This year, Loudoun County Public Schools has introduced field hockey as a varsity sport.  Susan Coren, the assistant coach of the Dominion field hockey team, shares the fundraising requirements that the sport must meet.

Q:  Why is field hockey not being funded by the county? Will it be funded by the county next year?

A:  The Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) Board finally voted in spring 2015 to recognize field hockey for the fall 2016 season. However, while the LCPS board approved the addition of varsity field hockey, it was designated as a Tier 2 sport, meaning it must be funded independently of the county’s budget. The Dominion Titan Varsity Field Hockey Team must raise all of the money required for the sport by January 1, 2017 in order to repay the county for funding the sport this fall. It is our hope that the board will approve full Tier 1 funding next year, but this can only happen if we fulfill our financial obligation to the county, demonstrating our commitment to the continued growth and success of the sport.

Q:  How much does it cost to field a team for an entire season? Do you have enough money for the entire season?

A:  The cost for the first season includes one-time equipment expenditures such as practice goals and game goals. The costs also include other equipment, uniforms, umpires, transportation and coaches’ salaries. It will cost approximately $15,000 to field a team for the entire season. We are currently actively involved in fundraising efforts and have raised about $4,000 so far.

Q:  How has the team raised money so far? Do you have anything else planned for the rest of the season?

A:  The team has raised money through ticket sales to games, through corporate donations, and we hope to have a great turnout for our Carrabba’s night [September 16^th from 5:00-6:45pm]. Other fundraisers are being planned, and recently a future Titan Mom, Cathy Reid, who is an independent consultant for Keep Collective, which is a sister company to Stella and Dot, and offers a fully customizable jewelry line, has offered us 50% of all her commission from any sale to help our team raise funds! Please use this link if interested: www.keepcollective.com/soc/m4bo8

Q:  Do field hockey team members have to pay more than the school athletic fee ($150) to play?

A:  If we do not raise all of the needed funds, then yes, the families of the players will have to divide the remaining expenses and pay more than the school athletic fee to play.

Q:  What can Dominion do to support the team?

A:  Please attend our games! Ticket sales for our home games are returned to our team so that we can put that toward the money we need to raise. Attend our fundraisers! And help us advocate to the LCPS School Board when the times comes, to be included as a Tier 1 sport. Any girls who have any interest in Field Hockey for next season, let us know and we can give you tips for the off season so you can be ready for tryouts next August! Keeping a strong tradition of Field Hockey at DHS would be a remarkable way to for DHS to support our team.