Originating in England during the Middle Ages, Field Hockey is a ten player contact sport played on turf or grass. Each player carries a right-handed stick with an arc at the bottom; and there are no left-handed sticks. The game is fast paced with much whistle blowing, but unlike other sports, there is little stoppage of play because you can continue playing after the initial whistle is blown for a penalty or rule violation.
The only player who is allowed to touch the ball with any part of their body is the goalie, so the whistle is often blown when the ball hits players’ feet and shins.
Clemson offers a club field hockey team which competes in the Southern Division of the National Field Hockey league.
“People just assume it’s like ice hockey on grass, but if anything, I would say its soccer with sticks. On top of that, when you walk around campus with your stick, people look at you like you are holding a weapon. They aren’t sure what to make of it,” recounts Kim Monturo, a freshman member of the club, when carrying her stick to practice.
According to their organization page, club field hockey provides a “competitive and un environment for women and men to play … at the collegiate level.
Jess Accardi, the team’s president, noted that she joined “the spring of my freshman year…because I mised playing field jockey and really wanted to stay active while at college plus I wanted to meet more people” She also highly recommends the team to anyone who may be interested in joining.
There are about 20 members in the club, depending on the semester, and typically 15 members at each practice. Practices are fun; the group incorporates team dinners and outings to help members feel like they are actually on a team like they may have been in high school. Each year, the team participates in two tournaments to give a competitive feel to the club.
Unfortunately, given the circumstances of the weather last fall, there was limited field space available for club sports to practice and compete this semester.The field hockey team was relocated beside the baseball field at different times each week, but that didn’t stop the team from showing up to practice. Practice times were changed from three to two days a week, and the team currently meets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Kim Monturo sums up the team in these words: “This is a team that wants you to succeed and will do anything in its power to help. It is not a huge time commitment, and really [is]just what you put into it.”
If you are interested in learning more about the club field hockey team, you can contact Jess Accardi at [email protected].
