2. INTRO
• Growth of Field Hockey in the US
• Products – the different brands in the market and
what are the most popular
• Market Leaders
• A coach’s perspective
• Purchasing equipment
• Player Information
• Top Teams – Collegiate, Club
• Different associations of influence
3. FIELD HOCKEY GROWTH SINCE 2006
2011- 20,000 membership milestone
2012 – 6.8% positive increase in
membership, biggest jump in the U12
and U19 membership as well as umpire
and coach memberships
Disney Showcase
-Originated 2007 with 56 teams
-2011 –144 teams and over 2,500 athletes
-2012 –176 teams and over 2,700 athletes
Current Membership estimated – 23,000
6. SURVEY
• I created a survey online polling current players and
coaches asking about their current skill level,
perceptions on different pieces of equipment, and
equipment purchasing information.
• I reached out to different teams and ask them to
complete the survey some of the collegiate teams
include Fairfield, Colgate, SUNY New Paltz,
Skidmore, and Wake Forest. Additionally the survey
was sent out to my twitter account followers (9,580
followers) @F_hockeyprobs
• The survey has 162 respondents which includes152
Players and 10 Coaches
15. COACH PERSPECTIVE – JOACHIM
CIVICO
• Stick – relatively flexible. I go with historic
preference, which is Gryphon, but don't mind trying
new ones. The edge sticks are packed with power
and i really like them. They are more affordable too.
• Shin guards – No preference, uses TK
• Turf – Uses Adidas (not the FH ones) likes a light shoe
with protection
• Mouth guard – Ideally dentist fitted
• Ball – Kookaburra, no other ball compares
16. PURCHASING STICKS – COACH
PERSPECTIVE
• Defense – Look for power
• Forward – Recommends a more shaved head to allow
for more 3d skills and a reinforced backhand zone. Close
to a low bow of 25mm if possible
• Gets his information on purchasing sticks from watching
the world cup and seeing what the top players are using
• Top Brands? TK, Gryphon, Dita
• Now seeing a lot of grays in the world cup
• Bottom Brands – STX and Harrow , not making any
impact on the world market in his opinion
18. LONGSTRETH – 2013 PRODUCTS
• 16,300 Sticks Sold
• 8,100 Pieces of Goalie Equipment Sold
• 1,000 Pieces of Field Equipment Sold
• 6,100 Face Goggles/Masks Sold
• 105,000 Balls Sold
• 6,700 Bags Sold
19. WHERE PLAYERS GET THEIR INFO
The 24
respondents
that skipped
the question
responded
saying that
they primarily
get their
information
from coaches
20. UNMET PRODUCT NEEDS?
• After surveying coaches they agreed that the
market has all of the products necessary
21. TOP COLLEGIATE TEAMS
1. Maryland
2. Syracuse
3. North Carolina
4. Connecticut
5. Duke
6. Old Dominion
7. Virginia
8. Princeton
9. Penn State
10.Massachusetts
11.Boston College
12.Stanford
13.Wake Forest
14.Delaware
15.Louisville
16.New Hampshire
17.Northwestern
18.American
19.Iowa
20.Michigan State
22. U19 NATIONAL CLUB RANKINGS
1. WC Eagles, Pa
2. Nook Hockey, PA
3. Spirit of USA, N.J.
4. Jersey Intensity Field Hockey, N.J.
5. Xcalibur Field Hockey Club, pa
6. Focus Field Hockey, Va.
7. Rampage, Va.
8. Aim Field Hockey, M.O.
9. Windy City Field Hockey, I.L.
10.Key State Field Hockey Club, Pa.
24. CLOSING
• In conclusion I think that the stick market for Field Hockey
is pretty saturated. Most players don’t deviate from their
favorite brands and coaches at the higher level of play
only suggest/allow their players to use certain brands.
Although, companies like STX and Brine primarily sell their
product to players new to the game and at a lower
price so that market would be the best opportunity to
start. However Field Hockey does require other
equipment and because of the growth of Field Hockey
in the US over the last 6 years I believe that producing
equipment like shin guards, goggles, face masks, gloves,
etc. is something that schutt could begin to do. Most
players do not have a specific brand that they always
use for these products but a style that they prefer.
Editor's Notes
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Field-Hockey/ABOUT/CORPORATE-DOCS
Financial Reports Link
Kookaburra – “No other ball compares” Joachum Civico
-Stick I'm relatively flexible. I go with historic preference, which is Gryphon, but don't mind trying new ones. The edge sticks are packed with power and i really like them. They are more affordable too. still waiting to see whether they last though as sticks change if they change their factory. that's what happened with gryphon. they started using a factory in china instead of Pakistan and their sticks changed. they have moved back to pakistan now and they are better.
- Shin guard no preference. whatever is comfortable. i use tk. and i hate tk sticks
-Turfs i use adidas but not hockey ones. i like a lighter shoe that still has some protection. do lack real protection though. i broke a toe wearing similar shoes a few years ago. ideally I'd have a trail shoe but with more toe protection
- Mouth guards i prefer a dentist fitted one but they are expensive. i like the ones mark gave you guys as you can still speak
- Gloves no preference. i prefer an open palm and just some knuckle protection
- Goggles i'm not even going to grace this with an answer
- Ball kookaburra. no other ball compares. they are actually even a different size to those camp balls we end up getting. it changes the sport.
- Any other accessories don't need anything else
When buying a stick what are the most important qualities that you look for, for each position? in defence, more power. for forwards i tend to recommend a more shaved head to allow for more 3d skills. also a reinforced backhand zone. of course, if flicking it needs to be a bit more of a lower bows close to 25mm as possible. i just got a new Ritual stick. it's super light and lacks power but it has a really nice touch. even though it's 95% carbon
Where do you go for equipment related information? nowhere in particular. watching world cup and you see what top players are using.
What brand would you consider to be the top in the field hockey market? varies country to country. tk, gryphon, dita all been top for a long time. interesting to see so many people using grays in world cup. but loads of new brands coming up And the bottom the US brands - stx and harrow - are not making any sort of impact on the world market. i've never used one that i like.
When buying a stick what are the most important qualities that you look for, for each position? in defence, more power. for forwards i tend to recommend a more shaved head to allow for more 3d skills. also a reinforced backhand zone. of course, if flicking it needs to be a bit more of a lower bows close to 25mm as possible. i just got a new Ritual stick. it's super light and lacks power but it has a really nice touch. even though it's 95% carbon
Where do you go for equipment related information? nowhere in particular. watching world cup and you see what top players are using.
What brand would you consider to be the top in the field hockey market? varies country to country. tk, gryphon, dita all been top for a long time. interesting to see so many people using grays in world cup. but loads of new brands coming up And the bottom the US brands - stx and harrow - are not making any sort of impact on the world market. i've never used one that i like.
