US Field Hockey Festival 2000

United States Field Hockey Association
A member of the United States Olympic Committee

Tradition Continues with 2000 Festival

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Field Hockey Association continues a long-standing holiday tradition Thanksgiving weekend, when the USFHA hosts its National Hockey Festival, Nov. 23-26, at the Palm Beach Polo Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The world’s largest amateur field hockey event, the 2000 Festival features 178 teams with more than 3000 athletes from 25 states in addition to international athletes from Armenia, Australia, Canada, Germany, Great Britain and The Netherlands. Teams compete for titles in five divisions including Women’s Age Group (Under 16 and Under 19), Women’s Open, Mixed and Sectional.

The Under 19 tournament is the Festival’s largest division with 120 teams in 15 pool championships, and allows prospective college athletes an opportunity to perform before a gallery of collegiate coaches gathered from some of the nation’s top programs. One of the Festival’s most competitive divisions, the Open Division features U.S. Olympians and former National Team players as well as current collegiate coaches and former all-America selections. The Polo Club will host 644 games on 25 fields during the event.

The event marks the fourth time West Palm Beach has hosted the Festival. The Polo Club and Palm Beach County Sports Commission entertained the tournament in 1996, 1998 and 1999. This year will also mark the ninth time the event has been held in Florida after Cocoa hosted the event in 1991 and ‘92 and Orlando in 1981, ‘82 and '94.

Competition runs throughout the day during the four days of the Festival with games

beginning at 8:00 am (9 am Sunday). Final games of the day are scheduled for 4:00 p.m (noon Sunday). Admission to the event is free of charge. Parking at the Polo Club is available for a $3 fee.

Originating as the National Sectional Championships and national team selection tournament in 1922, the Festival adopted its current multi-divisional format in 1981 by introducing tournaments for high school-aged players, club and open teams.

Additional information on the Festival, as well as teams, results and rosters (Nov 22) is available on the US Field Hockey Festival website at www.usfieldhockey.com/festival/