Club of the Week Wednesday: Main Line Field Hockey Club

On Wednesdays throughout 2021, USA Field Hockey will highlight an active club from one of the nine regions around the United States to shine a spotlight on what makes Member Clubs unique. From coast-to-coast, clubs big and small will be featured to increase awareness of field hockey across the country, and administrators and coaches will have the chance to talk about initiatives, training and favorite parts of the game. This week from Region 5 is Main Line Field Hockey Club, also known as Main Line Mayhem.
Club Name: Main Line Field Hockey Club/Main Line Mayhem
History: Main Line Field Hockey Club was founded in 2015 and was the first club born out of the “main line” of Philadelphia. The club is also commonly known by its iconic mascot, “Mayhem”, which symbolizes the mayhem the club was born in and the manner in which it thrives. It began in the fast and furious transition of owner Alex McMahan’s life from the practice of law to the practice of coaching and running a club. Today, “Mayhem” embodies the high-energy, fun, competitive and exciting environment that more than 20 coaches strive to create at practice each week for hundreds of athletes. The club has since become known as “Main Line Mayhem,” or simply, “Mayhem,” and currently hosts nearly 300 year-round travel team athletes and another 100 athletes that drop-in seasonally for skills training.
In 2019, McMahan was selected as the People’s Choice USA Field Hockey Grow the Game Award recipient for significantly impacting the growth of the sport in the Philadelphia area, and for providing multi-level competition and training opportunities to athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Accolades/Awards: Main Line Mayhem is currently ranked 28th in the U-14 Girls, 46th in the U-16 Girls and 43rd in the U-19 Girls USA Field Hockey National Club Rankings.
Below is a list of recent finishes:
2021 National Indoor Tournament

• U-10 & U-12 Co-Ed
  
  • Pool F, second place
  • Pool H, second place
    
    
• U-14 Girls
  
  • Pool G, second place
  • Pool O, second place
  • Pool P, winner
    
    
• U-19 Girls
  
  • Pool G, third place
  • Pool N, winner
  • Pool Y, second place

McMahan on Club Life:
The idea for Mayhem began when McMahan identified the need for a more holistic approach to athletic development in the greater Philadelphia area. The concept was simple, not one that just created avenues to playing at the collegiate level, but one that provided opportunities for female athletes to develop leadership skills, taught them how to compete in healthy and supportive ways that fostered life-long friendships. Additionally, McMahan sought for an enhanced way to expose athletes to coaches who serve as role models on and off the field.
Since opening its doors in 2015, Mayhem has guided 71 athletes to playing opportunities at the collegiate level, most notably sending four of Mayhem’s original athletes to Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) programs, including U.S. Rise Women’s National Team member Barbara Civitella (Duke University).
Throughout 2020 and the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mayhem remained steadfast in its commitment to connect with its athletes on and off the field. In the early stages of shutdowns, the club made a major impact on social media through its athlete-driven campaigns, #MayhematHOME Challenge, Mayhem 2020 Senior Take Overs. The club also had a very successful MAYhem Virtual Program, which provided training videos demonstrated by Mayhem alumni, daily skills and fitness assignments, and coach-led game film analyses through Zoom.
As Pennsylvania transitioned to a “green phase”, sports were allowed to resume and Mayhem took full advantage as the club launched its first-ever summer travel team program and welcomed more athletes than ever before to its fall programs. With the inexhaustible efforts of an incredible staff of more than 20 coaches, Mayhem continues to grow each season and create more and more opportunities to grow the game in the local community.
In June 2021, Mayhem will once again embody its namesake when it opens the doors to the Mayhem Athletic Center, a 17,000 square foot indoor facility in Conshohocken, Pa. that offers both indoor turf and hardcourt flooring. By moving its programming this new location, McMahan and the club are looking forward to being able to expand training and competition opportunities, offer membership events that further develop Mayhem’s community and culture, and to run in-house tournaments, leagues and recruiting showcases.
McMahan’s favorite part of being a part of the USA Field Hockey family is the playing opportunities provided to club members to travel and compete across the country. She also values the incredible support provided to club administrators.