Many recruits underestimate how much your personal conduct matters to the college coaches evaluating you.
Yes, the field hockey piece is important.
But that's going to be only a part of the recruiting puzzle.
Your talent might get you in the door, but it's your character that will keep you in the building.
That's why many coaches are attuned to seeing what you reveal about your character when they watch you play. Especially when things get difficult.
Hardship doesn't just develop character - it reveals it.
And if you want to be a college field hockey player, there's plenty of hardship coming your way.
So college coaches want to know how you're going to respond.
The Character Test
When you make a mistake on the field, coaches are more interested in seeing what happens next than they are in the mistake itself.
Do you:
- Throw your hands in the air?
- Stop running?
- Blame someone else?
- Or tackle back immediately?
You can't control whether your shots go in or your passes connect.
But you do control your response to those moments.
Beyond Personal Mistakes
What about when it's your teammate who makes an error?
- Do you offer support?
- Do you roll your eyes?
- Do you stay engaged?
- Do you help them reset?
Now, think of the other challenges the game throws at you, that are beyond your control.
The umpire disallowing a goal you think is perfectly legit.
Your coach deciding to substitute you earlier than you expected.
Your team losing a game you really deserved to win.
These situations reveal more about your character than any skill demonstration.
Why This Matters
If you show poor body language or behavior during a showcase when you're trying to impress, and when you know college coaches are watching, they'll start wondering.
Wondering how you might handle not getting playing time. Or how you will receive tough feedback.
Wondering whether you'll take ownership or peace out when things start getting challenging for the team.
Wondering if you'll still be willing to uphold the program's values and standards if things aren't going well for you personally.
One Thing That Works
Create your own Character Checklist. After each game or tournament, rate yourself (1-5) on how you handled:
- Personal mistakes
- Teammate errors
- Authority decisions
- Playing time
- Team challenges
Track these scores over time. They'll tell you a lot about your growth areas.
If your mom or dad likes to watch your games - and especially if they're the type who fancies themselves as a coach - you could ask them to watch out for these too.
It probably beats getting feedback you don't want from them about your shooting ability 😉
Reality Check
Skills get you noticed.
Character gets you recruited.
Every event is an opportunity to show who you are, not just what you can do.
Want my complete framework for making an impact in every moment? The Field Hockey Recruiting Playbook includes my comprehensive guide to showing character when it matters most.
