Technical skill development for athletes. Practical learning for coaches.
The Training Lab: Field Hockey Skill Academy is a six-session field hockey development program designed to improve technical proficiency and build confidence on the ball in players, while simultaneously providing coaches with practical tools they can use immediately in their own programs.
The Training Lab: Field Hockey Skill Academy combines deliberate skill development, expert coaching, and coach education to create a learning experience that benefits entire field hockey communities. This program can be run with your recreation department, club, or high school program. Every level of coach and player will benefit.
Current Registration Opportunities:
Summer 2026 — Suffield, Connecticut
➡️ Register Through Suffield Parks & Recreation
What Makes The Training Lab Skill Academy Different?
Many clinics focus on playing games.
The Training Lab Skill Academy focuses on learning skills.
Each session is built around deliberate skill development, helping athletes understand not just what to do, but how and why to do it.
Participants receive:
- High-repetition technical training
- Progressive skill challenges
- Individual feedback and correction
- Game-transfer activities
- A supportive learning environment
The result is stronger fundamentals, better decision-making, and greater confidence during competition.
A Program for Athletes and Coaches
One of the unique aspects of the Skill Academy is that coaches are welcome to learn alongside their players.
While athletes participate in training, coaches can observe:
- Skill progressions
- Teaching methods
- Coaching cues
- Correction strategies
- Practice design concepts
The goal is to help develop not only players, but also the coaches who support them.
The Six-Session Curriculum
Each 2-Hour session builds the technical skills required for one of each of the following skill categories for the sport of field hockey. Players are encouraged to explore and experiment within the parameters that the coaching staff have set forth for each skill.
- Elimination Skills
- Receiving Skills
- Goal-Scoring Skills
- Releasing Skills
- Defensive Skills
For Players:
- Players will discover how to execute each skill, begin to understand their ability to self-adjust, experiment with their haptic perception, self-correct, develop speed, accuracy, and power, and through developmentally appropriate session design, learn to execute under pressure while developing the ability to recognize the game moments when the skills are to be best-utilized.
- Players will be encouraged to experiment and try new skills while making adjustments via concurrent feedback from Coach Jess and the coaches who are on-site and learning. They will leave the sessions with an enhanced understanding of how and when to use the skills they learn in the training lab.
For Coaches:
- Coaches will discover how to teach each skill for the age group they work with most. Jess will take the coaches through a classroom session to outline different ways to teach the skills, types of progressions to challenge players, common mistakes and errors to be aware of, ways to correct errors, and learn coaching language and cues that will help players improve said skills quickly.
- On field, coaches will have an opportunity to observe delivery of the skill training, with the chance to then practice their coaching skills in a hands-on session that allows them to grow their skill acumen in conjunction with their players. Coach Jess will provide feedback and ample opportunities to discover some of the errors in action, and help coaches deliver positive corrections.
- Coaches should leave with an expanded toolkit and understanding of what to look for in the skill development of their players.
Who Hosts the Skill Academy?
The Training Lab: Skill Academy can be delivered through:
- Parks and Recreation Departments
- Youth Recreation Programs
- Middle Schools
- High Schools
- Club Programs
- Community Organizations
Every Academy follows the same structured six-session framework while allowing flexibility for local needs and participant ages.
Current Training Lab Skill Academy Locations
Summer 2026
Suffield High School (Suffield, CT)
Registration is currently open for the July & August Sessions.
➡️ Register Now
Bring the Training Lab: Skill Academy to Your Community
Interested in hosting a Skill Academy?
The Training Lab Skill Academy can be customized for your organization while maintaining the core six-session curriculum and instructional framework. This is for anyone interested in providing high-quality field hockey development opportunities for their athletes and coaches.
Complete the form below to learn more about hosting a Skill Academy in your community.
Potential hosts include:
- Recreation departments
- Schools
- Clubs
- Community organizations
Request Information:
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Building better field hockey through athlete development and coach education.