College hockey in the US: The Dutch Equation
An interview with coach with Daan Polders of The Better Athlete LLC
What are US coaches looking for in a field hockey player?
Coaches, in general, look for a player that can contribute to their program from day one. This means that players need to have good basic skills, a good understanding of the game and be physically ready for their (pre) season. This is besides, of course, being academically qualified for their college.
Is field hockey approached differently in US colleges?
The game is the same but the difference is that they have a two week pre-season training period, weight room training and the six day-a-week of field hockey during the 3/4 month season. It is important that students keep a certain minimum grade in school in order to stay qualified to play. The approach differs per program or per coach too so it is important to know this.
Do you think Dutch students have an edge over their American counterparts?
In general the Dutch players are well educated from a young age on turf. They all have good basic skills and understand the game well, which helps them tremendously. The Dutch education system is strong and that helps them to get in into American colleges. I believe there is a place for everybody but it sometimes takes some work to find this place.
How would a Dutch student benefit from playing hockey for an American college?
Besides the life time experience, the creation of an international network and friends and the language, I believe it teaches students how to balance a busy life between sports and school. Students also grow physically and mentally, which will help them in the long run.
What is college life like for an athlete? Are there more academic challenges/opportunities in the US?
During the season it is a busy life: playing and practicing for 6 days a week, taking classes, doing home work, travel, meet new people, cope with a different language and so on. Time management is key for the students. The challenges and opportunities are different for every student and differs per university but it is very rewarding in the end. And, it can be a lot of fun!
Do student athletes have a lot of scholarship opportunities? Can good athletes get a full scholarship?
Only a handful of student athletes actually receive a scholarship. There are so many potential student athletes but only so many scholarships (there is a maximum) in all the sports, not just for field hockey. Yes, full scholarships are available but it is left to the coaches’ discretion to decide how much each will be offered.
What are the benefits for students to attend a showcase such as the Go USA Field Hockey Showcase?
During the Showcase participants will receive all the necessary information to start this possible adventure. With UStudy’s educational adviser Marina Meijer, we have a lot of experience and success on the academic side of this process. Combined with my experience on the college field hockey side, we can help the potential student athletes make the search a little bit easier. Besides these information sessions, the students can show their skills during the field sessions under the eyes of college coaches who are looking for new talent. All sessions will be filmed so you have it on video too when needed. We also evaluate each player which helps them (maybe) determine where to look or not to look for field hockey and academics. The process is more complicated than people sometimes think.
But we have this knowledge, we want to share it and try to guide the participants. After the Showcase people usually follow up with Marina Meijer or me for more specific information.
The bottom line is: we try to make it as easy and as good as possible for the potential student athletes and the US coaches. This is a way to bring them together that day. This year we expect a lot of US coaches to attend the showcase due to the Hockey World Cup, which starts only a few days later.
Coach Daan Polders formerly coached at Wake Forest, Michigan State, University of Delaware and is currently with The Better Athlete LLC, which organizes individual training, clinics and camps for small groups of players to maintain quality.
