Partnership to support field hockey Sport for all. June 2020 1 Partnership is comprised of Men, Women, Boys & Girls. These people want success and growth for the sport of field hockey. Sport for all We are Umpires, Coaches, College Players, HS Players, USA Players and Parents. 2 Our purpose is to “Advocate for the support and growth of field hockey for all, in Massachusetts and the United States.” Imperative to educate that this sport is available to all and to encourage for field hockey to be Sport for all taught in elementary and middle school. Create equitable opportunity to learn, grow and play the sport of field hockey with skill. 3 Sport for all The MIAA and MSAA are committed to promoting inclusiveness, awareness and acceptance among the memberships of both associations. The Pillars of MIAA Educational Athletics are: Sportsmanship Wellness Leadership Community Service NFHS states very clearly under their gender equity section on their website: Schools and Administrators should continually strive to provide equal opportunities to each gender. 4 3 Million people play field hockey worldwide (www.biggestglobalsports.com) 100 Countries play field hockey (2nd largest team sport worldwide) England Hockey reports (2008-2009 season): 2488 registered men’s teams, 1969 women’s teams, 1042 boys’ teams, 966 girls’ teams and 274 mixed teams (Wikipedia) Irish Hockey Assoc. reported in 2006 – 65% females vs. 35% males Sport for all play field hockey in Ireland Hockey Australia 2008 census reported 40, 534 male club players / 41, 542 female players Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held in 1979 that under the Massachusetts constitution’s equal rights amendment, the MIAA cannot as a matter of law exclude boys from a girls’ field hockey team (unless the school has a separate (viable) boys’ field hockey team) 5 SPORTSMANSHIP -Teams learn to work collaboratively for a common goal. Athletes challenge each other and push their peers to improve their skills. Normal tryouts occur and teams are selected, participation allows for all skill levels to be considered – not dependent upon ones’ gender – but on the skills. Healthy competition raises the level of the game. Learning how to celebrate wins and assess losses to improve for the next match/opportunity. Teams win and lose together; all for one and one for all. Assertions have been made that boys have displaced girls on varsity teams (tryouts & time on field), yet supporting data has not been Sport for all provided in more than one instance. (ie: Coalitions’ document re: Wayland) Teams that have co-ed players or that play against co-ed teams learn to respect and value skilled athletes, no matter the gender – as well, spectators learn that the sport of field hockey is played around the world by everyone. Officials should aim to maintain appropriate decorum of coaches coaching, athletes playing and spectators cheering on a competitive game – setting the correct tone at the beginning of the match in a respectful way. 6 WELLNESS – High School sports should provide a safe place for participation for all athletes at different competitive levels (Freshman/JV/V). No data has been shown regarding a growth in number or severity of injuries due to co-ed play. In fact, since turf fields have become more the norm, rather than grass – errant injuries due to rough Sport for all surfaces have decreased in some aspects and increased in others. Ankle vs. Abrasion, etc. Spectators should be attending sporting events to support all athletes and if they can not attend and be supportive, then the spectators should be removed from the event. Athletes’ focus should be on a positive, competitive game. 7 LEADERSHIP – Life is filled with challenges and teams are small opportunities for Student-Athletes to learn many skills, relative to leading and participation. Not ALL can lead, but ALL can and should be able to participate. Leaders can and should be good role models; capable athletes, good communicators, able to collaborate, understand the sport & rules, exemplify the high Sport for all expectation student-athlete with good academics, respectful toward coaches, umpires and peers and does not depend upon a persons’ gender. Captains and Leaders for teams are sometimes selected by coaches, sometimes by the team and no one capability necessarily means “leader”, although often a more “seasoned” athlete is part of the selection process. 8 COMMUNITY SERVICE –This is an element that the MIAA likes to hold as a pillar of expectation for student-athletes. This often goes hand in hand with being involved in your school community. Sport for all As well, many of the student-athletes need to have good scholarship and must meet grade expectations to be involved on the athletic teams. This is the same for both genders. 9 CLARITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY – Currently, only females can receive field hockey scholarships to play in the NCAA. More NCAA recruiting is currently handled at the Club level, rather than the high school level. Males can either play at club level in college or can be practice players on college teams. Sport for all Currently, there are male practice players at Penn State, University of Maryland, James Madison, University of Delaware, Old Dominion, UCONN, Dartmouth and there are a number of collegiate programs that have expressed interest in male practice players. NO MONEY or SCHOLARSHIPS are given to the male field hockey practice players. 10 CLARITY PHYSICAL ADVATAGE – Males (on a broad stoke basis) may be considered faster, stronger, bigger. Yet, that is not always the case. There are physical advantages that many same gender athletes have over their peers. Field Hockey is supposed to not be a contact sport. It is based upon stick skills and an athlete with Sport for all strong stick skills, high athleticism and speed will excel. There are many examples of men and women field hockey players who are strong, capable examples known for their athleticism and skills. ie: Beth Anders (1980 USWNT), Melissa Gonzalez 5’4, Jamie Dwyer 5’8). ~ Jamie & Gonzo are not known for being the biggest, fastest or strongest, but are considered top tier, world-class athletes. 11 Sport for all 12 Sport for all 13 INJURIES: Field Hockey is associated with high risk of injury, particularly sprains, strains, fractures and bruises to the lower limbs, hand and head. (Activesafe.ca/field-hockey) INJURIES: Female college/university players sustain approx. 70% of head, face, neck, hand, finger and thumb injuries near the goal or within the 25-yard line. Injuries in the circle (50% in women / 51% in men). Injuries within the 25-yard zone (34% in women / 32% in men). (Theilen et al, 2016) INJURIES: Type of playing surface has also been reported as a risk factor for injury. Artificial turf has been associated with an increase in both acute and chronic injuries, as well as a higher rate of Sport for all abrasions. (Activesafe.ca/field-hockey) INJURIES: An inherent risk of injury is associated with participation in HS sports based upon the nature of the game and the activities of the players. Therefore, injury prevention programs should be in place for both practices and games. (Journal of Athletic Training) INJURIES: Elite men has 3.2 times the risk of a game injury than elite women. Men were more likely to sustain a time-loss injury. Of injured women, 75% did not miss any days of competition, compared with only 52% of injured men. (www.acsm.org) 14 MA STATE FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONS 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Division I Somerset-Berkley Somerset-Berkley Andover Walpole Acton-Boxboro Acton-Boxboro Walpole Acton-Boxboro Andover Andover Acton-Boxboro Weston Acton-Boxboro Division II Dover-Sherborn Dennis-Yarmouth Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Watertown Hopkinton Quaboag STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPANTS 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2099 2008 2007 Division I Longmeadow Nashoba Longmeadow Longmeadow Longmeadow Nashoba Longmeadow Shrewsbury Longmeadow Algonquin Longmeadow Notre Dame Shrewsbury Division II Hopedale Greenfield Oakmont Oakmont Auburn Auburn Auburn Oakmont Oakmont Auburn Oakmont Mohawk Trail Canton MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Watertown MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES Watertown MOST STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Watertown (18), Walpole (12), Acton-Booxboro (7), Notre Dame Academy (4), Bellingham (3), Canton (3), Quaboag (3), Weston (3) ON FIELD RESULTS Sport for all Participation Information for Field Hockey 2019-2018 2019-2018 2018-2017 2018-2017 2017-2016 2017-2016 2016-2015 2016-2015 2015-2014 2015-2014 2014-2013 2014-2013 2013-2012 2013-2012 Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls 37 7852 36 7914 28 7968 33 7694 20 8138 21 8007 27 7928 Brockton (1) Athol (3) Athol (2) Athol (1) Assabet (1) Carver (2) Carver (2) Essex Tech (1) Carver (1) Athol (1) Framingham (2) Essex (1) Fairhaven (1) Fairhaven (1) Dennis-Yarmouth (1) Franklin Tech (1) Fairhaven (1) Framinghham (1) Holyoke (1) Fairhaven (1) Holyoke (2) Framingham (2) Franklin Tech (2) Leicester (1) Holyoke (3) Mahar/Orange (2) Franklin Tech (3) - No Playoffs Hamilton-Wenham (1) Marlborough (1) Hull (1) Malden (5) - No Playoffs Hamilton-Wenham (1) Holyoke (1) Middleboro (1) Leicester (1) Martha's Vineyard (1) Holyoke (1) Malden (2) Nantucket (1) Mahar / Orange (2) Mohawk Trail (1) Malden (5) - No Playoffs Manchester-Essex (1) North Brookfield (3) - First Round Nantucket (1) North Brookfield (2) Mansfield (1) Marlborough