West Hartford Youth Field Hockey's Goals

• To create and maintain grade level programs focused on teaching fundamental skills and introducing low-key competition with similar programs in nearby towns in Hartford County.
  
• To create a challenging, engaging, learning environment where children of differing levels of skill and physical development can learn and enjoy the game of field hockey.
• To provide ample playing time to all participants.
• To provide equal attention and support to all participants.
• To engage adults and experienced high school players to teach, coach and referee the scrimmages and games in which WHYFH players participate.
• To provide access to safe, well maintained fields with appropriate equipment and uniforms.
• To support these young athletes and teach them the skills to achieve their potential and future goals.

Our goal is not to promote individuals, but to promote skill development, sportsmanship, team play and love of the sport.

The League is divided into five divisions:  

• The Mini Sticklettes Division is for incoming kindergarten and 1st graders.
• The Sticklettes Division is for incoming 2nd and 3rd graders.
• The Junior Division is for incoming 4th and 5th graders.
• The Senior Division is for incoming 6th and 7th graders.
• The 8th Grade Team is for incoming 8th graders.

Mini Sticklettes Division:  The goal of this division is to introduce the basic fundamentals of field hockey through fun drills and mini games.  Practices are once a week at the Miracle League field. No uniform is needed.

Sticklettes Division:  The goal of this division is to introduce the basic fundamentals through drills and skills.  We will teach some basic positioning and basic rules of the game in a 6 vs. 6 set up.  There is one practice per week at KP or Conard and one game per week on  Sundays at Conard on the turf. Score is not kept but games are refereed. Pinnies and red/white socks are required for games.

Junior Division:  The Junior Division is development based, and will focus on skills, drills, and intramural play.  There will be one to two practices per week at KP, Conard, or Hall and one game per week on Sundays at Conard on the turf. The format of games will be 7 vs. 7 with a circle. Score is not kept but games are refereed.  All parts of the uniform (pinnie, red/white socks, navy skort or shorts) are required.

Senior Division:  The primary goal of this league is to build on the foundation that the players learned (to grow and love) over the past few years. The Senior Division will play full field (100X60) with a goalie (11 vs. 11).  Similar to the Junior Division, the Senior Division will be development based, but will focus on higher level skills (and some strategy) and drills.  In addition, the Senior Division will consist of both intramural and interscholastic play. There will be two practices per week at KP, Conard, or Hall and one game per week on Saturdays at Conard on the turf. Score is not kept for intra-league games. Depending on availability, there might be some away games for each  team as well. All parts of the uniform (pinnie, red/white socks, navy skort or shorts) are required. 

8th Grade Team:  The 8th Grade Team is for all incoming 8th graders. Like the Senior Division, the 8th Grade Team will continue to focus on higher level skills and drills in preparation for interscholastic play at the high school level. There will be two practices per week at KP, Conard, or Hall and games on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The team will be playing other towns and therefore some travel is required. Home games will be either at KP or Conard. Uniforms are provided, which must be returned at the end of the season.

Coaches will do their best to provide equal playing time to all players but will also take the following factors when distributing playing time:

Attendance + Effort + Attitude + Respect = Playing Time

Players who attend practice, try hard, display a positive attitude and show respect for coaches and teammates will receive ample playing time.  Players who do not attend every practice, do not show up on time, do not try their hardest and do not show respect for coaches, officials, opponents and teammates may not get as much playing time as other teammates. 

Please discuss this policy with your child.