Applications for the NFHCA Redwood Grant open today

The Goalie Trainer: A Passion for Entrepreneurship

If you have a goalkeeper within 100 miles of Emily Snowden’s Malvern, Pennsylvania facility you’ve probably heard of The Goalie Trainer. From the outside looking in, her success may appear to have come easily, but the road wasn’t always smooth. Two years ago, while giving private lessons in graduate school, Emily saw a need for goalkeepers to have their own dedicated space to train. Yet, when she went to rent full fields for small lessons, the math didn’t add up. Undeterred, she embarked on a new model and founded The Goalie Trainer, a beautiful facility for her to coach in, built with goalies in mind.

Now, two years on, Emily has a long waitlist of athletes eager to work with her. Emily’s success proves that there is a need for more coaches to creatively find solutions and new opportunities, especially where there are unmet needs in the club space. For Emily, it’s why she’s passionate about supporting the NFHCA’s Redwood Grant, an initiative that combines seed funding and mentorship for those looking to start or grow an existing business.

What is the Redwood Grant?

The Redwood Grant is the brainchild of the NFHCA’s Sport Development Committee. The goal is to provide better intellectual and financial support for clubs and club-adjacent businesses and nonprofit organizations. The name was inspired by redwood forests which are remarkably tall and resilient because of their wide and interconnected root system. Similarly, the Redwood Grant’s mission is to support our remarkable community through meaningful connection.

This year, two grant recipients will gain a personal mentor, have quarterly group calls with guest business speakers, and will receive up to $3,000 to help grow or start their business.

Who should apply?

The grant is for both current businesses and nonprofits as well as for individuals who need a final push to turn their idea to reality.

For members of our community who want to help grow the game, this grant is for you.

Current field hockey-focused businesses that have a plan for growth or have an idea for a new initiative can benefit from the support and funding provided by the Redwood Grant. New businesses wanting to increase connections within the field hockey community will benefit from the mentorship and guidance embedded in the grant program. This grant can also support coaches who want to grow their camp program, grassroots recreation leagues, or businesses wanting to add field hockey programming.

Redwood Grant applications open April 1, 2022. Anyone is welcome to apply, but an NFHCA membership will be required if selected. Special consideration will be given to those in new growth areas for the sport and those serving underrepresented identities.

Learn more about the Redwood Grant and apply today!

Donations to support the Redwood Grant are currently being collected. The Redwood Grant is powered entirely by the generosity of donors.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership within the sport of field hockey. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.