Club of the Week Wednesday: Warhawks 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 7 is Warhawks Field Hockey Club.
Club Name: Warhawks Field Hockey Club 
History: Since its founding in 2013, Warhawk’s vision has been to provide expert coaching and instruction to athletes while also nurturing the love of the game through life experiences, either on the pitch or off it. The club frequently offers year-round programming to help foster this vision, thanks in large part to its well-established relationship with the Howard County Recreation and Parks Department in Maryland. Currently bolstering more than 100 members, Warhawks has become a familiar team to spot at various USA Field Hockey Regional, National and Sanctioned Events over the past several years. In 2019, the club received its first USA Field Hockey National Club Ranking after its current U-16 squad finished sixth at the U-14 Girls National Club Championship.
Accolades/Awards: Warhawks is currently ranked 10th in the U-14 Girls, 41st in the U-16 Girls and unranked in the U-19 Girls USA Field Hockey National Club Rankings.

Below is a list of recent participations at USA Field Hockey National and Sanctioned Events:

2021 National Indoor Tournament

• U-10 & U-12 Co-Ed
  
  • Pool A, sixth place
  • Pool I, second place

• U-14 Girls
  
  • Pool E, fourth place
  • Pool N, second place
  • Pool T, third place
    
    
• U-16 Girls
  
  • Pool A, fifth place
  • Pool B, fourth place
    
    
• U-19 Girls
  
  • Pool K, fifth place

2020 Disney Field Hockey Showcase

• U-14 11v11: Moana Consolation Flight, runner-up
• U-16: Tinkerbell Consolation Flight, tied fifth

2020 Junior Premier Indoor League

• U-14 Girls, sixth place
• U-16 Girls, sixth place

Warhawks on Club Life:
The Central Maryland based club hosts athletes from all surrounding counties and offer premier playing opportunities, through expert-level coaching, to athletes looking to play at the club level, while foremost, ensuring sportsmanship, player development and teamwork. This is also complimented by U-19 athletes, who have committed to collegiate programs, that help coach the club’s U-10 and Pee Wee age groups.

To date, Warhawks has been proud to guide nearly two dozen athletes to play on the collegiate level, as well as Natalie Machiran, a current U.S. U-16 Women’s National Team member. The club is also proud to be sending an estimated 30 athletes between its U-12, U-14 and U-16 age groups into the Nexus program.

To help grow the game locally, Warhawks run clinics that feature U.S. Women’s National Team athletes, as well as host indoor clinic for the Howard County Recreation and Parks’ recreational indoor league, where club athletes and coaches volunteer during the fall. Later this season, the club will host the U-14, U-16 and U-19 Girls Regional Club Championship for Region 7 over Memorial Day weekend.

In 2020, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Warhawks kept athletes engaged through a virtual training program, which included videos from club coaches and members of the USWNT. They also hosted Zoom sessions that included fitness and skill assignments, as well as engaging stick trick competitions on social media. As local restrictions loosened they hosted a Back to Hockey tournament in the fall and teamed up with other local clubs to participate in weekly indoor invitational style sessions when inter-state travel was difficult or impossible logistically.

The club’s favorite part of being a member of the USA Field Hockey Family has been having the ability to build stronger relationships in Region 7, especially during the pandemic, and to offer local opportunities. Warhawks also heavily value the Regional, National and Sanctioned Event opportunities that allow club athletes to travel, compete and develop skillfully.