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 4-8. No field hockey experience necessary! The program runs from late August into November, with practices on Sunday mornings, and game play on Saturday mornings in the NorCal Youth League.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING
High Performance Training (offered in winter and summer) consists of three 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.
2023 SPRING CLUB
JANUARY – MAY, 2023
SPRING CLUB registration is closed.
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 DO NOT HOLD TRYOUTS for our spring club teams. 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.
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Spring Club Program Details
We divide players 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. Instead of having a “tryout” day, we will spend the first 3 weeks of practice sessions evaluating players. We will 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 mid-week practices on skills training and use Sunday practices for more scrimmaging and game play drills. We also offer other scrimmage/game play opportunities outside of the traditional tournaments.
Practice Attendance:
Players will be held accountable for attending practice to hold their status on tournament teams. Practice attendance is part of the decision-making when rostering our tournament teams.
Black Team Program:
Our Black Team program (aka our High Performance Team program) is designed for serious high school hockey players in the u16 and u19 age groups who already have a good base in fundamental hockey skills and are trying to advance to a higher level – either varsity play or to prep for college play.
Want to learn more about our Black Team Program? Please see details below.
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.
Black Team Program
Our Black Team (aka our High Performance Team) program is designed for serious high school hockey players in the u16 and u19 age groups who already have a good base in fundamental hockey skills and are trying to advance to a higher level – either varsity play or to prep for college play. Requirements include continued fitness training by each athlete and attendance at a high percentage of all practices.
PRACTICES: The Black Teams will get additional practice hours each week (beyond the standard 2 2-hour sessions). For the first 8 weeks of this season, we will offer 2 practices per week. For the last half of the season we will add a 2nd mid-week session. Details on this extra practice session will be published as they are finalized.
COACH(ES): The Black Team will be led by one or more coaches selected from our senior staff – all of whom have collegiate or higher playing experience and multiple years of coaching experience.
PLAYER COMMITMENT: We are looking for players who are excited to improve their skills and game play, who are dedicated to attending practices, who enjoy working in a small team environment, and stick skills and athleticism are always a plus. But honestly, the attitude is just as important. We want to win, we want to improve, and we want all of our players to enjoy the season with their team. This program is unique for Fly in that we demand consistent practice and tournament attendance. If you are regularly going to miss practices (for example because you are playing another school sport or have other activities that conflict with Black Team practices), then this is NOT the program for you.
COST: The Black Team player fees will be an initial $200 in addition to the regular spring club player fees. This extra fee is to cover additional practice hours (coaching and field costs.) Black Team families will be billed separately for these additional fees. The initial additional fee will be due upon acceptance of a roster spot, once player selections are final.
WANT TO TRYOUT? Email Coach Mary: mary@sanjosefly.com
Please include your name, grade, school, and highest level or play (e.g. JV, Varsity, US Olympic team, etc…)
** In order to tryout for Black Teams, players are required to complete a Spring player registration form.*
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 on our Tournaments page as soon as we receive it from organizers.
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
Spring Club fees include a reversible Fly practice jersey and a hockey ball for each player.
All players need to have their own field hockey shinguards (NOT soccer shinguards), a mouthguard and a hockey stick in order to participate in Spring Club.
STICKS:
– u12s & u14s, we have entry-level Fly custom sticks for purchase.
– Coach Anthony also sells Rage fh sticks at a nice discount
SHINGUARDS: Field hockey shinguards are required for both practices and tournament play. They are much larger and stronger than soccer shinguards. We require them for spring club play. You can purchase online or from Coach Anthony.
– Anthony will have shinguards available for purchase: approx $30 incl tax.
– These shinguards require long socks or shinguard sleeves (they do not have straps)
MOUTHGUARDS: All players will need a fh mouthguard. The mouthguard must be the moldable type, and not 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.
HOCKEY BALLS: Extra practice hockey balls are also available for purchase.
SPRING CLUB
PRACTICE SCHEDULE & LOCATIONSU14s/U12s:
Sundays: 8:00pm – 10:00am @ Los Altos HS turf field
Mid-week practices – Wednesdays:
- March 22 – May 25: 6:00pm-8:00pm @ Los Altos HS BACK turf field
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U16s:
Sundays: 8:00am – 10:00am @ Los Altos HS turf field
Mid-week practices – Wednesdays:
- March 22 – May 24: 6:00pm – 8:00pm @ Los Altos HS – stadium turf field
U19s:
Sundays: 10:00am – 12:00pm @ Los Altos HS turf field
Mid-week practices
- March 22 – May 25: Thursdays, 6:00pm-8:00pm @ Los Altos HS stadium turf field
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Black Teams (both u16s & u19s):
Sundays:
- U16 Black Team – 8:00am – 10:00am @ Los Altos HS turf field (with their regular age group)
- U16 Black Team – 10:00am – 12:00pm @ Los Altos HS turf field (with their regular age group)
Mid-week practices:
- March 22 – May 25:
All practices are 6:00-8:00pm @ Los Altos HS stadium turf field.- TUESDAYS – BOTH U16s & u19 Black Teams
This is the extra weekly practice for Black Teams only. - WEDNESDAYS – U16 Black Team (with their regular age group)
- THURSDAYS – U19 Black Team (with their regular age group)
- TUESDAYS – BOTH U16s & u19 Black Teams
- NO PRACTICE! Tuesday, March 22nd or Tuesday, April 18th (no fields available)
Spring 2023 Practice Locations
Los Altos High School
201 Almond Ave,
Los Altos, CA 94022
DETAILS:
2 outdoor artificial turf fields – 1 in the football stadium, 1 at the back of the school
PARKING
There is plenty of parking in the large student parking lot in the front of the school.
Twin Creeks Sports Complex
969 E Caribbean Dr
Sunnyvale, CA 94089
DETAILS:
outdoor artificial turf fields
Field #2 (u16s)
Field #5/8 (u12s, u14s, & u19s)
NO ENTRY CHARGE.
There is also a large snack bar in the middle of the complex.
Wear layers – it gets chilly very quickly there.
PARKING:
There is plenty of parking in the front of the complex.
2023 SUMMER FLY
2023 Summer Session Details
Days and times:
- June 5 – June 28
- Monday & Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 8:00pm
Location:
Los Altos High School – Turf/stadium field
Registration fee: $360
The registration fee is due in full before or at first session. Payment details are available on the registration confirmation page. This fee covers 16 hours of training, plus a summer clinic t-shirt or pinnie.
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Summer Fly Overview
The 2023 Fly Summer Fly Clinic training will start June 5th and will run for 4 weeks, 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. We may have a goalie coach, if we have multiple GKs sign up for the clinic.
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!
Summer Coaching Staff
Our summer 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
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 in the NorCal Youth League (held at Willow Glen HS)
(We do NOT practice or play games on Labor Day weekend.)
The 2022 Fly Fall Youth Program will start on Sunday, August 21st and run through November 13th.
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.
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!
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.
FALL COACHING STAFF:
Head Coaches: Anthony Gourley & Jote Atwal
Coach Anthony and Jote will be assisted by several other Fly coaches so that our player to coach ratio remains low.
HIGH PERFORMANCE (SMALL GROUP) TRAINING
Program Overview
2022 WINTER HIGH PERFORMANCE TRAINING SESSION REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
We offer High Performance Training in small groups during the “off seasons” – December and June for Fly Club members. Training consists of three 2-hour sessions.
This training targets a player-to-coach ratio of no more than 8-1. It is open to any experienced Fly club 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, sweeps, lifts, & aerials, hitting & shooting, 1v1 play – both attack & defense, including circle play
Goalkeeper Training is also available.
High Performance Winter Training Details:
DATES: 3 Sundays, 12/4 12/11, 12/18
TIME: 8:30 – 10:30am
COST: $150
LOCATION: Los Altos HS
201 Almond Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022
MAP
Turf field in the stadium