FHO Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What age group do I try out for?

Field Hockey Ontario (“FHO”) teams *(see note below for further details) will use these age groups for teams in 2019:

*Note: age groups to be updated once confirmed by Field Hockey Canada for the 2020 National Championships.*

• ​Athletes born in 2001 or earlier should try out for U23 age group
• Athletes born in 2002-2004 or later should try out for U18 age group
• Athletes born in 2005 or later should try out for U15 age group
   

Q2: Can I try out for a higher age group than my age?

Yes, if want to, you can try out for a higher age group than your age. However, each athlete may only try out for one team **(see below note for further details).

Q3: How many teams can I try out for?

Each athlete may only try out for one team.

Q4: Do I have to register with the regional team in the area I live in? 

​Yes you must try out for the region you live in. Trainings will be held locally so it benefits the athlete to try out where you live. You can only try out for one team. Switching is not permitted.

Q5: What are the regions?

These regions are East, West, and Central:

Q6: Do I have to attend every trial session to be considered?

No, this is up to the coaches' discretion on each team, however, the likelihood of being selected for a team greatly increases with the number of trials you attend as your coaches will be able to see you play more.  FHO encourages all athletes to attend all tryout sessions. If you will not be able to attend any of the trial sessions it is up to you to let your coach know you will not be attending. If you cannot attend , please email your coaches with the subject ‘Missing Trials’ AND indicate which age group and region you are trying out for (i.e., Subject Heading: 'Missing Trials - U15 Girls Central').

Q7: If I can't attend all trial sessions do I have to pay the full amount?

Yes, all athletes trying out for Ontario teams have to pay the full registration fee. Please register here.

Q8: Do I have to register for FHO membership to try out for FHO?

Yes, you need to be a registered member of FHO to tryout . Please register here. If you are not affiliated with a club, please select “no club affiliation,” upon checkout, if you do not already have an FHO membership, a membership fee will be automatically applied.

Q9: Why do I need to be a registered member of FHO to try out?

All players that try out must be a registered FHO member to ensure that all athletes are covered under FHO’s insurance policy in case of injury.

Please find additional information on member benefits here: https://www.fieldhockeyontario.com/membership

Q10: What are the expected costs of playing provincially?

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More details regarding the budget will be released after selection. FHO will be working with teams to ensure that they can fundraise and make Nationals as affordable as possible.

We would love to have individuals and clubs involved in the fundraising process, and if you're interested in participating please email info@fieldhockeyontario.com with the subject ‘Fundraising for Nationals’.

Please note that this is a projection, and costs are subject to change. FHO makes every effort to ensure that Nationals is as affordable as possible.
 

Q11: Can a club enter the National Championships?

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No, only provincial organizations may enter a team into the National Championships.
 

Q12: Why are the U15 and U18 teams broken into regions?

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The report of a Field Hockey Canada (“FHC”) Competition Review in 2016, completed with provincial participation and input, and approved at the 2016 FHC AGM, recommended that the larger provinces (Ontario and BC) send regional teams to National Championships for U15 and U18 starting in 2017. FHC recommended that the larger provinces aim for 3 teams (therefore 3 regions) in each gender/age group. While doing this may 'dilute' the strength of teams from the provinces where the sport is more developed, it should provide for more meaningful competition for all provinces, thus helping to encourage participation by provinces with less developed programs.  The objective is to encourage development of the sport across the country. A national sporting organization needs strong programs and participation by a majority of provinces, and this was not happening with the former competition structure.

Note:
*As Field Hockey Canada (FHC) has transitioned from U16 and U19 age groups to U15 and U18 age groups over the last two years, the tournament regulations allow some flexibility in age restrictions. The purpose of this flexibility is to allow provinces with a low number of players to draw from a higher age group to form a full team and allow everyone to participate.

In Ontario, we generally have enough athletes to fill teams for each age group in each region.  FHO is striving to form all of our teams with the lower age groups this year because we have the athlete capacity to do so, and we want all athletes to have a fair chance next year when the U15 and U18 age groups are final.  Only in the event that a team does not have 16 athletes try out, will FHO consider the possibility of allowing those athletes born in 1994, 1999, or 2002 to play 'down'.

**In the unlikely event that the lower age group doesn't have 16 athletes, the athlete playing 'down' will only be allowed to play in the lower age group, not in both u15 and U18, or both U18, and U23.​

Have a question that wasn't answered above? Email us your question: info@fieldhockeyontario.com