Alex
“Allie” Sardo has been selected to compete in the Junior Olympics for Field
Hockey this Aug. in Virginia Beach! Alex had been selected to participate
in the National Futures Championship in Virginia in June, representing MA
Region 2. There are 11 regions and a total of 4800 athletes that compete.
From this pool, USA Field Hockey and AAU Junior Olympic committee select
120 to compete in the Junior Olympics.
In
its efforts to continually raise the level of field hockey in the United
States, USA Field Hockey introduced its Olympic Development initiative -- The
Futures Program -- in 1990. Through Futures, USA Field Hockey evaluates and
identifies talented young athletes with the potential to become future Olympic
level athletes.
The
mission of the Futures Program is to regionally develop the best athletes for
the purpose of identifying talented “future” Olympic level athletes, and to
strengthen the level of field hockey throughout the United States.
The
goal of the Futures Program is to develop the Futures athletes’ skills and
understanding of the game. Skills and hockey concepts will be further
developed through repetition and ball touches. By the end of the
Futures Program, athletes will be identified for further development as well as
the overall skill level of our athletes improved
All
athletes enter the Futures Program through a trial procedure.
Only Under 16 athletes may qualify or participate in the
field hockey event of the AAU Junior Olympic Games. The Junior Olympic Games
are sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Union. USA Field Hockey is
responsible for the field hockey aspect of the event. Athletes are
selected to attend Junior Olympic Games from the National Futures Championship.
From Juniors Olympics the U-16s are further identified for the Futures
Elite program. Athletes are also identified for their potential advancement.
