaining fall sports — gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit, girls volleyball, and unified bowling — remain under consideration by the COVID Response Team.

    Specifics about each season will be communicated to CHSAA member schools in a timely manner. The CHSAA staff will be working closely with our administrators and school districts to assist with implementing Season A changes in an expedited manner.

  • Field hockey eyewear rule altered for 2020 season

    Denver East Cherry Creek field hockey
    (Theodore Stark/tstark.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — In response to longstanding concerns regarding the wearing of goggles in high school field hockey, the NFHS Board of Directors approved a change in the eyewear rule that will take effect with the upcoming 2020 season.

    Rule 1-6-5 in the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Book, which currently states that “All field players shall wear eye protection that met the ASTM standard for field hockey (2713) at the time of manufacture,” will now state that “Goggles may be worn by all field hockey players.”

    In addition to the current rule, an additional note was due to take effect in 2020 as follows: “Beginning in the 2020 fall season, all eye protection shall be permanently labeled with the ASTM 2713 standard for field hockey at the time of manufacture.”

    Since goggles were mandated by the NFHS Board of Directors in 2011 with the intent to lessen the risk of catastrophic eye injuries, there have been a number of concerns that led to the current rule modification.

    While there is a required ASTM standard for field hockey goggles, there is no NOCSAE standard, which is preferred as NOCSAE’s aim is to protect against worst case injury. The ASTM 2713 standard is not protective against a direct ball to the eye in testing. NOCSAE will not certify any facial/eye protection unless it is integrated into a helmet.

    One of the ongoing concerns has been that ASTM-certified goggles are not available for all field players, notably those who wear corrective lenses. Since the current rule cannot be met by individuals with glasses, state associations have been issuing waivers for students with corrective lenses to allow participation.

    Also, in addition to lack of available product to meet the rule, no significant research data has indicated that goggles have reduced the number of eye injuries, particularly those of a catastrophic nature.

    Finally, while the mandatory eyewear rule was put into effect as a guard against eye injury, the wearing of goggles has created a higher risk concern regarding the penalty corner. Under the current eyewear rule, players cannot remove their goggles to wear full facemasks on penalty corners, which is the most dangerous play in the sport. Now, players can elect to wear corner masks.

    The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, which was in support of the action by the Board of Directors, noted that the ASTM standard that has been required does not eliminate the risk of injury for which the rule was established (loss of an eye).

    “Given the fact that the previous rule that required goggles did not completely lessen the risk of catastrophic eye injuries, and that the product does not exist for players with corrective lenses, and that there is no NOCSAE standard for field hockey goggles, and that the wearing of goggles prevents players from wearing corner masks on penalty corners, the Board believed it was time to make the rule permissive in nature rather than mandatory,” said Julie Cochran, director of sports and liaison to the Field Hockey Rules Committee.

    Although the rule has been changed to state that goggles may be worn, state associations, schools and parents can still elect to require the use of goggles.

  • Field hockey has been vital to making Colorado Academy’s Katharine Merrifield a better girls lacrosse player

    Colorado Academy Rocky Mountain girls lacrosse
    (Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)

    Katharine Merrifield didn’t fancy herself much of an offensive lacrosse player until she started playing field hockey. It was that sport that taught her the benefits of being aggressive on the attack.

    That mentality has worked wonders for Colorado Academy.

    The Mustangs are the defending champions in both sports and Merrifield has been a big part of those wins. A big part of the reason is Merrifield and her ability to attack and score almost at will, something she didn’t adapt to until she started playing field hockey in middle school.

    “In field hockey, I’m really attack-based,” she said. “That’s a different mindset for me that I had to pick and learn while playing forward. It’s really helped me with lacrosse.”

    She scored 48 goals for the girls lacrosse team as a freshman and added 59 more as a sophomore. Her freshman year she scored one goal as the Mustangs beat Cherry Creek 13-7 to claim their fourth straight state championship. She would claim another her sophomore year then added a field hockey championship last fall. She scored one goal to help her team edge Regis Jesuit 2-1.

    “Winning your first state championship regardless of sport; I think lacrosse was more memorable,” Merrifield said. “It was my freshman year and there was a lot of build up to it. Field hockey though was definitely a sport where I felt like I had to work at it more and we didn’t succeed as a team in my first two years. That build up was also very special.”

    The success that she’s now found on both fields has paid in the way of a college scholarship. She’ll attend the University of Michigan to play lacrosse.

    She’s been playing lacrosse seemingly since she was able to hold a stick and wanted to pursue that sport after high school. But she acknowledges that field hockey has been crucial in the development of her lacrosse skills.

    “They’re both games where you don’t have full control and they overlap in that sense,” she said.

    She started playing field hockey in middle school and when she started, she was playing the game on grass. When she got to high school the Mustangs were playing on a turf field and she instantly noticed the different.

    “It was a lot faster,” she said.

    Initially the idea of playing field hockey boiled down to the fact that the time of the season is different than lacrosse. It was a way to refine her skills in a sport played on an open field with a stick.

    That doesn’t necessarily mean that the sports are interchangable. Learning to play with a ball that is ground-based over air-based was definitely a challenge. But in all, they’ve complimented her and her growth in each avenue, something that has paid off with the opportunity to play collegiately.

    “They’re completely different sports,” she said. “They have some similarities when it comes to stick skills and footwork and that’s why I was attracted to (field hockey).”

    Playing both sports has certainly made her a better athlete and with championship banners as proof, multiple Colorado Academy teams have seen the benefits.

    Colorado Academy Grandview field hockey
    (Paul Soriano)

  • Grace Weigand brings toughness and grit to multiple Regis Jesuit teams

    Regis Jesuit ThunderRidge girls basketball
    (Paul Soriano)

    Grace Weigand sat at the end of the Regis Jesuit girls basketball bench with her knee encased in a bag of ice. Anyone who saw the way she crumbled to the floor just a few minutes earlier could tell something wasn’t right.

    It wasn’t long after that the extent of the damage was realized. She was going to need surgery. She needed to rehab. Any thoughts of playing lacrosse, her sport of choice and the sport that is getting her a scholarship the University of Notre Dame, went up in smoke.

    She knew one thing, though. The faster she got her knee repaired meant she could start physical therapy sooner. And she has every intention of returning to the lacrosse field stronger than she was.

    “I had surgery 10 days after I got hurt,” Weigand said. “I got hurt on March 6 and I had surgery on March 16, right before everything got shut down from coronavirus. That was a huge blessing to get it done before everything was shut down. I was also an essential patient for physical therapy and I was lucky to be able to go.”

    The timetable of her recovery is unclear, but she’s shown that she has the work ethic to pull anything off. Since she got to high school, Weigand has been a three-sport athlete at Regis Jesuit. In the fall and spring she’s on the grass playing field hockey and lacrosse and in the winter she helps the girls basketball team as one of the better defenders on the roster.

    She refuses to ease into each sport at the start of each season. The turnaround is quick and the transition from sport to sport isn’t easy for anyone to handle.

    “Gracie makes that transition,” Raiders girls basketball coach Carl Mattei said. “She plays field hockey right up into finals and then overlaps into a winter sport. She doesn’t skip a beat and she doesn’t take a single day off.”

    Mattei knows that she’s one of the premiere girls lacrosse players not just in the state of Colorado, but in the entire nation.

    Regis Jesuit ThunderRidge girls lacrosse
    (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

    In her sophomore campaign, she was second on the team in overall points and goals scored. The only person to edge her in those categories was her older sister, Sidney. When Notre Dame came calling, Grace was quick to jump on the offer. When her injury happened during basketball season there was a brief moment of disbelief that playing something other than her primary sport dealt her such a tough break.

    “I’m not even doing what I’m going to be doing in the future and this happens,” Weigand said. “There was a bit of ‘Why me?’ But after the surgery, it’s now full speed ahead and not looking back. There are a lot of things out of my control and I just need to focus on what I can do.”

    What she can do is take on her latest opponent: rehab. That’s a game that she knows she can win and those around her know she can win. The biggest tool an athlete can have in a battle against rehabbing an injury is toughness is there may not be an athlete more suited for that battle than Weigand.

    “She already well beyond where any normal person would be in their recovery,” Mattei said. “That’s the difference. She can mentally push herself to where she knows she can beat it.”

    Weigand has no plans to slow down. It’s too early to determine if she can get back on the field for the field hockey season and she admits that her basketball future is unclear. That can be a tough pill to take for someone who started playing sports for all the right reasons.

    “I played field hockey my freshman year to make friends,” she said. “Going into freshman year I didn’t know as many people so field hockey was all about making friends.”

    As she’s grown into a lacrosse standout, she never gave up on field hockey and she never gave up on basketball. Time will tell if she’ll be back on the floor next winter, but Mattei insists there is a spot for her in the program regardless of the role she decides take.

    She’s the kind of athlete that can make a team better without even stepping on the playing field because she understands that to achieve the desired result, the effort must be there every step of the way.

    “That’s what makes her so special,” Mattei said. “She doesn’t stop. She doesn’t take a break.”

    Cherry Creek Regis Jesuit field hockey
    (Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

  • A rundown of the votes and changes implemented by the Legislative Council

    The CHSAA Legislative Council met virtually for the first time in its 99-year history on Friday.

    They voted on more than 50 items, and made a number of changes to the Association’s bylaws, which impacted things from alignment to the transfer rule. We have rounded up most of those changes here.

    [divider]

    Two classes of hockey

    Regis Jesuit Valor Christian hockey
    (PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

    Hockey will split into two classifications, beginning with the 2020-21 season.

    The two-class split, which was recommended by the hockey committee during its meeting in February, places 20 teams into Class 5A, and 17 in 4A. The committee used a variety of factors to place teams from bylaw 1500.21, including enrollment, geography, competitive history, competitive balance, participation rate, and the entry or selection process that places an athlete at a program.

    The committee recognized the need for two classes because there isn’t much, if any, parity in the sport. Over the past four years, only 14 different schools have advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. Hockey currently has 37 teams.

    The alignments for the sport can be found in this story from February.

    Hockey will use the CHSAA Seeding Index to seed its two state tournaments: RPI, MaxPreps, and the CHSAANow coaches poll.

    [divider]

    New seeding criteria for 5A basketball

    Basketball generic boys girls
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    An amendment during the meeting changed the seeding criteria that 4A and 5A basketball will use for their state tournaments: The two classes will now use a combination of the RPI standings, MaxPreps rankings and the CHSAANow coaches pool — bringing them in line with what a number of other sports are now using.

    1A will also use the same criteria, but will also use the Packard Ratings.

    [divider]

    2A baseball changes postseason

    Calhan Rye baseball
    (Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com)

    The 2A baseball postseason will now mirror what is done in 3A, 4A and 5A, with a 32-team regional bracket. All teams will qualify for the bracket via the RPI standings, and seeded by RPI. The top eight seeds will host regionals, and seeds Nos. 20-32 can be moved for geographic reasons.

    The state tournament also got an overhaul, and will move to an eight-team single-elimination bracket. Previously, 2A had a 16-team bracket.

    With this change, 2A schools can now schedule 23 games.

    Baseball also created a game minimum to be able to qualify for the postseason: 12 games in 1A, 17 in 2A and 3A, 19 in 4A and 5A.

    [divider]

    New field hockey tournament

    Field hockey generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    In an effort to help the growth of the sport, the state field hockey tournament will expand from eight teams to 12.

    The top six seeds will receive a bye while the next six will compete in a play-in bracket.

    In one of those brackets, No. 9 and No. 12 will play, with the winner playing No. 8. The winner of that game will face No. 1.

    In the other bracket, No. 10 and No. 11 will play, with the winner facing No. 7. The winner of that game will face the No. 2 overall seed.

    During that same round, the No. 4 and No. 5 seed will play, with No. 3 and No. 6 also playing.

    [divider]

    The transfer rule

    A number of proposals involved the transfer rule. Among the changes which passed:

    • An adjustment to clarify that a student doesn’t have to transfer from a member school, in or out of state, in order for the rule to apply.
    • A proposal better explained the transfer consequence for transferring to another school, and a return to the original school — also known as an A-B-A transfer. Specifically, a student who transfers from School A, transfers to School B and plays at School B, and the returns to School A, will only be eligible for sub-varsity competition at School A in the sports they participated in at School B for 365 days.
    • A new bylaw passed allowing for students to participate with “restricted varsity eligibility during the regular season” if their high school does not offer a JV team, or if their school doesn’t allow seniors to play on sub-varsity teams.
    • The definition of a hardship was rewritten to read: “‘Hardship’ means a situation, condition or event which must impost a severe non-athletic burden upon the student or his/her family and require a transfer of schools. This does not include the personal or initial choice of enrollment and/or participation.”

    [divider]

    Notables:

    • The alignments for sports were finalized with the approval of each sports report. Those new alignments will be posted in the near future.
    • The season of sport was changed in boys swimming, allowing for those championships to be moved up a week and have their own spotlight.
    • 6-man and 8-man football will use the same four data points of seeding that was used in 1A-5A this season.
    • In 5A football, all playoff games will be hosted by the higher seed.
    • 1A girls volleyball will move from districts to regionals. The sport will also require that all teams play a minimum of 18 matches against member schools and varsity opponents in order to qualify for the postseason.
    • Boys volleyball will have one classification during its inaugural season in spring 2021.
    • Girls wrestling will use the same weight classes that were used in the pilot season.
    • The 4A and 5A boys lacrosse state tournaments will each grow from 16 to 24 teams starting in spring 2021.
    • The new format that will be used for a two-classification setup in girls lacrosse was approved. Find the structure for that format here.
    • 2A soccer will increase its state tournament field from 12 teams to 16.
    • The regional field in 3A softball will grow to 32 teams, bringing it in line with 4A and 5A.
    • The requirements for qualifying for the state skiing championships were made more strict, to make the state field slightly smaller.
    • The state spirit championships will move to a three-day format beginning this year. Schools will only be able to participate in one cheer category and one dance category at the state championships. Cheer and dance are now considered separate sports.
    • Schools will be eligible to join CHSAA as activity-only schools, and not offer sports.
    • The process for classifying programs was clarified with an amendment to bylaw 1510, which deals with the Classification, Appeals and League Organizing Committee (CLOC). Now, the CHSAA staff can offer adjustments “in extraordinary circumstances” that are based upon bylaw 1500.21 (the bylaw allowing for classification based upon factors other than enrollment) in even years. These adjustments will need to be voted on by CLOC. Typically in even years, the classifications are already set and ready to go for the following cycle, so there would be very few adjustments, if any.
    • The amateur status bylaw was reworked, and now reads that student-athletes “must maintain his/her amateur status” and notes that they “may not sign a professional athletic contract.” A new note defines a professional as “being paid in any form for playing in an athletic contest, or if you sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent or professional sports organization.” Notably, student-athletes will be allowed to play with or against professionals in certain situations, such as in the Olympics or a World Cup.
    • The coach ejection bylaw was updated to give it a more consistent level of suspension across all sports. Now, the first ejection is penalized by a suspension equal to 10% of that sports season, and a second ejection is 20%.
    • All-Star games were added to bylaw 2300, allowing for “up to two All-Star Games after the completion of the state championship in that sport.” No all-star games are permitted in football.
    • Middle schoolers from “feeder” schools will be permitted to practice with high school teams in volleyball, basketball, soccer and football “when they cannot field enough high school athletes to hold an intra-squad practice in game-type conditions.” There are a number of limitations guiding this new bylaw.
    • The number of practices required for students to participate in prior to competition in contact sports was reduced from five to three in all sports but football, which will still require nine.
    • Schools can now form a team with only one participant, if they choose to.
    • Adding a new sport or activity will now require approval from the Budget Committee in addition to CLOC, Sports Medicine, Equity and the Board of Directors.
    • The full membership of the following schools is now official: DSST – Byers, KIPP Northeast, Loveland Classical, Strive Prep – Rise, Strive Prep – Smart, and Thomas MacLaren. KIPP Northeast and Strive Prep – Rise play together are a co-op: Regis Groff.
    • Officials’ fees increased with a 2% cost of living adjustment across the board, for all levels.
    • The alignment of State Festival and State Tournament will now be permanent in speech.
    • Student Leadership’s fall conference will move to a regional model beginning this year.

  • NFHS, USA Field Hockey partner to sustain, grow field hockey participation

    Field hockey generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has partnered with USA Field Hockey in a collaborative effort to sustain and grow the number of high school field hockey participants.

    The NFHS and USA Field Hockey aim to accomplish their collective goal through improved promotion and development of field hockey, and by recruiting, supporting and retaining players, coaches and umpires. These methods to grow the sport will coincide with additional education for parents on the added benefits of student engagement and multi-sport participation. There will also be an emphasis on increased diversity and inclusion to make field hockey available and accessible across the country.

    “The NFHS is extremely excited about partnering with USA Field Hockey to grow participation in this great game. During these very challenging times, we hope that schools promote as much good news like this as possible,” said NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff. “There’s so much to gain for students and adults alike by engaging in activities such as field hockey. As a former player at the high school and collegiate levels, and as a high school coach, I can say with confidence that field hockey offers participants the opportunity to learn a sport that is uniquely elegant, exciting and team-oriented. The field hockey community at large welcomes everyone and focuses on the positive experience for all young people who participate.”

    The partnership between the NFHS and USA Field Hockey includes plans to establish an advocacy group that drives opportunities to support, sustain and grow high school field hockey and increase and improve stakeholder engagement. In addition to recruitment, education and professional development for coaches and umpires, the partnership will feature developmental tools and resources for players, parents and administrators in schools and clubs.

    The two groups also plan to distribute information that will better assist in the development and strengthening of grass-roots programs, and manage the transition of student-athletes between youth, middle school, high school, collegiate and lifetime engagement in sport. As part of that goal, the partnership will utilize the USA Field Hockey American Development Model (ADM).

    Other areas to be addressed as part of the partnership include:

    • Establishment of an annual Summit targeted toward high school coaches, umpires, administrators and student leaders.
    • Development of a Junior Coaching and Umpiring Certification Program to equip student leaders for personal development and lifetime engagement in sport, providing tools to enable young leaders to contribute positively to grass-roots growth in their communities.
    • Awards and recognition for adult and student leaders.
    • Continued participation in NFHS Rules/Liaisons meetings.
    • Development of school/conference ‘starter’ tool kits, ideally supported by grants for schools in need.
    • Aligned communication around partnership and shared programs and events.

    “Sport at the high school level is so important to the athletic and personal development of young people,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey executive director. “The Olympic sport of field hockey is a key component of many high school programs and we look forward to working in partnership with the NFHS to offer more students the wonderful values that our sport provides including leadership, teamwork, self-confidence, composure, work ethic, respect, healthfulness, humility and more.”

    Field hockey experienced a five-year high of 61,036 combined participants in 2018-19, according to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey. Of those, 60,824 were girls competing in nearly 1,800 schools.

    “Field hockey presents an important opportunity for high schools to attract many girls to sport, leveling the playing field in terms of gender equity during the important fall season,” Niehoff said. “Being part of a team, exercising regularly and practicing important time management skills from the start of school can establish a sense of belonging and good habits that can be sustained throughout the year. Currently, almost half of the states do not offer any team field sports for girls in the fall. States in which both field hockey and soccer are offered during the fall season report increased female athletic participation and are closer to achieving gender equity.”

    “High school sports play an important foundational role in the fabric of sport in America,” said Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey’s national development director. “This partnership is important and timely, and we strive to be an example of teamwork and of the Olympic ideals in action. I feel fortunate to have picked up a stick as a freshman in high school, continued to play in college, and am passionate about helping others discover and excel in the game as players, coaches, umpires and fans.”

    More information on the partnership, as well as how to support, sustain and grow high school field hockey in local communities, will be made available in the coming weeks.

  • Field hockey moves from halves to quarters in 2020 season

    Colorado Academy Arapahoe field hockey
    (Tim Bourke/TimBourke.com)

    INDIANAPOLIS — Field hockey games will be played in four quarters instead of two halves beginning with the 2020 season.

    This significant change was one of several rules revisions recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Field Hockey Rules Committee at its January 13-15 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

    “The NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee continues to strive to find ways to improve the ease and use of the rules for officials and coaches, which is evident in many of the changes made for the 2020 field hockey season,” said Julie Cochran, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee.

    The rules committee’s change moves the game to four 15-minute periods from two 30-minute halves. The committee believes this will allow teams to maximize their play for the entire match. Set stoppage times of two minutes between the first and second quarters – as well as between the third and fourth quarters – will provide student-athletes breaks for rest, hydration and strategizing. The length of halftime is set for 10 minutes, with teams changing goals.

    “I think the shift to quarters is going to be interesting,” said Sherry Bryant, Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) associate director and chair of the NFHS Field Hockey Rules Committee. “From an educational athletics point of view, a standardized break between quarters to address health and safety of athletes provides consistent opportunity for coaching, all while enhancing the excitement and flow of the game. It seems like a true win-win scenario.”

    Changes to the sport’s period lengths primarily affect Rule 4-1-1; however, they also impact Rules 5-1-1, 5-1-2 and 5-2-2. To be specific, the rules now detail the start of a game with a center pass and the restart of play by a center pass following each goal by a player of the team not scoring.

    As a result of the change in periods, the committee removed language pertaining to the starting and stopping of the game clock. Consequently, the sport no longer features time-outs. Rule 4-2-3 previously stated each team is permitted two 90-second time-outs per game. With the change to four quarters, teams now have guaranteed breaks for rest, hydration and coaching opportunities.

    Cochran added that the rules committee adjusted team time-outs in an effort to keep the game fluid with the guaranteed stoppage of play now between quarters.

    The rules committee also made significant changes that clarify the intent of penalties found as part of Rule 12-1. The committee also added definitions of cards related to coaches’ conduct.

    Previously, Rule 12-1 PENALTIES consisted of six items and a note. It has been reduced from six penalties to three penalties, including the removal of definitions for each offense.

    Rule 12-1 PENALTY 1 has been expanded to clarify when a penalty card is issued, and it also defines green, yellow and red cards. The newly adopted third penalty details restarting play when a foul is called prior to clock stoppage, when the ball goes out of bounds, and if no foul is called prior to clock stoppage.

    An overhaul of the player uniform rule – Rule 1-5-1 through 1-5-8 – was also notable. Changes carried out by the committee reorganized the uniform rule and provided further clarity with the addition of language regarding uniform bottoms.

    Changes to the player uniform rule reflect recent changes in high school volleyball rules. In field hockey, players are permitted to wear a single-colored short or long-sleeved shirt. If worn, home-team undershirts must be white. The visiting team’s undershirt must match the color of the jersey or be black or a dark color. All players who choose to wear an undershirt must wear the same color as her teammates.

    Other uniform rules changes include like-colored uniform bottoms, which include styles such as shorts, skirts, kilts or pants, provided shin guards are visible. The home team must wear solid, knee-length white socks/sock guards, while the visiting team must have a dark, contrasting color. The committee’s actions also included defining the use of player numbers, which also must be a solid, contrasting color and feature no more than two digits (00-99).

    Another rules change for 2020 introduces the definition of shadowing to the rules. Shadowing is the act of being within playing distance of an opponent and following the player’s movement on the field without impeding progress. The new rule, Rule 3-3-9, is found among definitions of techniques within the rules book.

    The final change, Rule 10-3-2, specifies that the criteria for completion of a penalty corner during extended play will mirror the procedures for ending a penalty corner during regulation play.

    A complete listing of the field hockey rules changes will be available on the NFHS website atwww.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Field Hockey.”

    According to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, field hockey has 60,824 girls participating in more than 1,700 schools nationwide.

  • All-state field hockey team for the 2019 season

    The 2019 all-state field hockey team is created by the field hockey league and the sport’s coaches.
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    Coach of the year: Ashley Loftis, Arapahoe

    First Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Tallulah Fuhs Cherry Creek Junior M
    Amelia Mccarthy Cherry Creek Senior D
    Ella Pratt Cherry Creek Junior F
    Camille Doherty Colorado Academy Senior M
    Katherine Merrifield Colorado Academy Junior M
    Lucy Mchugh Denver East Senior D
    Annabelle Johnson Kent Denver Senior  
    Heather Young Palmer Ridge Senior  
    Lauren Pendergast Regis Jesuit Senior M
    Darian Smith St. Mary’S Academy Senior M
    Madeline Gordon Colorado Academy Senior M
    Second Team
    Name School Year Pos.
    Amber Wennerstrom Arapahoe Senior M
    Caroline Weiss Arapahoe Junior F
    Sammantha White Cheyenne Mountain Senior D
    Grace Fuselier Colorado Academy Senior  
    Olivia Choi Kent Denver Senior  
    Eleanor Hunt Kent Denver Junior F
    Ainsley Koldyke Mountain Vista Senior F
    Zoey Dale Regis Jesuit Senior F
    Cate Lord Regis Jesuit Junior  
    Hailey Rhine St. Mary’S Academy Senior F
    Daisy Sharrow Kent Denver Senior  

    Honorable mention: Abbie Chalmers, Arapahoe, Senior; Abigail Jacobson, Cherry Creek, Junior; Camille Marsh, Cherry Creek, Junior; Samantha Shoflick, Cherry Creek, Junior; Caroline Briggs, Colorado Academy, Senior; Lilly Clowes, Colorado Academy, Senior; Julia Hall, Colorado Academy, Junior; Ella Marks, Colorado Academy, Senior; Remy Sherman, Colorado Academy, Senior; Charlie Beck, Dakota Ridge, Sophomore; Tia Krats, Dakota Ridge, Senior; Megan Jackson, Dakota Ridge, Junior; Marisa Ross, Dakota Ridge, Junior; Haley Vanek, Dakota Ridge, Sophomore; Cate Abbott, Denver East, Senior; Tess Mchugh, Denver East, Senior; Sophie Goldberg, Denver East, Senior; Cami Campbell, Fossil Ridge, Junior; Camille Martin, Fossil Ridge, Junior; Elle Peterson, Fossil Ridge, Senior; Priya Natarajan, Grandview, Senior; Katie Shepherd, Grandview, Junior; Cate Lyn Tierney, Grandview, Senior; Caley Capoot, Kent Denver, Senior; Reese Fredericksen, Kent Denver, Senior; Carley Wiley, Kent Denver, Senior; Haley Edge, Liberty, Junior; Molly Matheson, Liberty, Senior; Tessa Morse, Liberty, Junior; Lauren Dos Santos, Mountain Vista, Sophomore; Alexa Gibb, Mountain Vista, Senior; Jenna Lakomy, Mountain Vista, Senior; Madison Riley, Mountain Vista, Junior; Corin Riddle, Mountain Vista, Senior; Riley Enget, Palmer Ridge, Junior; Kalei Kochevar, Palmer Ridge, Senior; Hannah Hermann, Palmer Ridge, Sophomore; Hannah Tellez, Palmer Rige, Senior; Reece Wagers, Palmer Ridge, Junior; Caitrin Lombardo, Regis Jesuit, Junior; Grace Weigand, Regis Jesuit, Senior; Kate Frankmore, St. Mary’S Academy, Senior.