There are plenty of clubs out there able to accommodate newcomers to the sport of field hockey and many of these can be found by surfing the internet or contacting the governing bodies for the area in which you live. The heart of the game in the US is found within the thriving club structure and there are many clubs, of varying size and ability.

Many of these clubs operate smaller versions of field hockey such as mini-field hockey, for beginners, or indoor field hockey to build up players’ skills and fitness. Then, once you’ve mastered the basics you can move onto the full scale version of the game by joining a fully-fledged field hockey team.

Field hockey team contacts
The USA Field Hockey website has a list of useful contacts for finding a field hockey club in your area.

Finding the right field hockey kit
Getting started in field hockey is relatively inexpensive with players requiring only a few essential items of kit.

• The field hockey stick. Clearly, different lengths of stick are required for male and female field hockey players. It’s best to try a few out before buying the one that best suits your personal height. One side of the head of the field hockey stick is always entirely flat and the other side is rounded.
• The field hockey ball. Field hockey balls are easy to buy and are generally reasonably priced, made of cork and twine and covered with strong plastic. It might be an idea to get one for practicing your skills on the grass in the early days of your training.
• Protective gear. Field hockey can be a fast-paced and occasionally dangerous sport, with a hard ball often being hit with ferocious speed. It’s therefore a good idea to play safe and buy some protective gear such as shin pads and a mouth guard. They might just save your shins and teeth one day …
• If you’re planning on becoming a field hockey goalkeeper, extra kit is required such as a strong helmet and — for safety purposes — knee and shin pads, ankle pads, thick goalie gloves and stoutly protected footwear.