SALEM — It’s no secret that the marquee sports carry rich traditions across the North Shore.
But some sports — like field hockey — are still trying to build popularity.
There are fewer youth clinics for players to be introduced to the game, there are fewer youth leagues to get them playing the game and there are fewer skills camps that get them better at the game.
Well, Salem State field hockey coach Stephanie Rouse is doing her part to try and change that a bit. Now in its third year, the Coastal Field Hockey Camp brings together field hockey players ranging from middle school to high school and teaches them the finer points of the game. The camp can also act as a warmup for the upcoming field hockey season, which begins in a couple of weeks.
“We started out doing day clinics a few years ago, and it started to morph into this bigger camp,” said Rouse. “It’s just a great way to get the girls out and playing again, whether they’re younger and just starting to learn about the game or if they’re in high school and they’re preparing for the season. Our youngest attendee is in fifth grade and our oldest in a junior in high school, so we have a good range. There aren’t a ton of youth programs for kids that age, and even programs for the older players are few and far between.”
Rouse, a Swampscott native who was named head coach of the Vikings in 2014, stressed the importance of having camps like this for smaller sports like field hockey.
“There weren’t very many opportunities for sports like field hockey when I was growing up, and it hasn’t changed much today,” Rouse said. “Then you see other newer sports like lacrosse that are growing so quickly, they’re now getting more youth programs and more camps and things like that. Our hope is that as field hockey grows, the same sort of thing will start to happen.”
The camp was a three-day affair that opened on Tuesday and wrapped up Thursday evening. Each day consisted of a three-hour camp, where activities ranged from basic fundamental drills to more game-specific strategies and advanced concepts.
“We started out with more basic fundamentals like technical skills and stick skills,” Rouse said. “But at this point, we’ve now moved on to more scrimmaging and game-like situations. It’s always good to get the basics in and work on them first, because no matter how long you’ve played, good fundamentals are key. From there, the game situations help the younger players see how they react in the moment and it helps the older players prepare for their upcoming high school seasons.”
Rouse also had a pair of helpers in the coaching department, with fellow coach Karen Atkinson and former Salem State player Danielle Hartford assisting with drills.
“They’ve been a great help for me,” Rouse said. “Karen has played and coached in various roles around the North Shore, and Danielle just finished up playing (at Salem State) after four years, so they bring a lot of experience to the table. It’s great to have them on board.”
Over the next couple of years, Rouse would like to see the camp expand. There were 25 players who attended this year’s camp, including a number of players who returned from the 2018 camp. That, Rouse says, is one of the most important things for the camp’s future.
“It’s so great to have girls come back year after year, and we had a good amount come back from last year,” said Rouse.
That positive momentum has led Rouse to consider getting more involved at the youth field hockey level eventually.
“There’s some interest there that I’ve seen, and there just aren’t that many programs out there for those who are interested,” said Rouse. “So I’ve been considering becoming a little more active at the youth level so we can give more opportunities to those who want to play.”