BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) High School All-American Committee moved last week to establish the 2020-2021 High School IMPACT Senior Team to recognize members of the graduating class of 2021 whose senior seasons may have been impacted by COVID-19. The committee created the award to honor the entirety of senior student-athletes’ careers and particularly recognize an individual’s accomplishments on and off the pitch, distinguished leadership, and team achievement.
Student-athletes must meet three of five character criteria — covering items like community service and leadership roles — and five of ten athletic criteria to be eligible for recognition.
For the 2020-2021 season, the IMPACT Senior Team will operate in place of the NFHCA All-Region/All-American teams. After several meetings, the High School All-American Committee collectively agreed that it would be nearly impossible to select appropriately representative High School All-Region and All-American teams given the variance of high school seasons across the country and within regions. The NFHCA is looking forward honoring senior student-athletes for their outstanding achievements throughout their high school careers, on and off the field hockey pitch.
The nomination form for the High School IMPACT Senior Team is now open, any paid high school head coach member may submit a form for their senior(s) or post-graduate players. Nominations must be submitted before 5:00 p.m. ET on May 12, 2021. The IMPACT Senior Team will be announced on June 15, 2021 as part of the NFHCA Awards Show sponsored by AstroTurf®.