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Field Hockey events, score will be inputted on their behalf. We now have a system of accountability as it relates to levels of umpires. Each umpire is now required to obtain and maintain a certain level of competency to hold each level of accreditation.


Each region held at least one “Umpire Academy” during 2012. These academies are the beginning of umpire education in each area. Region 5 held 3 and many regions held 2. I established curriculum for these academies and we will be revising for 2013.


High Performance In 2012, we took a new look at our men’s high performance programming and decided to make some fundamental changes. In many Olympic sports, consideration for the retirement years is not taken into account (e.g. in some sports, young kids are encouraged to engage at a young age and often drop out of school to do so. A few are successful, but are not and are left with little to advance their lives into the future). USA Field Hockey has a morale responsibility to help athletes become whole people in the sense of encouraging education and career opportunities whilst athletes still in their athletic careers. To make a more well-rounded athlete is to make a better athlete and person generally. Our efforts in 2012 included training opportunities in the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center; professional strength


and conditioning


programming; a minor monthly stipend; and programs that helped direct players to educational and career opportunities. Many of the players were new to the program as we experienced many older player retirements in 2012. The elements of Olympic Center training along with the efforts to create whole persons as athletes in the program will pay off in the long term as the HP program for men is angling for long term ascension and to create a cadre of quality men..


FUNdamental Field Hockey 2012 was the launch year for our first sustainable base development program introduced in the sport within our country in years. The milestones set were to have 250


programs (each associated with an existing USA Field Hockey club) throughout the USA and introduce hockey to 15,000 youngsters between the ages of 7-12 years of age. The program was a smashing success. In 2012, a little over 19,000 youngsters were introduced to hockey through 262 programs. Inroads were made with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, and contacts were made that were substantive with Florida school systems.2013’s program will be expanded to Grow the Sport and will also further legitimize FUNdamental FH through sustained programs throughout the nation and the work toward retaining kids in the sport.


During 2012 the umpiring ranks were increased by 66 new umpire members. This is a 12% increase from 2011. There was also the addition of about 15 Umpires who also are coach or player members of USA Field Hockey. We are encouraged by an influx of “younger” ( under 30) umpires who are taking on the task more seriously than ever before.


With the establishment of our “Rating Administrator” we have updated and made a number for revisions to the webpoint database to better track and maintain information as it relates to umpiring. Each event an umpire attends is now categorized and as the individual participates in future USA


2012-13 USA FIELD HOCKEY ANNUAL REPORT 5


At each of our youth events in 2012, the umpire satisfaction rating established by the surveys increased slightly from the 2012 numbers. The festival was the first event to my knowledge that all of the umpires were there to umpire only. No coaches or players doing double duty. This increase can be attributed to not only the umpires but also the umpire managers who work diligently to make sure the events have a consistency in all aspects of the game.


For 2012, all umpire ratings and upgrading’s were on “hold” because of the revisions to our system. As of this year, umpire rankings and ratings are reinstituted and the process closely monitored.


Also, the pool of umpires who are looking to retire but stay involved grew in 2012. We were able to have some become Umpire Managers and technical staff for our events. We look to continue that in 2013.


Steve Locke Executive Director USA Field Hockey


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