The club field hockey team at Fairfield University serves as a team for student athletes who wish to play field hockey but do not want to commit to the D1 varsity level. The club has students from all grade levels with high abilities of field hockey skills. The Fairfield chapter of club field hockey is a current member of the National Field Hockey League (NFHL) which allows the team to schedule games against other schools. Some may argue that club sports aren’t as competitive as varsity sports or may not be taken seriously because certain teams do not have a coach. Given the popularity of sports at Fairfield University, it seems important to get a look as to why students have decided to participate in club sports and if the overall athletic atmosphere had any influence on their decisions to join the club. It is interesting to see why so many students decide to play sports on campus and how competitive some of the teams can be. The questions I have prepared can be beneficial fo...

During the months of October and November of 2018, I conducted ethnographic research about the Fairfield University Club Field Hockey Team. The club consists of 25 members who ideally practice twice a week and plays one or two games during the weekend. The club is proud to be a part of the National Field Hockey League (NFHL) and eligible to play games against other recognized universities. The group’s main goal is to maintain its membership in the organization for many years to come and to improve with every season. On top of that, the club team is a supportive team that is full of dedicated players looking for improvement everyday. As a member of the team, my first impression was that the environment is relaxed and the players are happy to be there. The club field hockey team at Fairfield University is a laid back, yet competitive team that competes at intense levels of field hockey. The team is extremely supportive of each other and they are a tight knit team. It took some time f...

The Fairfield University Club Field Hockey Team after their game against rival school Sacred Heart. The Stags beat the Pioneers 2-1 in a close game that was played with two thirty minute halves and a five minute halftime. Fairfield is pictured here playing the University of New Haven. The Stags were working to keep the ball out of their defensive end and ultimately score a goal. A Fairfield Club player is pictured doing a "drive hit." The drive is the most powerful hit in field hockey and can make the ball travel all the way up the field with one shot.                                                 The Fairfield Stags running back to their defensive end after a corner play. A corner is a penalty given against the defending team. It is awarded for a defensive infringement in the penalty corner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3X9SBH-2_c

Field Hockey BC , fieldhockeybc.com/about/about-field-hockey/. DePiero, Lauren. “Consider Club Sports to Provide Direction in First Year of College.” Villanovan (Villanova University) , 15 Nov. 2017, www.villanovan.com/opinion/consider-club-sports-to-provide-direction-in-first-year-of/article_365ed2c4-c9b2-11e7-bed9-db95c910256a.html.