Field Hockey Ontario Provides Opportunities

Field Hockey Ontario opens up doors and provides opportunities to all involved. Umpiring provides development opportunities for past FHO athletes who still want to be involved in the sport and give back to the community that shaped them in their younger athletic careers. Madison Babineau and Nityanand Rewankar share their story of their own FHO career and how it has created opportunities for them in their own personal and professional life. Both returned to the sport to umpire and help grow the sport of Field Hockey for the future generations. 

Madison Babineau Responses:

I am 22 years old and I am from Grimsby, ON. I started playing field hockey back in 2013 in high school at Craig Kielburger Secondary School (Milton, ON). In the summer of 2014 it was my first summer playing for Team Ontario. Since beginning in 2013, I’ve played at the club, provincial, university, and international level over the years. I attended Providence College for 4 years where I played Division 1 field hockey in the NCAA while getting my B.A. in Elementary and Special Education. Due to COVID-19, I was granted another season of eligibility, so I went to Michigan State University in the fall of 2021 to compete in my final season of university field hockey. 

What has Field Hockey taught you over the years and how has it shaped you today?

Over the years, field hockey has taught me skills that I’ll use for the rest of my life such as teamwork, how to communicate with others, responsibility, gain confidence, problem solving, and so much more. These skills became useful for me as an athlete, and have now transferred over to my additional roles as a teacher, coach, and umpire. 

What opportunities has Field Hockey brought you?

Field hockey has provided me with lifelong friendships and memories that I’ll have for the rest of my life. It’s an amazing experience being able to share the field and compete with my best friends over the years at the club, provincial, university, and international level. I have been able to represent my country in indoor and outdoor field hockey and have traveled to Belarus, Spain, and various states throughout the United States. My most recent international experience was competing at the Indoor Pan American Cup in the summer of 2021 in Pennsylvania, USA, where we got silver. 

What made you decide to come back to the sport to umpire?

Umpiring provides me with the opportunity to stay involved in the sport of field hockey and give back to the community. Since I have played at various levels, I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the sport and promoting fair play through umpiring. 

What advice would you give to a younger athlete who is just starting their Field Hockey career?

My advice for young athletes starting their field hockey career would be to have fun and enjoy the ride. Make the most out of every practice and game and leave with no regrets. Cherish and create memories with your teammates, since they will be your friends for life.  

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Nityanand Rewankar Responses:

Name: Nityanand Rewankar

Hometown: Ottawa

Started to play field hockey: In Ottawa, Ontario

School field hockey: UBC

Club Field hockey: Gloucester Tigers FHC 

What has Field Hockey taught you over the years and how has it shaped you today?

Field hockey has given me good time management skills. I learned to make fewer and fewer compromises when handling school/field hockey/social life. 

What opportunities has Field Hockey brought you?

Field hockey has affected the course of my life in that I got to travel the world while representing Canada and chose my university to a large extent because of the sport.  

What made you decide to come back to the sport to umpire?

May Meltdown didn't have a Men's division but a club from Ottawa was playing regardless so I figured it would be a decent way to have some fun and earn some extra cash. I've been umpiring since I was in high school and found it to be really fun.

What advice would you give to a younger athlete who is just starting their Field Hockey career?

My advice would be to balance school and field hockey. I personally found that I did better and had more motivation in school when I was training vs. when I wasn't. Furthermore, school can bring about many more opportunities in field hockey, and field hockey can bring about many more opportunities in school/career - those that I know that are doing 'good' in life have leveraged both school and field hockey to create the best life for themselves.