EMPOWER CLUB

Empower Field Hockey Club provides hockey opportunities for all hockey goalkeepers and field players who reside within a 50-mile radius of the University of Delaware. Only at Empower do athletes receive the excellence you’d expect from Division I National Champion-level coaching and facilities and the understanding that comes from experience as a player, coach and parent.

Empower Field Hockey Club provides hockey opportunities for all hockey goalkeepers and field players who reside within a 50-mile radius of the University of Delaware. Only at Empower do athletes receive the excellence you’d expect from Division I National Champion-level coaching and facilities and the understanding that comes from experience as a player, coach and parent.

EMPOWER CLUB COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
Ages 10-19 Years

If you’re ready to register, click the Join Us button!

For athletes who wish to play competitively, Empower uses evaluations and tryouts to select players for its competitive program. As part of Empower’s Individual Development Program (IDP), iterative evaluations are embedded throughout the year to provide selection for specific competition teams. Empowered athletes play year-round or seasonally upon evaluation/invitation. Empower focuses on two competitive teams at each level, which ensures team and individual attention, coaching and growth, and final culminating competitions that showcase development (compete to win).

With coach recommendations, our competitive players are also encouraged to participate in Nexus, USA Field Hockey’s Olympic Development Pathway Program, designed to help players take their game to the next level and develop the next Team USA Olympians.

KEY COMPONENTS

  • Training Directed by Rolf van de Kerkhof and Jordan McKee
  • Weekly Goalkeeping specific training sessions for U8-U19 along with time practicing with their team
  • Individual and small-group training
  • Comprehensive End-of-Year Self and Coaches Evaluation
  • Recruiting Services
  • Play-to-Develop tournaments (e.g. home & local)
  • Play-to-Compete tournaments (Regional Championship & National Tournaments)
EMPOWER YEAR AT A GLANCE
Register for U19/U16/U14/U12 National Travel Team Tryouts

Tournaments and competitive events attended by Empower Field Hockey Club teams traditionally include, but are not limited to, the following local, regional and national competitions. Tournament participation is important for those athletes who wish to play collegiate field hockey. Events that are college identification opportunities are marked with an asterisk.

Fall Outdoor

(open to all age groups)

  • Empower Cup Fall Tournament at the University of Delaware (1-day)
  • Additional 1-day tournament (e.g. United Sports Pre-Thanksgiving tournament)
  • Shooting Star Thanksgiving (3-Day; Richmond, VA) -or- National Field Hockey Festival: U19/U16/U14/U12*

Spring Outdoor

(open to all age groups)

  • Shooting Star Easter and/or Jamboree (U12, U14, U16, U19)
  • Empower-hosted tournament
  • 1-day tournaments e.g. United Sports (all age groups), Mid-Atlantic (U12)
  • USA Field Hockey Regional/National Club Championships (U14, U16, U19)*

Winter Outdoor

(Compete – middle and high school; Train – all age groups)

  • NFHCA Winter Escape Showcase*
  • USAFH Sunshine Showcase (U16, U14)*

Winter Indoor

(open to all age groups; indoor recommended for U10, U12, and U14)

  • USA Field Hockey National Indoor Tournaments / Festival
  • 1-day tournaments at select locations (e.g. The Training Center, Spooky Nook, United Sports)

EMPOWER CLUB DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Ages 6 – 12 Years

If you’re ready to register, click the Join Us button!

For our younger athletes, Empower’s goal is to develop players while instilling a love of the game. (As one parent exclaimed, ”After your sessions, my girls caught the ‘hockey bug!’“). Players and families in the younger age groups have a choice of whether to participate at the competitive or development level; the development program also provides seasonal flexibility. There are no tryouts for U12 – U10 – U8 age group players in the development program, but they are asked to register so we may formally invite them to the club.

In the fall, Empower development teams participate in the area recreational league, mostly made up of PA district teams. Additionally, Empower provides about two optional tournaments or play days in the fall and winter seasons. Empower can also provide developmental indoor hockey opportunities for our development athletes.

EMPOWER YEAR AT A GLANCE
Register for U8/U10/U12 Club Program

KEY COMPONENTS

  • Training Directed by Rolf van de Kerkhof
  • Weekly practices throughout each season of the year
  • Individual and small-group training upon invitation
  • Play-to-Develop tournaments (e.g. Empower Cup, Mid Atlantic)

Development players may choose to participate in one or more of the play-to-develop tournaments below. These events allow Empower athletes to train to play against others and use the skills they learn at practice.

Fall Outdoor

  • Empower Cup Fall Tournament at the University of Delaware (1-day)
  • Additional 1-day tournament (e.g. United Sports Pre-Thanksgiving tournament)

Winter Hybrid

  • Indoor Court & Outdoor Turf (inside)

Spring Outdoor

  • Empower-hosted tournament
  • 1-day local tournaments, e.g. United Sports (all age groups), Mid-Atlantic (for U12s)