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NFHCA Broadcaster’s Guide to the Game

Jul 13, 2026

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO  — As the 2026 field hockey season approaches, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) will offer two free webinars designed to help sports information directors, broadcasters and communications professionals feel more confident behind the microphone.

The annual Field Hockey: A Broadcaster’s Guide to the Game series returns on Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12, with two sessions tailored to different experience levels. Both webinars begin at noon ET, are free to attend with advance registration, and will be recorded for later viewing on NFHCA.org.

Field Hockey 101: A Broadcaster’s Guide to the Game for Beginners on August 11 is designed for first-time broadcasters or anyone new to the sport. Participants will learn the fundamentals, including field layout, positions, terminology, skills and basic rules, providing a strong foundation for calling games throughout the season.

The following day, Field Hockey 201: A Broadcaster’s Guide to the Game builds on those fundamentals with a deeper look at game strategy, tactics, advanced skills and some of the sport’s more nuanced rules.

Both sessions will be led by Pitch Session podcast co-hosts Kirstin Gebhart and Andrew Bashuk, joined by NCAA umpire Mallory Federoff, who will provide insight into competition rules and answer questions from attendees.

In addition to the live instruction, registrants will receive access to a downloadable Field Hockey Broadcaster Digital Toolkit, a quick-reference guide created to support broadcasters throughout the season.

While the webinars are geared toward sports information directors, broadcasters and game production staff, coaches, parents, and fans looking to expand their understanding of the game are also encouraged to attend.

Register

Field Hockey 101, August 11 at 12:00 p.m. ET 

Field Hockey 201, August 12 at 12:00 p.m. ET

 

Speakers

Kirstin Gebhart
Kirstin has done just about everything there is to do in field hockey — she was a student-athlete, coach, umpire, commentator, and administrator as the Senior Director of Communications and Member Services at the NFHCA. Now she is the co-host of Pitch Session, a field hockey podcast. She’s excited to introduce the world of field hockey (and all of its quirks) to everyone on the call this fall.
 
Mallory Federoff
Current NCAA umpire and recipient of the 2021 USA Field Hockey Umpire Award, Mallory is a former Penn State field hockey All-American and current CEO of Upswing Clinics which caters to all levels of field hockey skill and interest. Mallory is here because — as a practiced collegiate and international umpire — she can be trusted to interpret the rules.
 
Andrew Bashuk
A sports administrator and marketing wiz, Andrew has filled marketing and game ops roles at multiple Division I institutions, and served as the voice of George Mason University Baseball. Now, as the co-host of Pitch Session, a field hockey podcast, he’s looking forward to helping other sports fans enjoy field hockey as much as he has.

About the NFHCA

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is the professional organization for field hockey coaches in the United States, supporting more than 1,700 coaches nationwide through education, leadership, advocacy, awards, and community-building opportunities across the sport. The mission of the NFHCA is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game.