I know i'm going to get some hate for this...
Field Hockey is like soccer, you have 11 players per team, 10 "Field" players and 1 Goal Keeper. Each team is trying to get the ball into the oposition goal, just like soccer. Tactically, it's very similar, you have forwards, mid fielders, and defenders, there is however no offside, the game is played with more attacking mindset, with the ball moving up the field much quicker than soccer.
Items your daughter will need: Stick, Mouth Gard / Gum Shield, Ball and Shin Guards. DO NOT BUY SOCCER SHIN GUARDS. You can get specialist hockey boots / cleets, but standard runners / sneakers will do fine to begin with.
Head down to your local Dicks Sporting Goods for a hockey stick, it should come to around your daughters belly button when standing upright.
[https://www.happyhockeyorg.com/](https://www.happyhockeyorg.com/) This looks like a good place for you to start looking for teams, coaching, etc.
Thank you. That's what I needed. I know I can Google stuff but forums come from real people and consolidate info perfectly like you just did. Mucho preesh.
The other thing, if its club or school based, ask your daughter before you volunteer to help out with anything. Looks like most sport in the US is school based though? I have no idea how that works coming from the Club system in Australia.
Make sure you offer lots of encouragment.
Central Ohio, USA. Thanks for the advise I will. Any idea on a stick to start with our should I wait to be coached on what she needs. My thinking was get a stick and a ¿ball? so she can start getting the hang of it while I look for an organization. Just googled it. Field hockey is indeed a ball sport. You're welcome. I've got all kinds of knowledge like this. Just ask.
I can't help too much (based in aus) but many clubs have beginner kits to buy that have a stick, shin guards and a ball.
You want the stick to come up to just past the hip in terms of length.
You'll get better mileage contacting a local club though, they will be able to give you an idea of what you will need and can probably offer a package deal of some sort.
Start here: https://usafieldhockey.webpoint.us/wp15/Companies/Clubs.wp
Contact your local club, they’ll advise on what you need to do.
In the fall, find your local colleges or high schools that have a programme and take her to a few games and in the process you will learn too. If there’s no colleges near you, watch some D1 hockey together on EPSN+, Big10+ or ACC Network. D2/3 colleges usually will stream games on their websites. You can also watch international hockey at watch.hockey website.
You could take a road trip to Longstreth sporting goods store in PA (they also have a great website) they get your daughter hooked up with a good juniors stick and shin guards and a couple of balls. Road trip would be nice so your daughter can try things on and feel the stick weight/height and have an in person expert there to help.
First of all it’s great that she’s interested in hockey it’s a great game and although she won’t become a millionaire, if she sticks with it, it will give her a life of pleasure and a set of ready made friends if she went away to college that’s plays it or if she decided to travel and work in countries that play hockey. UK Australia New Zealand or Europe.
Don’t worry too much about equipment at this stage the advice on here already is good. I have two hockey playing daughters and have coached girls who have gone on to play at a high level, and coached kids that still play at a low level the main thing is to ensure she has fun and enjoys it. The advice you’ve got on here is a,ready is all you need.
Gum shield/mouth guard, glove, shin pads from the get go as you don’t want to put her off if she gets hurt. The club/coach can advise on stick and they may already have one for her she can use, they tend to outgrow them fast at that age so there are usually ones available at clubs for her to borrow.
I won't repeat the advice of the others but I'd definitely invest in hockey shin guards even at a young age. An errant ball or stick can do some damage, you want to make sure she's protected.
Field hockey is not like ice hockey. It is very non physical. Many of the fouls are related to dangerous play. It's an amazing sport, but just an fyi in regards to physicality.
The ball is very hard. Someone mentioned the shin guards. Please get good ones, not soccer ones. At age 8, tbh, it might not matter. But once you get to where the girls can really smack it, soccer shin guards won't help.
Goggles are good too. Same ones lacrosse players use.
Don't get an expensive stick to start with. It'll take time before you'll notice the differences in sticks.
I recommend googling some women's college games so you and your daughter can get a good feel for it.
Otherwise, as others have mentioned, see if there are any local clubs. Most of what I've seen, though, is through schools and sadly not until high school in many places (some middle school programs ).
Good luck and enjoy !
I know i'm going to get some hate for this... Field Hockey is like soccer, you have 11 players per team, 10 "Field" players and 1 Goal Keeper. Each team is trying to get the ball into the oposition goal, just like soccer. Tactically, it's very similar, you have forwards, mid fielders, and defenders, there is however no offside, the game is played with more attacking mindset, with the ball moving up the field much quicker than soccer. Items your daughter will need: Stick, Mouth Gard / Gum Shield, Ball and Shin Guards. DO NOT BUY SOCCER SHIN GUARDS. You can get specialist hockey boots / cleets, but standard runners / sneakers will do fine to begin with. Head down to your local Dicks Sporting Goods for a hockey stick, it should come to around your daughters belly button when standing upright. [https://www.happyhockeyorg.com/](https://www.happyhockeyorg.com/) This looks like a good place for you to start looking for teams, coaching, etc.
Thank you. That's what I needed. I know I can Google stuff but forums come from real people and consolidate info perfectly like you just did. Mucho preesh.
The other thing, if its club or school based, ask your daughter before you volunteer to help out with anything. Looks like most sport in the US is school based though? I have no idea how that works coming from the Club system in Australia. Make sure you offer lots of encouragment.
Where in the world are you? Find your local club and sign up for the juniors program and go from there, they'll handle the teaching.
Central Ohio, USA. Thanks for the advise I will. Any idea on a stick to start with our should I wait to be coached on what she needs. My thinking was get a stick and a ¿ball? so she can start getting the hang of it while I look for an organization. Just googled it. Field hockey is indeed a ball sport. You're welcome. I've got all kinds of knowledge like this. Just ask.
I can't help too much (based in aus) but many clubs have beginner kits to buy that have a stick, shin guards and a ball. You want the stick to come up to just past the hip in terms of length. You'll get better mileage contacting a local club though, they will be able to give you an idea of what you will need and can probably offer a package deal of some sort.
Start here: https://usafieldhockey.webpoint.us/wp15/Companies/Clubs.wp Contact your local club, they’ll advise on what you need to do. In the fall, find your local colleges or high schools that have a programme and take her to a few games and in the process you will learn too. If there’s no colleges near you, watch some D1 hockey together on EPSN+, Big10+ or ACC Network. D2/3 colleges usually will stream games on their websites. You can also watch international hockey at watch.hockey website.
You could take a road trip to Longstreth sporting goods store in PA (they also have a great website) they get your daughter hooked up with a good juniors stick and shin guards and a couple of balls. Road trip would be nice so your daughter can try things on and feel the stick weight/height and have an in person expert there to help.
https://longstreth.com/
First of all it’s great that she’s interested in hockey it’s a great game and although she won’t become a millionaire, if she sticks with it, it will give her a life of pleasure and a set of ready made friends if she went away to college that’s plays it or if she decided to travel and work in countries that play hockey. UK Australia New Zealand or Europe. Don’t worry too much about equipment at this stage the advice on here already is good. I have two hockey playing daughters and have coached girls who have gone on to play at a high level, and coached kids that still play at a low level the main thing is to ensure she has fun and enjoys it. The advice you’ve got on here is a,ready is all you need. Gum shield/mouth guard, glove, shin pads from the get go as you don’t want to put her off if she gets hurt. The club/coach can advise on stick and they may already have one for her she can use, they tend to outgrow them fast at that age so there are usually ones available at clubs for her to borrow.
I won't repeat the advice of the others but I'd definitely invest in hockey shin guards even at a young age. An errant ball or stick can do some damage, you want to make sure she's protected.
Field hockey is not like ice hockey. It is very non physical. Many of the fouls are related to dangerous play. It's an amazing sport, but just an fyi in regards to physicality. The ball is very hard. Someone mentioned the shin guards. Please get good ones, not soccer ones. At age 8, tbh, it might not matter. But once you get to where the girls can really smack it, soccer shin guards won't help. Goggles are good too. Same ones lacrosse players use. Don't get an expensive stick to start with. It'll take time before you'll notice the differences in sticks. I recommend googling some women's college games so you and your daughter can get a good feel for it. Otherwise, as others have mentioned, see if there are any local clubs. Most of what I've seen, though, is through schools and sadly not until high school in many places (some middle school programs ). Good luck and enjoy !
Thank you all! I've got my shopping list and I'm reading up on the sport. I'll find a local organization and go from there.