USA Field Hockey Partners with NFHS to Improve Sportsmanship, Amplifying the #BenchBadBehavior Campaign

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Field Hockey has partnered with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to promote the campaign Bench Bad Behavior in field hockey. USA Field Hockey applauds the NFHS for taking the lead on this important initiative to improve sportsmanship. Together, both organizations can amplify the message and improve the field hockey experience for not just umpires, but for athletes, coaches, parents and fans as well.

“USA Field Hockey is excited to partner with the NFHS on the #BenchBadBehavior Campaign, and to provide a toolkit that everyone in field hockey can use as a reminder about the importance of sportsmanship, and of respecting coaches, umpires and opponents,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “We’ve all heard and probably witnessed terrible behavior during sporting events and it has to stop. It’s on all of us to be part of the solution. We’d like field hockey to be the safest sport to play and gold standard for sportsmanship.”

All sports, including field hockey, are facing a shortage of officials that jeopardizes games and tournaments and future growth. One of the main reasons cited is that officials have increased stress related to poor treatment. Yelling and general lack of respect takes all the fun out of officiating, and something needs to be done to curtail this inappropriate behavior. USA Field Hockey and the NFHS are calling on everyone – athletes, coaches, fans and administrators – to join this campaign and be part of the solution.

USA Field Hockey has been campaigning for improved sportsmanship with the launch of the American Development Model (ADM) and Core Values.

Now, the organization is partnering with the NFHS to launch the #BenchBadBehavior campaign, with assets specifically for the field hockey community. This toolkit includes printable PDFs of posters and flyers, email templates, PA announcement scripts, social media posts and more that clubs, schools, parks and recreational groups and other multi-sport organizations can utilize to communicate the important messaging around improved sportsmanship in field hockey.

Click here to access the USA Field Hockey #BenchBadBehavior Toolkit that is specifically for field hockey events.

Click here to access the NFHS #BenchBadBehavior Toolkit that is designed for high school sporting events.

Thank you to the NFHS for their leadership and collaboration on this important issue. The NFHS has updated their free online Sportsmanship Course and encourage all are encouraged to take it, by clicking here.

Thank you for being part of the solution and for helping to make field hockey the gold standard for sportsmanship.