Futures – To Be or Not To Be?

I received this email today – and thought it might be a good topic – as many players who enter USFHA Futures program do not always find it a good experience.  Read on for the question and my answer.

At 07:41 AM 10/23/2009, :
Hi Bob,
One of my players was fortunate to attend the World Camp this past summer.  She is getting ready to start Futures, but didn’t like the site and didn’t want to attend it. Her parents really want her to participate, but my player was told that she should attend an Elite site.  Can you tell me what sites would be Elite around our area? Her parents are trying to convince her to stay in the program, but she did not have a good experience last year. Thank you so much!

Here is my answer:

Every region and state program may be different.  I know here in Massachusetts we do have a USFHA Futures Elite Site – actually categorized by USFHA as Level II.   In order to go to this Level II site you must be chosen the previous year from the Futures Regional Tournament (RFT) to attend National Futures Championship (NFC) in VA Beach.  Players cannot decide on their own that they will attend this site – you must earn it or be awarded.

FYI:  there is a Futures Elite Category- and this is what USFHA says about it (another selection process at a higher level): Futures Elite level is a national select group of athletes identified from the National Futures Championship to participate in additional training opportunities.  Within the Futures Elite level a top tier is identified as the Olympic Development Select.

Regardless - your player should stay in Futures.
In fact every serious field hockey player should try to join the USFHA Futures program http://www.usfieldhockey.com/futures/index_new.php
My two kids were  never thrilled with the training aspect of Futures – when they participated – HOWEVER – I believe it is necessary to be involved – at least from a political perspective – because…
1) almost every college questionnaire asks if you are in Futures  (They put a value on it)
2) many of the regional college coaches are in or around the local Futures program – player involvement can help gain them name recognition.
3) if the high school player is good enough – they can go to NFC – and this puts them on the list of the top 12% in the country – which college coaches notice.

To Recap:
Players cannot choose on their own to go to the Level II site (they must “win” a selection to the site.)
Players should attend USFHA Futures whether the training is good or not in their local  (you just gotta do it)
– and players should try their hardest during the 10 week program – Why?…

Futures criteria states that players are selected to NFC’s based on three criteria
- having attended at least 70% of Futures training
- having demonstrated at Futures training that they are top of the class in their age division (to be highlighetd at RFT)
- how they perform at the Regional Tournament (RFT)
Again, each state or region may modify the actual selection process – but essentially what happens is that players who show themselves to be the top 15-25% out of a Futures site – are then on a highlight list at the Regional Tournament (RFT).  Those that are on the highlight list are then watched (the others sorry to say are for the most part there to provide teams for the tournament) – and if the highlighted players play well or better than their peers – who they are competing against for a roster spot on the NFC team – they will hopefully be selected to NFC.

- Stick with Futures regardless of the level of training and competition – and to give it your best while there.
And work at getting chosen in the spring for the NFC team.

Bob Whitcher
World Camp USA / Sport EuroTour
Top-Skill Training ~ at home and abroad
Where is Your Game Going?