Welcome to Futures Region 9
Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana and Pittsburgh,Pa.
Futures Mission: To raise the level of hockey throughout the United States and identify talented players that might be "Future" Olympic level athletes.
This is where all of your Futures Region 9 questions are answered. To the left you will find the relevant links which contain information relating to various aspects of your futures training sessions. Make sure that you check the region 9 website pages frequently for updates regarding site locations, practice dates, practice times, Site Directors, Coaches, site directions, and Regional Tournament info. If your questions or concerns are not answered by these pages, feel free to contact me at suecga1@acninc.net
Regional Administrative Director - Susan Castro
FuturesAdminDirectorR9@usafieldhockey.com
614.562.7841
Regional Coaching Director - Helen Knull
futurescoachdirectorR9@usafieldhockey.com
517.410.8739
National Contact:
USA Field Hockey National Office
Futures Program
719-866-4567 (mountain time)
futures@usafieldhockey.com
Training schedules for Futures 2010 will be emailed to all athletes. If you have any questions, contact us.
TO DETERMINE YOUR AGE GROUP FOR FUTURES:
Take your age on January 1, 2010.
If you are 13 or under on January 1, 2010, then you are in the U14 age group.
If you are 14 or 15 on January 1, 2010, then you are in the U16 age group.
If you are 16 or older on January 1, 2010, then you are in the U19 age group.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE FIRST TRAINING SESSION
Please make sure to bring the following completed forms:
1. Medical Form
You have already completed this online. Go to your member login and
download a copy and BRING IT TO YOUR FIRST SESSION. You CANNOT participate without a completely filled in and signed medical form.
Also bring with you all equipment for sessions as well as water, snack or lunch depending on how long the training session is.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Futures Attendance Policy MANDATORY for 2010!
USA Field Hockey and its Futures Program will once again mandate attendance in order to be eligible for selection to the National Futures Championships. For 2010, a mandatory 70% attendance requirement is in place.
Futures stresses the importance of an athlete attending all scheduled sessions and athletes are required to attend Futures sessions at the site which they are assigned. Athletes may NOT switch sites. Athletes attending 50% or less of the ten Futures sessions will not receive an invitation for the following year.
Emergencies and extenuating circumstances will be dealt with on an individual basis. Inquiries should be addressed to the Regional Administrative Director and the Regional Coaching Director who will provide a final determination.
There exist a few excused absences including:
1) One indoor qualifier (December - February)
2) Disney Showcase (February)
3) National Indoor Tournament (March)
4) Participation in alternative High Performance Training program/event
The dates of the qualifier, Disney Showcase and/or NIT are excused absences only if the date conflicts with your Futures session. These events cannot be used as a makeup session. Excused absences can be made up but are not necessary to show for the 70% required attendance. Attendance forms must be signed by the Tournament Director and returned to your assigned Site Director.
MAKE UP SESSION POLICY
Futures is a talent identification program and is structured to build on skills and tactics as the athlete progress through each session. Athletes are evaluated throughout the Futures sessions leading up to the Futures Regional Tournament. We do realize athletes involved in Futures are also involved in many field hockey activities and high school sponsored athletic teams and cross involvement in other sports can be beneficial.
The Futures Development Program is designed to be covered in ten sessions. Due to the uniqueness of regions, and sites within each region, the site may cover two sessions in one day or the site may have one session a day but meet twice a month. Athletes can have a maximum of two make up sessions.
An athlete may attend make up session(s) at another site if available and will need to coordinate make up sessions through the respective Site Directors. The size of the facility, number of athletes, and age group of the athletes assigned to that site may impact the ability to schedule a make-up session. Athletes should consult with the Site Director of the site where they would like to make up a session and ask permission to attend. Please be advised that Level 2 athletes may not make up sessions at a Level 1 site and, as much as possible, make up sessions should be age-group appropriate.
You will need to confirm with your own Site Director the make-up session. Make sure you take an attendance form to be signed by the Head Coach of the site you are attending for a make-up session. Check in with the Site Director at your make-up site.
CANCELLATION PROCEDURE INFORMATION
In the event that we need to cancel a training session due to weather, we will post the cancellation information on our web page by 11PM the night prior to the session and we will email the athletes at the site. Please always check your email prior to leaving your home for the site. Also, please do use your own judgment in regards to safe traveling, we can always arrange for you to do a make up if you feel that traveling is unsafe.
2010 WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY
Withdrawal and Refund Policy
If a player withdraws from the 2010 Futures Program before January 1, 2010 (postmarked) all but $75.00 will be refunded. A player withdrawing from the program after January 1, 2010 will be refunded $50 per 6-hour session and $25 per 3-hour session of unattended sessions until April 24, 2010. NO refund requests will be accepted after April 24th.
Refunds will only be made for valid complete withdrawal from the program and are at the discretion of USA Field Hockey. No refunds will be made for missed sessions including date and location changes. NOTE: No refund requests will be considered if postmarked after April 24, 2010. All refund requests must be in writing and emailed to Futures@usafieldhockey.com or mailed to:
USA Field Hockey
Futures Program
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
MEDICAL RELEASE POLICY
If an athlete is injured and unable to participate in Futures the athlete may withdrawal per the withdrawal policy. If an athlete stops participating due to the injury, does not officially withdrawal, and attendance falls below the required 50% to be invited the following year, the athlete must provide USA Field Hockey written notification (email or letter) of the injury prior to the end of the Futures year the injury occurred.
All medical excuses must be received the Futures year the injury occurred. Medical excuses received during the following year registration period will not be accepted.
Athletes withdrawing due to injury and who provide signed medical documentation by the residing medical group caring for the injured athlete are eligible to enter the Futures Program the following year. Those withdrawing without medical documentation, or for a reason other than injury, will not receive an automatic invitation back into the program. The athletes must go through the trial procedures to re-enter the program the following year.
FINANCIAL AID POLICY
Applications will be available on the main Futures pages of this website on
October 12, 2009
There exists a limited amount of financial aid available to participants in the Futures program. In order to be considered for financial aid, interested participants must complete the Financial Aid application and return it and accompanying materials to USA Field Hockey no later than November 11, 2009 (postmarked). Application and supporting materials should be mailed to:
USA Field Hockey
Attn: David Miler
Futures Financial Aid
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Applications will be reviewed and determinations regarding the amount of, if any, financial aid awarded will be communicated to applicants no later than December 7, 2009.