Details of our upcoming Provincial Program were set to be released in early January. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we do not feel that we can confidently release trial or program information at this time. It is unclear what restrictions we will be operating under, over the course of the next six months.

Therefore, we will continue to have conversations with both Field Hockey Canada and viaSport BC in an effort to determine what will actually be feasible.

We remain committed to having a clear and transparent trial process, including multiple entry points for athletes. However, our number one priority at this time is to ensure the safety of all involved with our program.

We hope to be able to provide our members with a more detailed update in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience.

Field Hockey BC is excited to announce a 6-week Technical Development program for Interior athletes from January 31st to March 7th. This program is open to athletes of all abilities and is intended to help athletes develop their technical skills. Both age groups will be coached by Ben Fecht & Dani Hennig. This program will primarily focus on acquiring skills for Passing and Receiving, focusing on key elements such as grip, ball position, preparation and execution.

This program will adhere to the current COVID-19 protocols as approved by the Provincial Health Officer, viaSport and Field Hockey BC. More information about our Responsible Return to Play Framework can be found on our website: https://fieldhockeybc.com/covid-19-response/. For more information on the Technical Development program, please access: https://fieldhockeybc.com/players/female-regional-technical-development-program/.

The deadline to register is Monday, January 25^th.

IMPORTANT: registration is limited to maintain an athlete coach ratio of 8:1 and will be on a first come-first served basis.

REGISTER HERE

U16 Age Group (Born: 2005, 2006 & 2007)

Day/Time – Sundays, 12:15 – 1:30pm
Date Range – January 31st – March 7th
Cost – $98
Location – Capital News Centre, Kelowna, BC

U18 Age Group (Born: 2003 & 2004)

Day/Time Sundays – 1:45 – 3:00pm
Date Range – January 31st – March 7th
Cost – $98
Location – Capital News Centre, Kelowna, BC

*Interested Male Athletes, please email katie@fieldhockeybritishcolumbia.com
*Interested Goalkeepers, please email katie@fieldhockeybritishcolumbia.com prior to registering, as your program details may differ

You can access the PDF version of this document here.

December 3^rd, 2020 PHO Order Interpretation

Adult Activity Suspension and Youth Program return to ‘First Stage’ Return to Responsible Play

Dear Field Hockey BC Members

On behalf of the Field Hockey BC (FHBC) Board of Directors, I am writing to provide for an important update concerning the intent and expectation of the December 3^rd, 2020 Provincial Health Office (PHO) order. The PHO order released today can be accessed at the following link:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions#sports

Shortly after the PHO order was released, Field Hockey BC attended a viaSport BC meeting to gain the clarification required in order to provide for this communique to membership. In short, the Provincial Health Office and viaSport BC is requiring the Organized Sport Sector to further limit the amount of physical interactions and travel to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

What does this mean for Field Hockey activity?

Adults (19 years old and over):

• Effective immediately, Field Hockey activity for Adults (19 years old and over) is suspended.
• Individual adults may continue to train alone (where permissible within their local community).
• High-Performance Adult athletes that are identified as Canadian Sport Institute (CSI) targeted athletes with either Field Hockey Canada (NSO) or Field Hockey BC (PSO) have an exemption to continue to participate and travel to NSO or PSO programming. Such programming is subject to ‘First Stage’ Responsible Return to Play guidelines (now requiring a 3m physical distancing protocol – up from the previous 2m protocol).

Youth (18 years old and under):

• Youth Field Hockey activity (18 years old and under) may continue BUT MUST be delivered according to ‘First Stage’ Responsible Return to Play (requiring full physical distancing protocols).
• The ‘First Stage’ Responsible Return to Play Framework requires a 2m Physical Distancing Protocol, however, the December 3^rd, 2020 PHO Order now requires (effective immediately) a 3m Physical Distancing Protocol.
• Adult coaches and safety officers are permitted to continue to lead full physical distanced youth field hockey programming.

Can one travel to access Field Hockey programming?

• Travel at this time is restricted to the local community where one resides.
• It is permissible for travel to take place to a ‘home’ club in order to access programming (for those able to participate in such programming under the PHO order).

How long is the December 3^rd, 2020 PHO order in effect?

• This order does not have a specified timeline and should be considered an indefinite order.

For further detail regarding Field Hockey’s COVID-19 response and to access the Responsible Return to Play Framework documentation, please access this information housed on the Field Hockey BC website at: https://fieldhockeybc.com/covid-19-response/. Further reference material can be found on the viaSport BC website at https://www.viasport.ca/return-sport.

It is likely that that Organized Sport Sector will experience a number of further updates around this order as we approach the New Year and Field Hockey BC will continue to provide as much clarity to our community membership as possible. Despite the restrictions imposed by this latest PHO Order, Field Hockey BC trusts that our community will remain vigilant in helping to flatten the COVID-19 curve and in doing so progressively move the collective organized sport sector towards greater freedoms for participation in 2021.

Yours in sport,

Mark Saunders
Executive Director
Field Hockey BC
December 3, 2020

Field Hockey BC (FHBC) is excited to announce the launch of a new regional Technical Development training program for 2020-2021. Following the recent review of the BC athlete pathway, it became evident that BC club community stakeholders are keen for FHBC to continue to support athlete development in the provision of a technical training program targeted, but not limited to, those who may not have access to such technical training through the club community network. In response, FHBC will be launching the new FHBC Technical Development program according to identified geographical need and in a phased approach over the course of the current 2020-21 season.

Phase One

In the first phase FHBC is targeting those regions of the province that expressed a direct need for such program support. As such, FHBC is delighted to announce that the new Technical Development Program will be offered on Vancouver Island from mid-November 2020 through March 2021 (with the potential for summer season delivery), and in the Interior from mid-January 2021 through April 2021 (also with the potential for summer season delivery).

Phase Two

In alignment with the BC athlete pathway review recommendations, FHBC is launching a club outreach initiative targeted at community clubs across the lower mainland designed to complete a lower mainland regional Technical Development program needs assessment. Following such an assessment, a phase two program plan will be developed intent on launching the Technical Development program across the lower mainland in geographically appropriate regional locations. It is expected that such a club community needs assessment will be complete by the calendar year-end allowing for program planning and initiation in the new year.

For more information regarding the BC athlete pathway review recommendations, please refer to the following link.

Technical Development Program Summary

Program Structure

Designed with flexibility of access at the core, the new Technical Development program will be offered in small program windows of four to six weeks. A coach to athlete ratio of 1:8 is to be expected with one (or two) full training sessions scheduled per week. The program may be adapted during the summer months or other times to allow for camp style delivery.

Program Design

Designed to center on technical skill progression, each program offering will focus on developmentally appropriate core technical field hockey skills and include supporting education in aspects of sport science. Sessions will be adapted to meet the needs of the athlete pool with the expectation that each program’s first session will act as an opportunity for the head coach to determine athlete need and adapt program practice plans accordingly. Programs will not only focus on the development of field player technical skills, but also offer the opportunity for goalkeepers to participate in an integrated program format or goalkeeper specific program.

Program Curricula and LTFHD Alignment

The core curricula will focus on technical skill progression, but also include aspects of sport science and specialist training. The curricula will follow the Long-Term Field Hockey Development (LTFHD) skills matrix with technical skill progression aligned to stage of development and athlete ability.

Responsible Return to Play

Until further notice, the Technical Development program will be delivered according to the Stage One Responsible Return to Play Framework. The Stage One Responsible Return to Play Framework includes a full physical distancing protocol for athletes, coaches, and safety officers.

For more information regarding the Stage One Responsible Return to Play Framework, please refer to the following link.

For detailed information on the current Technical Development Programs being offered, please access the Female or Male programs pages.

Dear Field Hockey BC Members,

As you may be aware, Field Hockey BC (FHBC) recently completed a comprehensive Provincial Athlete Pathway Review and the FHBC Board of Directors is pleased to extend an open invitation to all member clubs, organizations and leagues to meet with representatives from the Board and staff to discuss the results of the review. FHBC is excited to share information about the review process and outcomes and to answer any question you may have regarding the upcoming changes to the Provincial Athlete Pathway and FHBC athlete program model.

This engagement initiative is being led by Jennifer Taylor, FHBC Athlete Program Director, John Sacre, FHBC Head Provincial Coach and Performance Manager, and Krista Thompson, FHBC Regional Lead Coach, Vancouver Island. We are pleased to offer member clubs and leagues a flexible engagement format depending on what your organization prefers. For example, the engagement format could be an opportunity to meet with club or league officials, club or league officials AND members, and/or stakeholder families who are supporting those actively participating. FHBC will adapt the form of engagement, where feasible, to meet your organization’s needs and we will utilize technology to connect in a virtual capacity.

FHBC is currently conducting an operational review and assessment of the review’s published recommendations, which were officially approved by the FHBC Board of Directors in August 2020. This work is being done in order to quantify strategic intent in both the short and mid-term and to prepare for practical implementation. Operational planning is occurring within two distinct timeframes: the first focuses on the current 2020-21 field hockey year as a unique COVID-19 response year; the second represents a more traditional (‘new norm’ expectation) mid-term quadrennial plan (2021-2025).

If you would like for your organization to take advantage of this engagement opportunity, please contact your club administrators and ask them to reach out to Jennifer Taylor at jtaylor@fieldhockeybc.com by November 1st. Participation in this engagement initiative is completely voluntary; however, we hope your organization is able to take advantage of this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you!

Dear Field Hockey BC Members,

Please click here to access the Final Report of the Provincial Athlete Pathway Review Project. Now that the athlete pathway report has been received and approved, the next step is for FHBC to consider the report recommendations and build out an operational plan to determine areas of immediate priority and those that will be considered over time.

If you have any questions regarding the Provincial Athlete Pathway Review Project, please contact Jennifer Taylor, Athlete Program Director, via jtaylor@fieldhockeybc.com.