July - September 2024

FHBC is excited to share that the Society’s New Online FHBC Participant Registration Platform opened for 2024-25 registration at the end of August. This system is a custom build based on the principles of the previous FHBC online platform and forms the portal for BOTH FHBC and FHC participant registrations in 2024-25.

The link to register can be found on the FHBC website: https://fieldhockeybc.com/about/registration/. 

To assist the registration process, please refer to the ‘Step-by-Step Guide’ found below the registration link.

A few key items of note:

• This is a new registration page, so everyone will be setting up a NEW account for 2024-25. Log in credentials from previous seasons will not carry over. Once you create a new log in, there are options to attach previous participant info to your account.
• Please do not forget to sign the waiver forms. The step happens AFTER payment, the site should prompt you to do this, and your registration is not considered complete without this step.
• We have been receptive to feedback from the first month of the page in action, and are active in making adjustments and improvements where feasible.

FHBC looks forward to sharing more information on additional registration platform benefits in the days and weeks to come. Should Club Members or Registered Participants have questions or need assistance navigating the registration process, please do not hesitate to reach out to Julie Brereton, FHBC Member Services Coordinator at info@fieldhockeybritishcolumbia.com or 604-737-3146.

U18 National Championships

The U18 National Championships were hosted by Field Hockey BC from July 23-28 at Tamanawis Park, and it was a first and second place finish for our teams from BC!

BC Blue finished first in Pool A, with wins over Ontario White, PEI, and Nova Scotia. They then defeated Ontario Red in the semi final in a tight 3-2 game, and defeated BC White in the final 4-0 to secure the gold medals.

BC White finished first in Pool B, with wins over New Brunswick, Ontario Red, and Alberta. They then defeated PEI in a shootout in the semi final, before falling to BC Blue in the final.

Congratulations to all of the athletes on your fantastic achievements, and we thank them for representing BC so proudly on the national stage. As well thank you to all of the coaches and parents for your support, these athletes wouldn't be able to take the field without you!

Individual awards were handed out at the conclusion of the event, and we would like to recognize and congratulate the winners from our BC Teams!

The U16 National Championships were hosted by Field Hockey Alberta from August 7-11 in Calgary. It was a first and third place finishes for our girls teams from BC, and a second place finish for the boys!

BC Blue finished first in pool play, with wins over Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, PEI and BC White. They then defeated Ontario 2-0 in the final to secure the gold medals.

BC White finished third in pool play, with wins over Alberta and Quebec, a tie with Ontario, and losses to PEI and BC Blue. They then defeated Alberta in third place match to secure the bronze medals.

The BC Boys finished first in pool play, which was a double round robin. They had two wins over Alberta, and a win and a tie against Quebec. They then were defeated by Quebec 5-2 in the final to take home the silver medals.

Congratulations to all of the athletes on your fantastic achievements, and we thank them for representing BC so proudly on the national stage. As well thank you to all of the coaches and parents for your support, these athletes wouldn't be able to take the field without you!

Individual awards were handed out at the conclusion of the event, and we would like to recognize and congratulate the winners from our BC Teams!

Girls Top Goal Scorer: Puneet Litt (BC Blue)

Photo Credit: FHC

Photo Credit: FHC

Junior Pan American Championships

Photo credits: Field Hockey Canada

A massive thank you goes out to the local clubs and volunteers that stepped up to help make this event possible. A lot of things need to go on behind the scenes to make an event this size run smoothly, and we cannot thank the community enough for showing up at the field and supporting the teams.

Field Hockey BC's role at the event was specific to supporting the technical officials, including having the technical table set up and ready to go for the officials, and keeping the field watered and playing in top shape. Which proved to be a major undertaking given the early July heatwave. Thank you to Brenda Rushton, Madge Johnson, and Sue Demuynck for helping out our FHBC staff members filling shifts at the field. As well thank you to current FHBC Board Member Narinder Sangha for being on standby all week and helping us with any watering issues that came up.

Photo Credit: PAHF

And finally, congratulations goes out to the BC Officials appointed to the event:

• Katie Jameson - Technical Official (pictured above - front row, third from left)
• Alan Waterman - Umpire Manager (pictured above - back row, first from right)
• Nora Struchtrup - Umpire (pictured above - back row, second from left)
• Ali Baggott - Media Officer

Both Katie and Nora received appointments to medal matches on the final day, amazing accomplishments for both at their first international events.  Katie was appointed as Technical Officer for the ARG vs USA women's final, as well as the Timing Official for the USA vs CHI men's bronze medal match. Nora was the Video Umpire for both the ARG vs USA women's final and the URU vs CHI bronze medal match.

FHBC is pleased to announce the scheduling of an Umpire Provincial Course in early October. All scheduled courses will be operated & instructed by appointed course conductors. These Provincial Courses are open only to FHBC Members. The course can be accessed through the Courses tab from your (https://www.fieldhockeybc.ca/) dashboard.

Please note: Expired umpires must retake the course as well as a part of the recertification process! Please check your certification expiration year on the FHBC website.

We encourage as many umpires to explore the opportunity of progressing to Provincial certification, as there are many opportunities when event season begins.

Provincial Course (Zoom - Online)

Oct 1st & 3rd : 6:00 - 9:00 pm

Course Conductor: Chris Wilson

Fee: FHBC $60 + FHC fee $10 = $70

Registration Deadline: Sept 30th, 2024

*Must have taken the Community online course prior. Must be at least 14 years of age. Maximum 12 participants*

If you have any questions, or have issues registering, please contact Shaquille at eventsandofficials@fieldhockeybritishcolumbia.com

Attention all certified umpires!!! Field Hockey BC has jackets available for purchase. This breathable/waterproof jacket is produced with a hydrostatic pressure rating of 5000mm. The Jacket’s protection is generally estimated to be 1000mm per hour, perfect for the wet days at the field.

Pricing: $140

Delivery options:

-Free pick up at FHBC Office

-Shipping provided for a $15 flat fee

-Local FHBC drop-off may be feasable depending on location or if multiple orders are placed in the same area

For more information and to place your order, please contact Shaquille at eventsandofficials@fieldhockeybritishcolumbia.com

*Must have an up-to-date umpire certification for purchase - Community level or above*

Field Hockey BC is seeking nominations to fill 3 vacant positions on our 9-member Board of Directors. This is an exciting opportunity to help guide the strategic direction and policy oversight for our sport in British Columbia. Nominations will be accepted until November 15th, 2024.

Board Responsibilities:

The FHBC Board of Directors is responsible for setting the strategic vision, developing policies, and providing governance oversight for the organization. Recent priorities have included:

• Completing an independent organizational review

• Passing new Society bylaws

• Developing a new Strategic Plan through 2028

• Reviewing and updating policies to align with strategic priorities

New Board Structure:

Under our new bylaws, Board members will no longer have individualized sport portfolios. Instead, Directors form ad hoc committees and working groups to oversee key projects and governance duties. The Board also annually elects Officers (President, Vice-President, Finance Director).

Skills & Experience Sought:

FHBC is looking for candidates with experience in areas such as:

• Non-profit governance

• Sports organization governance

• Financial accounting/qualifications

• Policy development and oversight

• Communications and media leadership

• Legal services background

While not required, some familiarity with field hockey would be beneficial for getting up to speed quickly.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to serve as a Director, an individual must:

a) Be sixteen (16) years of age or older;

b) Not convicted of criminal offenses described in Section 44 of the Act;

c) Not be a full time employee of the Society and/or a Member, or a Director of a Member;

d) Have not been declared incapable by a court in Canada or in another country; and

e) Not have the status of bankrupt.

Candidates do not have to be Registered Participants (ie. a member of a field hockey club) to be eligible to stand for election as a Director. 

Nomination Process:

If you or someone you know is interested in being considered for one of the three open Board positions, please submit a brief bio highlighting relevant experience to gcaldecott@hotmail.com by November 15th, 2024. However, please note that positions are eligible to be filled at any time leading up the deadline. 

We look forward to adding new perspectives to our Board to help guide Field Hockey BC into the future. Thank you for your support of our sport.

Sincerely,

Gavin Caldecott

Vice-President, Field Hockey BC

Congratulations to Maia Lawrence, winner of the Dave Gifford Memorial Scholarship Award from BC School Sports as the top female student-athlete in the province.

Maia was a member of our Provincial U18 BC White team, which won a silver medal at the recent National Championships. Fantastic to see her competing at such a high level in field hockey, while balancing being a multi-sport athlete and excelling academically.

Please contact Chelsie Goodchild at burnabybears@gmail.com for any inquiries or applications.

Racing to Zero is a nonprofit sport and sustainability consultancy working to advance environmental sustainability in sports. As part of their commitment, they are currently seeking insights from grassroots sports clubs across British Columbia to understand their perspectives on sustainability and the challenges they face. These insights will help them create resources and initiatives tailored to their needs.

As such, please see the below link to a short 5 minute survey that has been created to ensure they obtain comprehensive data that truly reflects the needs of sports clubs across the province.

Please see this video for more information about Racing to Zero and what they do.

If you have any questions in relation to Racing to Zero or this survey, please reach out to Oliver Scholfield @ oliver@racingtozero.ca. Oliver retired from the Canadian Men's National Team in April 2024 with over 100 international appearances for our country. He was recently named a finalist for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Awards.

KidSport

KidSport provides financial assistance for children 18 and younger from families facing financial obstacles to participate in organized sport #SoALLKidsCanPlay. Visit kidsport.ca and find your local Chapter for details on eligibility and how to help this project.

In 2021, the KidSport BC program distributed $1.3 million in funding to help 4,164 children participate in 45 different sports in 132 communities across the province, including field hockey participants. Help support KidSport and, if you are in need of assistance, reach out to your local Chapter!

Field Hockey BC Society & Field Hockey BC Foundation

The Field Hockey BC Society is the Provincial Sports Organization (PSO) dedicated to supporting and developing field hockey in BC. Your donation will support FHBC's commitment to delivering its five main service pillars - Athlete Development, Coach Development, Officials Development, Event Hosting and Volunteer Recognition. Donate to the Society here.

The Field Hockey BC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Registered Society 'Field Hockey BC' and is managed by the FHBC Board of Directors. The Field Hockey BC Foundation is a leading example of the Society's commitment to the sustainable development of the sport across the province. Tax Receipts are available for donations to the Foundation, and donors have the opportunity to create their own Legacy Fund or donate to an existing program. Donate to the Foundation here.