USA Field Hockey is excited to introduce Connection Based Coaching – a specialized course gifted by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and USA Field Hockey for every hockey coach in the United States.
Connection Based Coaching is designed to enhance the social and emotional skills of field hockey coaches at every level.
Connection Based Coaching will help build trust and connections between players and coaches in the sport. Whether an experienced coach seeking to deepen connections with athletes, a beginner eager to develop foundational skills, or an assistant coach looking to make a bigger impact, this course is essential for coaches, and even for players, parents, and administrators.
Developed as part of the Million Coaches Challenge, an initiative led by the Susan Crown Exchange to train one million coaches in high quality youth development techniques by 2025, USA Field Hockey is proud to contribute to this national effort by extending this valuable course to all membership groups at no cost. The organization’s goal is to train and empower field hockey coaches across the country, ensuring they have the tools to keep athletes engaged, motivated, and successful. The Million Coaches Challenge is helping create a positive sports experience for kids by equipping a generation of coaches with the knowledge and tools to help young people thrive on and off the playing field.
If you are a USA Field Hockey Coach Member, you can access the course by downloading the USA Field Hockey In the Circle App, available on Google Play or Apple Store.
If you are not a member of USA Field Hockey, you can still take the course and be granted a free, limited coach profile for the In the Circle App. This will provide special access to some great USA Field Hockey coaching tools:
- practice plans (pre-made and customizable)
- skill development and small game content libraries
- videos for coaches to use on skills and tactics