FLY PROGRAMS
Fly Field Hockey Club offers youth field hockey programs throughout the year, including:
SPRING CLUB PROGRAM
Fly Spring Club is for girls, in 4th – 12th grade. We practice twice a week and participate in a number of local tournaments. This program runs from late January to the end of May.
SUMMER FLY
Fly Summer Clinics are for girls and boys, 3rd-12th grades. The training consists of 8 sessions in June. Summer Fly is for players of all abilities – from true beginners to advanced high school players – both field players and goalkeepers. You do NOT need to be a member of Fly FHC to attend.
FALL YOUTH PROGRAM
The Fly Fall Youth Program is for girls in grades 3-8. No field hockey experience necessary! The program runs from late August into November, with practices on Sunday mornings, and game play on Saturday mornings.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING
High Performance Training consists of four 2-hour sessions of training focused on ball handling and advanced skills. Player-to-coach ratio of 8-1 or less. Designed for all experienced Fly club players seeking intense training.
2024 SPRING CLUB
JANUARY – MAY, 2024
Program Overview
The Fly Spring Club Program runs from mid-January through Memorial Day. We offer training for girls 4th through 12th grade. We practice twice a week and participate in a number of local tournaments.
Players of all skill levels are welcome!
We are committed to offering a suitable hockey training program for all 4th-12th grade girls who want to play – all skill levels – from true beginners to varsity-level, experienced players.
Tryouts for Advanced Skills Teams – Jan 7th (& 14th if needed)
We are planning on rostering 1-2 top level/advanced teams for both the u16 and u19 age groups.
UPDATED TRYOUT DATE: We are going to hold two 3-hour Sunday tryouts for these teams on January 7th, from 8:00-11:00am. We will hold an additional tryout session on 1/14, if necessary.
Players who would like to be considered for a roster spot on our top teams in each age group should RSVP for these tryout sessions. To RSVP, please email Coach Mary, mary@sanjosefly.com. Use email subject: “Fly 2024 tryouts”
If you are not seeking consideration for inclusion in one of those teams, you do not need to tryout. Once we start training in January, we will sort players into appropriate skill groups for training and tournament play. We will have teams in each age group for both learning and advanced players, as usual.
More details…
Players are divided into U19 (11th & 12th graders), U16 (9th & 10th graders), U14 (7th & 8th graders) and U12 teams (4th, 5th & 6th graders). Our U16 and U19 teams follow the normal Fly high school training plan that we have developed over the past decade. Our U14 and U12 teams work more on fundamentals of technique, and introducing new skills and game play.
Each age group’s teams have their own set of coaches dedicated to just that age group – both at practices and tournaments. Coaches spend the first few practice sessions evaluating players. We then divide each age group into a set of teams (12-15 players each) who will practice and play together throughout the season. Each team will have a coach assigned to their team for the rest of the season. This system is intended to improve familiarity with teammates and to provide better, more focused coaching for each and every player.
Ranked Teams:
We use a team-based approach for the spring season. Teams are be skills-based in order to compete properly at the spring tournaments. Each team has their own coach for the season.
Skills & Game Training:
We focus our practices on both skills training and scrimmaging / game play drills.
Goalkeeper Training
We have a dedicated goalkeeper coach who works with goalies in all of the age groups. Goalies will get specific skills training at least once a week, and will play with teams of their skill level in the local tournaments.
Player Fees
Your player’s season fees are due in full before or at first session.
Player fees for the 2024 full club season are $950 (for all age groups).
This covers the costs for:
– all practice sessions (coaching & fields costs) for over 60 total hours of practice
– equipment and field rentals
– tournament fees for the entire season
– Fly reversible practice pinnie/bib & practice fh ball
2024 Spring Details
Practice days and times:
- January 20 – May 19, 2024
- Saturdays 8:00 – 10:00am
- Sundays 3:30 – 5:30pm
Location:
Los Altos High School – Turf/stadium field
……………………………………………………………………………………….
Team Schedules
Each age group has their own practice and tournament schedule. For more info, please visit the Practice Schedules section. We will get tournament information up as soon as we receive dates and details from organizers.
Are you ready?
Practice Info
Dates: January 20 – May 19, 2024
Days & Times:
- Saturdays 8:00 – 10:00am
- Sundays 3:30 – 5:30pm
Location: Los Altos High School
201 Almond Ave,
Los Altos, CA 94022
- MAP
- 2 outdoor artificial turf fields – 1 in the football stadium, 1 at the back of the school
- There is plenty of parking in the large student parking lot in the front of the school.
How do I figure out what field hockey age group I am in??
US Field Hockey determines a players age group based on the players birth year – not school grade.
Per US Field Hockey: “An athlete’s age on December 31 of that given year determines what age group the athlete will be in for the following year. For example if the athlete is 15 on December 31 and turn 16 on January 1 they remain in the U16 (under 16) division.”
Player Gear
For all practices & tournaments, players must wear/bring:
- a hockey stick
- shinguards
- moldable mouthguard
- cleats, running shoes or turf shoes
- practice pinnie or uniform
- a full water bottle.
Each player receives a practice pinnie and field hockey ball at check-in.
Shinguards: Field hockey shinguards are larger and stronger than soccer shinguards. We require them for spring club play. You can purchase online or from Coach Anthony. These shinguards require long socks or shinguard sleeves (they do not have straps).
Mouthguards: All players will need a moldable mouthguard and it cannot be white or clear. (Must be a visible color.) We recommend the SISU brand. It provides excellent protections, while allowing the player much easier breathing and talking. Available for purchase online.
Extra practice hockey balls are also available for purchase.
2023 SUMMER FLY
Summer Fly Overview
The 2024 Fly Summer Fly Clinic training will startthe first week of June and will run for 4 weeks, with practices 2 days per week for a total of 8 sessions.
The curriculum and player groups are designed to accommodate a variety of skill levels – whether a player is trying the sport for the first time, or honing their skills for high school or college play.
The clinics are open to any and all hockey players ages 8 to 19 – boys or girls. Participants do NOT have to be members of Fly FHC.
Coaches: Training will be led by our veteran coaching staff.
Player groupings: We divide players into training groups both by age AND skill level. This allows us to more effectively train players who are at different skill levels and have more space for all players. You will sign up for the appropriate session/level in the Registration form.
Curriculum: We follow a comprehensive curriculum arc which includes:
- Individual ball skills – through significant reps each session on the ball
- Progression through fundamental field hockey areas:
- Individual stroke skills: pushes, slaps, hits, sweeps, shooting skills
- Defensive skills (and individual attacking skills)
- Passing on the move
- Circle play – both attacking and defensive
- Corner/Specialty skills & shooting
- Game play: will include working on free hit, team attack and team defense principals through scrimmaging
Training Notes
- We will have loaner sticks available for beginner players who do not have their own stick.
- Goalkeepers must provide their won GK kit.
- Cleats or turf shoes are preferred footwear for turf fields.
- All players MUST have a mouth guard AND shin guards or they will not be allowed to play.
- Please bring plenty of water – 2 large water bottles minimum. Water is not available at all fields.
- Players should show up ready to play! We start on time!
Spring Coaching Staff
Our 2024 coaching staff will be led by Fly senior coaches and a mix of Fly alum players from collegiate programs. We try to keep the player-to-coach ratio to no more than 10-1.
FALL YOUTH PROGRAM
Overview
REGISTRATION FOR FLY FALL 2023 IS CLOSED.
The Fly Fall Youth Program is for girls in grades 3-8. No field hockey experience necessary!
The Fall Youth Program consists of 2 sessions per week – both on weekends:
1) Skills-based practices on Sunday mornings at Archbishop Mitty HS and then at Los Altos HS
2) Saturday morning games – specifics still TBD as of 8/2/23
The 2023 Fly Fall Youth Program will start on Sunday, August 20th and run through November 12th. (We do NOT practice or play games on Labor Day weekend.)
Practice sessions will focus on stick skills, ball movement and small-sided scrimmages. We group players by age and skill level and coaching is tailored to the level of each group. Younger and beginner players are always welcome! We have curriculum tailored to their skill level.
NorCal Youth League Play (Saturdays):
OVERVIEW: We participate in Saturday morning games in The NorCal Youth League – held at the turf/football field at Willow Glen HS. The League consists of co-ed youth teams from different schools and clubs who get together on Saturday mornings and play small-sided games (7v7 and 5v5 15-20 min games) against each other. The games are be scored and there is a League Champion at the end of the season. Depending on number of teams, the schedule has included at least 2 short games every Saturday.
2023 NorCal League Play Details:
We will add more information and game schedules here as we receive them from the league organizers.
Fly Teams participating:
Fly Cyan – u14s (our most experienced players)
Fly Berry – u14s (newer players)
Fly Sage – u12s (returning players)
DATES: Sept 9, 16, 23, 30, and Oct 14, 21
* No games on Oct 7 ( SATs @ Willow Glen HS that day)
TIMES: Saturdays, 8:30 – 10:30am
Players arrive at 8:00am ready to warm up!
We do not have specific game times for this Saturday, so please plan on staying the entire time.
When we get a specific game schedule from the League organizers, we will email that to you.
Players should bring/wear:
- Fly pinnie
- Black shorts
- Black socks/shinguard sleeves
- FULL water bottle
- moldable mouthguard
- shinguards
- FH stick
………………………………………
LOCATION: Willow Glen High School
Field entrance is located on Cherry Ave between Dry Creek RD & Curtner Ave.
The school address is on the complete opposite side of campus from the field.
PLAYER GUIDELINES:
- Please be at the field 30 minutes prior to your 1st game. Check in with a Fly Coach when you arrive at the field.
- Players should wear Fly pinnies, white t-shirts, black shorts and black shinguard sleeves/socks.
- Make sure to have your mouthguard, shinguards and a full water bottle.
GAME PLAY DETAILS:
- We will only play in the u14 Division this year.
- Games are 7v7.
- Abridged corners.
- Two 25 minute games reffed by a rated official and HS player. Please be patient as officials are always learning.
- No more than 3 boys on the pitch at once.
- NO PARENTS/FAMILIES ON THE PITCH – PLAYERS AND COACHES ONLY.
………………………………………
u12 Fly Aqua Team Play Dates:
** These dates are all on Sundays, in conjunction with Fly practices.
The Fly Aqua team will not play on Saturdays, except for the Hockey Gobble on 10/28.
See team rosters at the bottom of this email.
Sept 17, Oct 1 & Oct 22 – Stanford Lightning hosts Fly at Foothill College
- Practice @ LAHS from 8-10am,
- then drive to Foothill (~ 5 min drive)
- scrimmage/game play from 10:30-11:30am @ Foothill
Sept 24 – Fly will host Lightning at LAHS. (Oct 8 cancelled byLightning.)
We are working around their practice schedule, so these games will be in the middle of our practice time – which we have amended to go until 11am. Here are the details.
- Practice @ LAHS from 8-9am,
- then game play vs Lightning 9-10am,
- then more practice @ LAHS from 10-11am.
For all 5 of these play dates, the kids will play 2-20 minute games during this hour.
2023 Fall Practice Schedule:
Sunday, Aug 20
Day 1 – NEW TIME: 3:00-5:00pm @ Archbishop Mitty HS, stadium turf field.
Sunday, Aug 27 – Sunday, Sept 10
8:00-10:00am @ Archbishop Mitty HS, stadium turf field.
NO PRACTICE ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND
Sunday, Sept 17 – Sunday, Nov 12
8:00-10:00am @ Los Altos HS, stadium/football turf field.
Saturday mornings will likely also be 8:00-10:00am, but times may vary slightly depending on how our league play is structured this season. Still waiting on details from the organizers.
PRACTICE SITES:
Archbishop Mitty HS | VIEW MAP
Outdoor artificial turf field in the stadium
5000 Mitty Way, San Jose, CA 95129
Plenty of parking available in the lot next to the stadium.
Los Altos HS | VIEW MAP
Outdoor artificial turf field in the stadium
201 Almond Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022
Plenty of parking available in the lot next to the stadium.
Training Notes
- We will have loaner sticks available for use
- All players MUST have a mouth guard AND field hockey shin guards or they will not be allowed to play.
- Running shoes, turf shoes or cleats are acceptable footwear.
- Always wear your Fly pinnie to both practices and League Play days
- Please bring plenty of water to practices and League play.
- Note – Sessions are on RAIN or SHINE!
FALL COACHING STAFF:
Head Coaches: Anthony Gourley, Katherine Wesmiller & Missy Mexisell
Head coaches will be assisted by several other Fly coaches so that our player to coach ratio remains low.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING
2023 WINTER HP TRAINING REGISTRATION IS OPEN.
We offer High Performance Training in small groups during the hockey “off seasons” – December and June. Training consists of four 2-hour sessions and targets a player-to-coach ratio of no more than 8-to-1. It is open to any experienced player (4th-12th grades) who is dedicated to working hard to ramp up their individual skills. These sessions are very intense and focus on honing fundamental technique, stick handling, and advanced skills. Players are divided into skill groups for better speed of play training.
You MUST have some field hockey experience to participate in this program. It is NOT for beginners.
Each session will provide technique training and reps on a specific game skill, such as: individual dribbling/ball handling skills, passing, sweeps, lifts, & aerials, hitting & shooting, 1v1 play – both attack & defense, including circle play.
Goalkeeper Training will also available.
WINTER HP Training
High Performance Winter Training Details:
DATES: 4 Saturdays, 12/2 12/9, 12/16, 12/23
TIME: 8:00 – 10:00am
COST: $200
LOCATION: Los Altos HS
201 Almond Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022
MAP
Turf field in the stadium