Welcome to the MAX Field Hockey U 10-Step Plan & Resource Center!  

This information center was created to help you navigate this exciting process and minimize confusion, frustration and guessing when it comes to college field hockey recruiting.  While there is no set formula or exact plan you must follow in order to play field hockey in college, there are some common practices that exist and rules that must be followed.

We created The 10-Step Plan to guide you through the college search and recruiting process in a logical way.  It provides easy to follow information along with valuable insights, tips and links to additional resources.  Because the order of several of these steps could be interchanged and several steps are ongoing throughout the entire process, we recommend you read through all 10 steps before getting started.  An important thing to remember is everybody’s college journey is unique and you all have a different set of goals and things you are looking for in a school- academically, athletically, and socially.  Use the information and tools we have provided within this Resource Center and formulate a plan that makes sense for you.  Remember- you are in charge of finding the right school for you!

RESOURCE CENTER TOPICS

A Note for Parents
College Club Field Hockey
Differences between Divisions
Eligibility
Highlight Videos
NCAA Recruiting Rules
Redshirt/Greyshirt
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Social Media & Your Image
Additional Consulting Services

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED…

“IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DESTINATION, IT’S ABOUT THE JOURNEY”

You have probably heard the saying before.  It couldn’t be more perfect for the whole motivation behind the MAX Field Hockey U College Research & Management Tool and what we want to emphasize to you most!  Too often people get caught up in the end game and they lose site of what’s important.  Don’t let it happen to you!

Focus on your academics.  Work hard in and out of the classroom and get the best grades and test scores you can.  All four years of High School are important.  Make sure you learn early on about NCAA eligibility and how the courses you take and your academics play into whether you will be able to compete at the college level.  Take a challenging course-load and enroll in honors and AP courses when possible.  No matter what Division you want to play field hockey at, the better your grades and test scores are and the more challenging your course-load is, the more potential opportunities you will have (not to mention the positive impact doing so will have on your personal development!).  Finding a field hockey program and coach who is interested in you is only half the battle.  You still need to get admitted to the college.  Don’t let your academics limit and potentially prohibit you from going to the college of your dreams.  Get involved in leadership roles and non-field hockey activities at your school and in your community as well.  It will enhance your leadership skills, along with your resume and college application, and who knows- maybe you will find a new passion in life or a potential career path.

Improve your game.  The better field hockey player you are, the more opportunities you will have.  If your dream is to play Division I field hockey, you can’t just dream about it.  You must put the time and hard work in on the field, in the gym, and do the extra skill work and fitness needed to make that dream a reality.  Don’t leave it up to chance- control what you can control, make some sacrifices, put the time in and do the work.  While doing all of this still doesn’t guarantee you a spot at the Division I level, it will help you reach your potential as a field hockey player and open more doors for you.  No matter what level you want to play at, college coaches are looking for hard working and talented players to add to their programs.  Mia Hamm may have said it best…

Have fun.  Why do you play field hockey?  Make sure you don’t lose site of those reasons.  Is all of the hard work and are all of the sacrifices you are making worth it?  If your answer is yes and you love every minute of it- awesome!  If you are starting to question if it is all worth it or the pressure is really getting to you, take a step back and re-evaluate your goals and where you are at in your journey.  It happens all the time- people get so caught up in recruiting and attending this showcase and that showcase, playing on several different teams to increase their exposure, paying hundreds of dollars on individual lessons, never having time to do anything else, having overuse injuries, burnout…  When you’re not having fun anymore or you are exhausted- take a break.  There is no magic formula for how much hockey you have to play and what tournaments you must attend.  You have to do what is best for you and what is best for your overall health and happiness.  Keep playing a second sport.  It will help develop your general athleticism, keep you fresh, help you avoid burnout, and you probably play that sport because it is fun for you.  Have fun!  There may come a time when you need to make a decision because of overlapping time commitments, but that may also be a good indication of what type of commitment you are looking for in college.  If you really love a second sport and don’t want to give it up, perhaps you should look into continuing to play both sports in college at the Division II or III level.

There is no professional field hockey league in the U.S. and there are a very limited number of players who will have the opportunity to continue playing on the U.S. National Team after college.  Play field hockey because it is fun and because you love it.  Don’t let the whole college recruiting process and a focus on “The Destination” get in the way of that.  Work hard in the classroom and on the field, use the information and resources we have provided for you in this tool and the rest will take care of itself.

Please Note: The information contained in this Resource Center is provided as a service of the MAX Field Hockey U College Research & Management Tool and in no way constitutes binding advice.  There is no guarantee that if you use this Resource Center and follow The 10-Step Plan, Recommended Timeline and advice provided that you will be awarded a roster spot or athletics scholarship on the college field hockey team of your choice.  MAX Field Hockey aims to provide clear, accurate, and up-to-date information, but because of the changing nature of rules, practices, and the various formulas and approaches that college coaches take to the recruiting process, we make no promise to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in this Resource Center.