About Futures


What is Futures?

The Futures program is the Olympic Development Program of the United States Field Hockey Association.  The United States Field Hockey Association is the National Governing Body for Field Hockey in the United States and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee.  The purpose of the Futures Program is to raise the level of hockey throughout the United States and identify talented boys and girls that might be "future" Olympic level athletes.

Futures operates monthly training sessions January through May.  The monthly training session can be either one full day or 2 half days a month depending on site availability within each Futures region.

Each of the eleven Futures regions operates different sites to accommodate as many athletes as possible.  There is a Regional Administrative and a Regional Coaching Director assigned in each region.  The responsibility of the Regional Coaching and Administrative Directors is to implement the program within their region.  The Regional Coaching and Administrative Directors work directly with the USFHA's Program Director and the Director of Player Development.


What is taught during each session?

All participants receive coaching based on a nationwide curriculum developed by the USFHA.  The curriculum is designed to improve a participant’s fundamentals and tactics, and to teach some of the advanced skills being used by Olympic level hockey players from around the world.  Each participant in the program is given a tremendous opportunity to improve their understanding of the game.

Each site is staffed by a combination of high school and college coaches.  All coaches are members of the United States Field Hockey Association and under the direction of the USA’s National Team Coach and the Director of Player Development.

What are the selection opportunities?

The program culminates with a Regional Tournament held either in late May or early June.  Top athletes are selected at the Regional tournaments to attend the National Futures Tournament held in early summer.  Selections are made at the National Tournament to various events each year.  Some of these events include the A.A.U.’s Junior Olympics, the USFHA’s B-Camp, and the United States Olympic Committee’s U.S. Olympic Festival.

Athletes participating in Futures are taking their first steps towards selection to one of several USA National Teams, including the USA Olympic Team, the National Under-21 team and the National Under-18 team.  The United States Field Hockey Association selects a National Team to represent the United States in the Olympics, the World Cup, the Pan American Games and many other international competitions.  The USFHA is also planning to select a National Under-16 team.  These teams travel the world representing the United States in international competitions.



Tuition

There is a tuition for athletes selected and invited to participate in Futures.  Athletes that advance to the National Futures Tournament, B-Camp, and Junior Olympics incur additional expenses.

For more information about the Futures Program, click here.