Parents Corner

This section is updated each Sunday with the upcoming week's schedule. Check TeamSnap for the latest game times, locations, and uniform colors. During the off-season (November through July), check back in August when the new season begins!

TeamSnap: teamsnap.com (schedules, availability, and team communication)

MaxPreps Standings: maxpreps.com/ca/field-hockey (league table and stats)

YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@watchtamTV (game highlights and season reviews)

Instagram: @tamfockey (follow for photos and updates)

New to Tam Field Hockey? Here's everything you need to get started:

Uniforms: Players receive a home and away uniforms but not socks! You'll need to purchase matching socks separately and also a mouthguard . Typically players bring their own shinguards and often a stick although we have spares. Players also need will need to consider matching undergarments - spanks or something similar.

TeamSnap: This is our primary communication tool. Accept your invite ASAP so you receive schedule updates, game-day details, and availability requests.

Practices: Practices are held at Tam High's turf field. Check TeamSnap for exact times, practices are combined JV and Varsity but can change day by day as we're sharing with Football and also Flag Football.

Game Days: Players should arrive 45 minutes ready to go before game time in the correct uniform color (home/blue or away/white). 

Carpooling: For away games, coordinate with other parents through TeamSnap. Some away fields include Redwood, Marin Catholic, Archie Williams, UHS, and Lick Wilmerding. Coaches are not allowed to give players lifts.

Parent involvement makes a huge difference for our program. Here are some ways you can help:

• Pasta Feeds: We host team pasta dinners before big games. Parents volunteer to cook, set up, or host at their home.

• Game-Day Support: Running the scoreboard, commentating or filming TamTV from the HawksNest, running the 'table' or 'clock' which are both a requirement, providing gameday snack and even taking photos for the team.

• Driving: Away games require parent drivers. Sign up through TeamSnap when carpooling requests go out.

• End-of-Season Banquet: Help organize the annual awards banquet and decorations

Want to relive the season or catch a game you missed? We keep a running collection of season highlights, game recaps, and team photos throughout the year.

Game Videos: Check the TamTV YouTube channel for recorded games and highlight reels. 

Photos: Parents are encouraged to take photos at games and share them with the team. We use these for the end-of-season banquet slideshow and the team Instagram page.

Does my daughter need prior field hockey experience? No. Many players start with no experience. Coaches work with all skill levels during preseason and throughout the year.

What equipment does my daughter need? A stick, shinguards and a mouthguard., although if you're not ready to committ to a stick - we have plenty of loaners. The school provides game day uniforms. Ask the coaches for stick recommendations based on position and experience level.

How do I stay informed about schedule changes? Sign up for TeamSnap. TeamSnap handles game and practice schedules.

What is the time commitment for practices and games? During the season, the team typically practices Monday through Friday after school and plays games one to two times per week. Expect a bigger time commitment during playoff season. Preseason conditioning usually starts a few weeks before the official season.

How can I get involved as a parent? There are lots of ways to help. You can volunteer for pasta feeds, drive to away games, help on game days, or pitch in for the end-of-season banquet. Check the Volunteering section above for more details, or reach out to the parent coordinator.

Skills Clinics: August 3rd through 7th, 3pm at Tam Football Field

Try-Outs: August 10th, 11th & 12th, 3pm at Tam Football Field (arrive early)

Summer Camps: Rippers, Nike, SF Hawks and Next Level camps are all great options for building skills over the summer

Post-Season Banquet - Tues Nov 3rd at The Junction

A varsity sport is a significant commitment above and beyond that of a middle-school or club sport. It can be a challenge to balance academic effort with a sport, which is why student-athletes are held in high regard.

We train 5 days a week for 1.5 to 2 hours after school. Attendance at practice is mandatory. Players should arrive 10 minutes before training starts and leave 5 minutes after it finishes.

Routine appointments, other sports, jobs, activities, and tutoring should all be scheduled around field hockey. College visits should consider the game schedule.

Player well-being comes first. No-one is rushed back from injury. Concussion protocol requires coordination with the Athletics Trainer for a full return-to-play schedule.

We are human. Of course we understand stuff happens, so we try to be flexible.

For new players, speed and athletic endurance are key indicators of success in field hockey. During try-outs, players will be expected to run a timed mile (benchmark time is 7:30) and a 100m dash. Bring running shoes and cleats.

Returning players already understand our athletic expectations and should be prepared to exceed them. Selection is competitive each year and returning players are expected to demonstrate continued growth and commitment.

In addition to building skills, the squad conditions 5 days a week until games start. This is intense, as we don't have long to build a base-level of fitness. Once we're into the regular season, we won't condition on game days or the preceding day.

Your daughter is in high school now, and part of this experience is learning to advocate for herself. If she has a question about her role, position, or playing time, we want to hear it from her, not from home. That's how she grows, and it's one of the best things about being a student-athlete.

We follow MCAL and CIF communication guidelines, which means we will not discuss playing time or positional decisions with parents. 

If your daughter has a concern, she should talk to her coach directly. We will always make time for her.

If something comes up that genuinely requires parent involvement (safety, logistics, medical), we're here. 

A few things to know before you reach out:

• We observe a 24-hour cooling-off period. If it happened at a game, sleep on it. We will not respond to messages sent within 24 hours of a game or practice.

• When we do meet, there will always be at least two coaches present, and in some cases the Athletics Director will join as well. This is standard practice and protects everyone.

• Please direct all enquiries to Ed at ed.cortis@gmail.com. Ed runs the program and oversees both squads. Robin is Head Coach of Varsity, and Iona is Head Coach of JV.