Giddens & Hess to Represent at FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain & Netherlands 2022

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup Spain and Netherlands 2022 will start tomorrow, and although USA will not be there competing, there are two individuals of USA’s officiating staff representing the red, white and blue. Maggie Giddens (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was appointed as an umpire and Lurah Hess (Marion, Ind.) will be a technical official.

“Maggie continues to impress as she maintains her level and dedication to umpiring by being selected to the previous World Cup and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games adding the 2022 World Cup to her accomplishments,” said Steve Horgan, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Umpiring. “Always looking to learn and better her game, she also is helping to educate our up-and-coming umpires using her experience as the platform. At USA Field Hockey, we are very proud of Maggie and wish her all the best for a successful 2022 World Cup experience.”

Giddens earned her FIH Umpire Badge at the 2010 South American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and over the last decade has accumulated a lengthy resume. Internationally she officiated at the 2012 Champions Challenge I in Ireland; 2013 Junior World Cup in Germany and 2014 Champions Challenge I in Scotland; 2017 Pan American Cup in Pennsylvania; 2018 Indoor Hockey World Cup in Germany and 2018 Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup in England. She also officiated in all three seasons of the FIH Hockey Pro League and has been appointed to the 2022-23 season. More recently her more notable events include the 2019 Ready Steady Tokyo Hockey in Japan; 2019 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Domestically, Giddens has umpired at the NCAA Division I National Championship games, Big Ten Tournament Finals and Atlantic Coast Conference Final. She has also been very active umpiring locally at Big Apple Field Hockey events, in the North East Field Hockey Association adult league as well as the Junior Premier Outdoor and Indoor Leagues. 

“Lurah is one of the most dedicated and studious people in the technical official world,” commented Horgan. “We at USA Field Hockey are very proud of her accomplishments and thankful for the massive time and effort she puts in to USA Field Hockey sanctioned events as well as the education of those looking to follow in her footsteps. We all wish Lurah the best as she continues to climb the ladder of success on the World Stage.”

Hess has been a technical official, judge or tournament director for more than 10 years now. She was critical in 2017 acting as a technical official at both the men’s and women’s Pan American Cups. She has been on staff at countless international test series as well as the 2018 Wanglibao Hcokey Champions Trophy in China; 2019 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers; 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup in Pennsylvania; 2021 Pan American Challenge in Peru; 2022 Pan American Cup in Chile. Hess has also been part of all three seasons of the FIH Hockey Pro League and will be a technical official in the 2022-23 season.

USA Field Hockey wants to wish both Giddens and Hess the best of luck throughout the tournament.