Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 Congratulations! Your child has chosen the more affordable of the two hockeys—and the one with far less exposure to drowning. Sure, there are some minimal expenses required for a fledgling field hockey player, but they pale in comparison to the cost of ice hockey pads and equipment, which can rival a mortgage payment every time your athlete experiences a three-inch growth spurt. And as for drowning? Field hockey is unquestionably safer. Field hockey in the Fredericksburg area also tends to require far less travel than ice hockey. While the region is dotted with ponds and lakes, they rarely freeze solid enough for safe, free practice time—no matter how weightless you think your budding Ovechkin might be on skates. (See above: drowning.) Field hockey, on the other hand, can be played on any patch of grass, and Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation offers an excellent beginner program at Dixon Park. The program has even produced a number of All-State players. (Yes, Fredericksburg Parks and Rec also offers roller hockey, but that requires different footwear, a different stick, and possibly a call to your credit card company for a limit increase.) The start-up costs for field hockey are relatively low, especially for players coming from youth soccer, as shin guards and cleats transition seamlessly to the field hockey pitch. The only unique expenses are a mouthguard and, of course, a stick—though you might groan at paying full price for some- thing usable on only one side. For beginners, don't spend a fortune on a stick. Play It Again Sports in Fredericksburg previously carried affordable, gently used options, but their recent fire has temporarily closed the store. Fortunately, there are other Play It Again locations within an hour's drive. Call ahead to confirm avail- ability, as youth field hockey sticks can be in high demand. (Pro tip: sticks are measured to a player's hip height.) Yes, there are sticks costing hundreds of dollars, but for a beginner, the quality of the wood or the curvature of the blade doesn't matter much— especially if they're still learning to hit the ball. A $25 stick can swing and miss just as effectively as a $250 one. With a stick also comes great responsibility: do not hit a sibling or oppo- nent, no matter how tempting. Unlike baseball bats, field hockey sticks stay with players during gameplay, and the action can be nonstop until a referee blows the whistle. And trust us, whistles are blown a lot. WRITTEN BY DREW GALLAGHER ...a Field Hockey Parent Some parents joke that every time a field hockey referee blows their whistle, an angel gets its wings. (No one actu- ally believes this, but it adds a bit of charm to the incessant whistles.) The rules can be challenging for novice players and parents alike. For example, players can only hit the ball with the flat side of their stick and cannot use their feet—an adjustment for those transitioning from soccer. However, there's no offsides rule in field hockey, which is a relief, even if you still can't hit anyone with your stick. Fredericksburg is a field hockey hotbed. The sport isn't played in all Virginia public high schools (there's practi- cally no presence west of Afton Mountain), and not every Division I school offers it. However, local programs are some of the best in the state, second only to the Virginia Beach area. In 2024, Chancellor High School and Fredericksburg Academy both reached state championship games, while Stafford High completed an undefeated regular season. Chancellor's head coach, Jim Larkin, is the winningest coach in Virginia high school field hockey history and could hit an unprecedented 500 wins in a few more seasons. Meanwhile, three James Monroe High School players suit- ed up for Division I teams this fall, and the school's former head coach now leads the University of Mary Washington program. Outside of Berks County, Pennsylvania—a region that pro- duced five players on the 2024 U.S. Olympic team and, incidentally, Taylor Swift—Fredericksburg is one of the most prolific areas for developing skilled field hockey players. For those looking to go beyond the Parks and Rec level, Fredericksburg offers travel programs like Typhoon Elite and High Voltage. However, they're not necessary for enjoyment or success. A season of Parks and Rec field hockey costs less than a family meal at Chick-fil-A, and Dixon Park offers a lovely walking path for parents who prefer a scenic stroll over watching every minute of practice. In the right mindset, even the sound of whistles might blend into the background, almost like birdsong. how to be

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