2025 EIMS Modified Field Hockey
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
For Parents & Players
WHO CAN PLAY MODIFIED FH
EIMS modified FH is open to any girl in grades 7 and 8.
No experience necessary. We can provide equipment.
We welcome students who are also involved in the EIMS spring musical. Each year, we work closely with players, parents and the musical director to make sure students can do both activities successfully.
SCHEDULE
Monday March 31: Our first after school team practice approx 3:15-5:15pm
Friday April 11: Our first scrimmage will be HOME at 5pm
Wednesday April 23: Our first of 11 games game will be AWAY at Webster Basket Road (turf field) at 5pm
Wednesday May 21: Our last of 11 games will be HOME at 5pm
VERY IMPORTANT! Please note that our game schedule is not yet finalized. The coaches are working with the Athletic Dept to re-schedule some games that currently present the greatest conflict with the EIMS musical (as we have MANY FH players who are in the EIMS musical). It may be 2 or more weeks until the schedule is finalized. We encourage you to check the online game schedule BEFORE you head out to each scrimmage or game to confirm the most up-to-date information.
COACHES
EIMS modified FH is coached by Coach Fischer and Coach Cooper (both of whom also coach Eastridge Varsity & JV FH)
COMMUNICATION
Coach Fischer will post a weekly update to our team web page that will provide all details needed for field hockey games and practices for the coming week.
Each Sunday, Coach Fischer will text a link to the Weekly Update to all parents of modified FH players.
You can also reach Coach Fischer via TEXT 585-233-2105 or EMAIL Tfischer@eastiron.org
EQUIPMENT
EHS FH uses a portion of our fundraising money each season to purchase good quality used FH sticks, gently worn soccer cleats & turf shoes, and extra shin guards. We do this so that players/families at the modified level do not have to incur the cost of new equipment when they are first starting out.
However, for players who wish to purchase their own equipment, this is what is needed to play field hockey:
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FIELD HOCKEY STICK
Can be borrowed for the season or you can purchase your own
Can be purchased locally at Dick’s Sporting Goods or online.
Brands we recommend include STX, Grays, TK, Osaka (though other brands are also acceptable).
A good quality middle school/high school stick should cost $80-$90 (or more).
If possible, we recommend a “composite” stick (not wood)
Make sure the stick is not labeled “INDOOR” (“indoor” sticks are thinner and lighter, and do not hold up as well when playing outdoors on turf)
CLICK HERE to see a field hockey stick buying guide
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MOUTHGUARD
Mandatory at practices and games… the school district issues every player a mouthguard for the season or you can purchase your own
Players will be issued a mouthguard from the school district at the first day of practice.
The mouthguard should be taken home and “molded” per the instructions on the packaging.
The free mouthguard issued by the school district is an inexpensive standard sport mouth guard.
If a player has braces, please check with your orthodontist to get their recommendation on a mouthguard for the season.
In recent years, we have also been recommending that — if a player wishes to purchase their own mouthguard — that they consider getting a “Shock Doctor” mouthguard. These need to be “molded” per instructions on the packaging. Players who use this type of mouthguard say that they are more durable than the school district mouthguards.
CLICK HERE for more info on Shock Doctor mouthguards
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SHIN GUARDS
Mandatory at practices and games… we can provide shin guards for all players or you can purchase your own
There are many different styles of shin guards ranging from flexible foam shin guards to rigid hard plastic shin guards.
For modified FH, we feel that the flexible foam shin guards are quite adequate.
Each year, our Lancer FH program purchases enough shin guards for anyone who needs them.
However, you are welcome to purchase your own shin guards.
Below are links for some foam options. (NOTE: Traditional soccer shin guards are not suitable for field hockey, as they do not cover enough surface area.)
CLICK HERE to see a reasonably priced hard plastic shin guard
CLICK HERE to see the foam shin guard we purchase for players
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GOGGLES
Optional… we have goggles players can borrow
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WATER BOTTLE
Mandatory
Players need to bring a water bottle to every practice and every game.
Any type of water bottle is fine.
UNIFORMS
All players will be issued a uniform from the school district:
1 pair of white socks (player keeps the socks)
1 pair navy blue socks (player keeps the socks)
1 white jersey (player returns jersey at end of season)
1 navy jersey (player returns jersey at end of season)
1 navy skirt (player returns skirt at end of season)
Home Game Uniform
White socks, white jersey and navy skirt (shin guards and mouth guard also mandatory)
Away Game Uniform
Navy socks, navy jersey and navy skirt (shin guards and mouth guard also mandatory)
Footwear
Sneakers are perfectly fine to wear for modified FH.
However, some players find it is helpful to have added traction on turf.
To get a bit more traction, players may choose to wear turf shoes or standard soccer cleats (rubber cleats only, no metal).
We have several pairs of gently used cleats that players can sort through to see if we have a pair that fits them.
Cold Weather Options
If the weather is very cold for a game, players are allowed to wear their own warm-weather gear. Options listed below:
Players can wear a long-sleeved shirt under their jersey. It is best to wear a white shirt under the white jersey and a navy blue or black long-sleeved shirt under the navy jersey.
Players can wear solid black or navy blue leggings under their skirt.
Players can wear gloves, knit headband or knit hat.
PRACTICES
Practice Timing
Practices run approximately 3:15-5:15pm Monday-Friday on any day that we do not have a game.
Practice attendance will impact playing time.
Practice Locations
If the weather is cold or snowy on our first day of practice (March 31), then our first week of practices will be held indoors at Laurelton-Pardee gym.
If the weather is warmer on March 31, then our first week of practices (and all subsequent practices) will be held outdoors at Eastridge stadium turf.
How Players Get To Practice
Players will change into practice clothes after school in an EIMS bathroom.
Players will gather in the EIMS cafeteria as a team after school for attendance.
Players will board the Athletics Shuttle bus at EIMS to be transported to practice (either Laurelton-Pardee or Eastridge stadium).
A coach will meet the players when they get off the bus.
After Practice Parent Pick-Up
Parents should plan to pick-up players between 5:15-5:30pm.
The Laurelton-Pardee pick-up area is at the school’s south entrance (adjacent to the sledding hills).
The Eastridge pick-up area is the EHS parking lot near the stadium gates.
IMPORTANT! IF NEEDED, players can also take a “grand circuit” late bus from Laurelton-Pardee or Eastridge. The bus typically departs around 5:15 or 5:30.
GAMES
Location: Home Games
All HOME games are played on Eastridge stadium turf.
Location: Away Games
Some away games will be played on the opponent school district’s high school stadium turf.
Other away games will be played on grass fields located at the middle school of the opposing team.
Weather Delays or Cancellations
Field hockey is traditionally played in all types of weather, except lightning storms.
Games very rarely get rescheduled (but it does happen occasionally).
Sometimes a game will be paused for 30-45min if a thunderstorm begins after a game has started. If possible, the game is resumed after the storm has passed.
How Players Get to Away Games
A team bus will transport players and coaches to and from all AWAY GAMES. This is how it works:
Players change into their uniforms after school at EIMS.
Players board the Athletics Shuttle bus to Eastridge.
Depending on the timing of the team bus departing from EHS, players will meet at the stadium storage area prior to boarding the team bus OR the team will meet indoors in the athletic hallway prior to boarding the team bus.
After the game, the team bus will pick-up and drop-off players at Eastridge High School (NOT at the middle school).
After all away games, parents should plan on picking up their players at Eastridge near the stadium gates.
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IMPORTANT! Please Note: For HOME GAMES, players have the option to be dropped off by parents at Eastridge stadium at the time designated by the coaches. OR, we will offer the option for players to take the EIMS Athletics Shuttle to Eastridge and wait indoors at EHS with a Coach in a “study room” until it is time to head out to the turf.
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IMPORTANT! Please Note: PERMISSION TO NOT RIDE TEAM BUS TO OR FROM AWAY GAMES… ALL FH players are expected to ride the team bus to and from AWAY games. If family circumstances necessitate that a player not ride the team bus to or from an AWAY game, a parent must email Athletic Director Mr. Vacanti at least one day IN ADVANCE to obtain permission for the player to be transported by a parent instead. Coach Cooper and Coach Fischer cannot allow a player to not ride the team bus unless Mr. Vacanti’s permission is obtained in advance. This is a school district rule.
Email: kvacanti@eastiron.org
Duration of Games
Games are usually completed in 1hr 15min (this includes the half time break).
If it is an away game, there is travel time back to Eastridge to consider as well.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Players must complete 6 team practices to be eligible to participate in a scrimmage or game.
We start counting practices on March 31.
ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
Players must maintain academic eligibility in order to participate in scrimmages and games.
CLICK HERE to learn about academic eligibility procedures
