2021 AAU Junior Olympic Games Coach Interest Form

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey is accepting applications for coaches interested in volunteering to coach U-16 girls' teams at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)Junior Olympic Gamesfrom August 2 to 5 in Houston, Texas.This opportunity will include professional development as the Junior Olympic coaches will meet and collaborate with a trained USA Field Hockey Coach Educator to optimize their on-field coaching delivery. USA Field Hockey will be selecting a maximum of six coaches, one per team, who will serve as the head coaches throughout the tournament.

AAU Junior Olympic Games Coach Interest Form - Deadline: Friday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. ET

The NCAA has given clearance for NCAA coaches, heads and assistants, to coach inUSA Field Hockey's Olympic Development Pathway programming, including Nexus and AAU Junior Olympic Games. If an interested individual needs a letter confirming NCAA eligibility to coach, contact Liz Tchou, USA Field Hockey's Senior Manager of Coaching and Performance, at ltchou@usafieldhockey.com. 

Known as the largest youth sport event in the United States, the AAU Junior Olympic Games brings together more than 12,000 athletes each year to compete in 24 sports. In the sport of field hockey, USA Field Hockey selects six teams of U-16 Girls division players to participate in the annual event. Players are selected based on their performance at the Nexus Championship, presented by Harrow Sports, held July 7 through 14 in Virginia Beach, Va.

The AAU Junior Olympic Games provides top U-16 Girls athletes the opportunity to experience an Olympic-style multi-sport competition while enjoying the camaraderie and inspiration from elite athletes in other featured sports. The 2021 AAU Junior Olympic Games will be held at the Houston Sports Park in Texas on field turf.

Interested applicants for coaching positions must be current USA Field Hockey Coach Members and ideally, a minimum of a Level 2 Certification. USA Field Hockey welcomes experienced coaches that possess a player-centric philosophy and versed on "The USA Way" and highly proficient in teaching junior high performance players in the U-16 age group. Applicants should be interested in collaborating with colleagues to provide and receive constructive feedback.

Coach Arrival:Sunday, August 1, 2021

5:30 p.m. - Coaches' dinner (informal, and not mandatory) 

7:00 p.m. - Coaches' meeting at the hotel

Competition:Monday, August 2 - Thursday, August 5 (Awards Ceremony starts at 12:50 p.m.)

Location:Houston Sports Park

Event Details:Coaches are volunteers. USA Field Hockey will cover expenses including travel, hotel and meals. Upon selection, Ryan Hickey, USA Field Hockey's Events and Club Services Manager, will work with coaches to develop specific travel and accommodations plans.

Coaches must plan to arrive on Sunday, August 1to attend a mandatory coach meeting at 7:00 p.m. at the hotel. Team practices will be facilitated at various times on Monday, August 2, starting in the morning, with competition starting that same day and concluding on the afternoon on Thursday, August 5. Practice times and competition schedules depend on team assignments. All coaches can plan to depart after theAwards Presentation to be held on Thursday, August 5 at 12:50 p.m.To apply, sign into your USA Field Hockey Membership portal and under USA Field Hockey, click onCoach Clinics & Events.

AAU Junior Olympic Games Coach Interest Form - Deadline: Friday, July 9, 7:00 p.m. ET

For logistical questions, please contact Ryan Hickey, USA Field Hockey's Events and Club Services Manager, at rhickey@usafieldhockey.com.

For questions about coaching, contact Liz Tchou, USA Field Hockey's Senior Manager of Coach Education and Learning, atltchou@usafieldhockey.com.

The deadline to submit coach applications is Friday, July 9. Coach selections will be announced by email and on USA Field Hockey's website. For more information on the AAU Junior Olympic Games,click here.

More about the Junior Olympic Games Schedule:

The AAU Junior Olympic Games field hockey competition will be held at the Houston Sports Park in Texas on a field-turf. Assuming six teams of 15 field players and two goalkeepers.  

• 6-Game Guarantee 
• Game format will be four, 15-minute quarters with a 2-minute quarter break and 6-minute halftime – 10-minute change between games 
• Practice and game on first day for all teams and half-day for final pool play and placement games on final day of the tournament