Coaching Staff
Varsity Head Coach: Jamie Gerhartz [email protected]
Varsity Assistant Coach: Maragret Power [email protected]
Junior Varsity Co-head Coach: Angela Williams [email protected]
Junior Varsity Co-head Coach: Kelsey Moran [email protected]
Season Goals
-We are here to compete at a high level and achieve both individual and team success.
-We hope to provide our athletes with the opportunity to reap the many scientifically proven benefits of athletic competition in the team setting that will positively impact them in multiple areas throughout their lives: teamwork, communication, emotional intelligence, perseverance, work ethic, empathy, physical fitness, and etc.
-Being a part of this team is fun! We coaches are grateful for the opportunity to be out on the field with our athletes, working together to achieve our greatest potential! We strive to engender a supportive environment in which our athletes can challenge themselves while creating lifelong memories!
Basic Information
-Tryouts will be August 4th-6th, 2:30-4:30. Teams will be assigned on August 6th at the end of the final tryout.
-Varsity and JV teams will practice daily, Monday through Friday, on all days except game days.
-Varsity will practice on most days from 3:00-5:00pm, JV from 3:30-5:30pm on the turf field between Brentsville District HS and The Nokesville School.
-In the event of inclement weather, practice time may change on the day of to accommodate an indoor practice. These changes will be communicated in the Band app as soon as possible. Players should bring sneakers, a sock, and a rubber band/hair band (to cover their stick) in case of indoor practice, daily or store them in their sports lockers.
-Regular season will be August 7th-October 23rd, and varsity post season will be October 24th-November 15th (state finals 11/15- our team end date is pending based on qualification).
Equipment
-Required equipment for field players includes field hockey shin guards, a fitted mouth guard, appropriate footwear, and a legal stick.
-Required equipment for goalies will be provided. Goalies are responsible for this equipment during the season and will be accountable for the price of equipment if not returned to the program in a timely fashion at the close of the season.
-Players should bring all equipment to safely participate in field hockey to all practices, scrimmages, and games. Those who do not have the appropriate gear may not participate, and it will be considered an unexcused absence.
-Players may also choose to wear goggles, undergarments matching the color of their jerseys and skirts (white for away games, orange/black for home games), gloves, and soft braces. Please contact the coaches with any questions about other braces/safety equipment.
-Players will be provided with two jerseys (one home, one away) and two skirts (one home, one away). Players will be required to purchase one jersey to be worn at our Play for a Cure game on October 2nd, which they will then keep. Everyone will be required to purchase three sets of game socks (one home, one away, one for PfaC game 10/2). These are required for participation in competitions. The jerseys and skirts are property of BDHS and must be returned at the end of the season. Any jerseys and/or skirts that are not returned will require compensation.
-Players are required to purchase practice pinnies and should bring them to each practice. Players are also required to have a warm up sweatshirt, which should be brought to each game.
-Players will be provided access to sports lockers to store their equipment if desired. They will be able to access these lockers before and after school but not during the school day. They will also be able to access these lockers on non-school days before and after practice.
-If you have concerns about purchasing any required equipment, please reach out individually to the coaches. We never want the inability to fund required equipment to prevent an athlete from playing, and we have options to help resolve any difficulties!
Communication
-Scheduling updates and other pertinent information will be communicated via the Band application as soon as possible. Access to this app is the best way to receive up-to-date information about team activities and practice changes.
-Coaches may be contacted via Band or via email. Please allow 24 business hours to receive a response. Please reach out using one of these methods to schedule a phone call or in-person meeting.
-Please do not attempt to converse with coaches about concerns immediately prior to, during, or after practices or competitions. Instead, reach out via Band or email to schedule a time when coaches will be able to devote the appropriate time and consideration to address your concerns.
-Please reach out to coaches and the Brentsville athletic trainer, as soon as possible if you are concerned that your child may have an injury or illness that may affect her ability to participate in practice or competition. You should first reach out to an appropriate medical professional if appropriate. Coaches are not medically trained and will defer to the trainer or medical professional to determine your player’s ability to play.
Attendance
-Players are expected to be present at all practices and games on time and properly equipped. This means that they are on the field, ready to begin play at the start time (not walking to the field, on the side-line putting on equipment, or using the restroom).
-Acceptable reasons to miss practice include illness, tutoring or working with a teacher, after school Brentsville clubs, medical appointments, and family emergencies. When working with a teacher, the player is expected to provide a written pass or email from the teacher that states the time during which the athlete was with the teacher.
-Athletes or parents should contact coaches in writing, either in the Band app or via email, prior to an absence.
-Reasons for missing practice or games that are not acceptable are participation in practices etc. for other teams, including Brentsville teams, social events, or vacation (during season).
-Students who are present for less than half of the school day are not allowed to participate in athletic activities that day.
-Absences, even excused, may affect playing time; repeated absences will be addressed individually at the discretion of the coaches. Consequences for habitual unexcused absences include loss of playing time, inability to dress for competitions, and dismissal from the team.
-Varsity players must participate in at least 20 practices and dress for at least 9/11 varsity games to earn a letter. The Justice Tournament does not count towards this total.
Behavior
-Practices are a vital part of our season and to our teams’ success in competition. During practices, players must focus on field hockey, listen to coaches’ feedback, and follow directions. They should not be talking over their coaches or teammates, having unrelated side conversations during drills or team talks, complain about difficult/nonpreferred activities, or etc.
-Players who repeatedly disrupt practice or other team activities will be warned and then asked to leave for the day. Continuing disruptions will be addressed individually at the discretion of the coaches.
-Players are expected to conduct themselves with a high level of sportsmanship at all times when representing Brentsville Field Hockey, including all team activities, in the community, and online; social media/public comments should be positive toward team, teammates, coaches, school, opponents, fans, and officials.
-Players are expected to engage in positive interactions with their teammates both on and off the field. This means that they avoid criticizing, coaching, mocking, and engaging in arguments with teammates. If conflict arises, players are expected to reach out to their coaches or another trusted adult to help mediate the issue and come to a productive resolution if needed.
-Players who continually do not meet behavioral expectations will be asked to participate in a meeting with the coaches, their parents/legal guardians, and possibly the athletic director to determine corrective actions or consequences. Consequences include loss of playing time, inability to dress for competitions, and dismissal from the team.