The Ivy League just confirmed they will implement a field hockey tournament starting next season. This win belongs to every one of you who kept the pressure on our athletic directors until they listened. We achieved exactly what we set out to do so keep your eyes on the league …
May 30, 2018
Final supporters
To Whom it May Concern,
As an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania and a Division I Head Coach, I am writing this letter in support of an Ivy League tournament for field hockey. Currently, the Ivy League is the only conference that does not support an end of season tournament to determine its champion. The addition of an Ivy League tournament will provide tournament experience comparable to other conferences and honor the current competitiveness in the league.
I credit my passion and continued desire for the game to my four years played at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, I was given countless opportunities as a student athlete to play high level field hockey and maintain a rigorous academic program. However, every year my season ended with the same game against Princeton: because we did not have an Ivy League Tournament. In 2016, I became the Head Field Hockey Coach at LIU Brooklyn which participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). During our inaugural season in 2016, we did not win a single game and finished last in our conference. For the 2017 season, my team’s goal was simple: finish in the top four of our conference and qualify for our post season tournament. Extending our season and being given a chance at an NCAA bid was what the team had in the forefront of their minds all season. After months of handwork and commitment, our team finished second in the regular season, and earned our program’s first ever bid to our MAAC Championships! As a player, I had no experience for how post season conference tournaments worked, but I was excited to be a part of it. My team, a group of mostly freshmen and sophomores, also had no idea what to expect. Upon arriving at our host site, my players realized how special this experience was, and so did I as a coach. Our team was able to experience the professionalism that is part of the NCAA tournament and gain valuable experience in public speaking from interviews. The night before the semifinals games, the top four teams had an awards banquet that honored some of the great athletes and coaches in our conference both academically and athletically. It was such a memorable experience getting to meet and interact with other teams, coaches, and athletic administrators. Unfortunately, my team lost in the semifinals to the three seed, Fairfield. Fairfield then went on to defeat top seeded, Monmouth, and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. Even though it was disappointing to lose, our team all agreed how exciting it was to watch a lower seed end up winning the championship and getting a chance to continue their season. The competitiveness and excitement of the championship created games that were fun to watch for the fans as well. Overall, the feeling of qualifying for our post season tournament was unmatched and the excitement around our team from our school and fans validated all of our handwork during the season.
Following my experience with my first ever postseason tournament I felt very lucky, but also in some way cheated of an experience as a student athlete. The post season championship had made my team feel such a sense of accomplishment, I was angered that current players at Penn and other Ivy League schools didn’t get to have the same experience. Furthermore, being part of a championship where the regular season champion was ousted by a lower seed, just made it clear how the parity and competitiveness in my own league was showcased in a post season tournament. In the Ivy League, this parity and competitiveness is even more evident. As an alumna, I always want the team’s experiences and success to be better than my own. After being a part of a post season championship, I can firmly say that a tournament would vastly improve the student athlete experience in the Ivy League. In addition, giving teams a chance to prove themselves at the peak of their seasons would create more opportunities and presence in the NCAA tournament by the Ivy League. It is now more clear than ever that Ivy League Field Hockey deserves a competitive, meaningful post season championship.
Sincerely,
Kyle DeSandes-Moyer
Penn ‘13
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 2, 2018
April 23, 2018
The administration remains silent on our request but the momentum of this community is undeniable. Direct message your local athletic board members to demand a change in league policy today. Keep the pressure on until they acknowledge the need for a postseason tournament.
April 18, 2018
We just hit 100 signatures to bring a field hockey tournament to the Ivy League. Post this link on your Facebook right now to keep the momentum going. We need to get these numbers in front of the conference officials.
Reached 100 supporters
April 17, 2018
April 16, 2018
We are approaching the one hundred signature mark and need a final push to hit this target by the end of the day. Send the link to three teammates or former players right now. We must demonstrate broad support to get the Ivy League administrators to listen.
253 Comments
Four years of amazing field hockey memories at Brown, but I have always wished we could have had another chance to beat our biggest rivals. Please make this happen!! I will take my kids to every Ivy League tournament!
The Ivy basketball and lacrosse tournaments have created a great deal of excitement for both the men's and women's teams. The tournament also assures that every regular season game matters. Good for the Ivy brand....
As a member of the 1st varsity Field Hockey Team at Yale and the council bringing women's competitive sports to the Ivy League I heartily endorse the opportunity for women athletes to experience the ultimate challenges in their sport.
As a parent of a former ACC field hockey player, the conference tournament was one of the highlights of the season. No matter where you placed in the league, the conference tournament gave you another chance to finish among the elite.
As a PennFH alum, former DI and current D2 coach with experience at both levels with conference tournaments I could not agree more! It really enhances the student athlete experience. It also allows a better opportunity for a shot at NCAA tournament play.
Student athletes playing Ivy League field hockey deserve an opportunity to develop all season long and strive to peak during post-season competition. I endorse this proposal and encourage others to do the same! Dartmouth '85 Ivy-League Champion!
Let's do this Field Hockey Championship !! BigRed Team'85
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The Ivy League just confirmed they will implement a field hockey tournament starting next season. This win belongs to every one of you who kept the pressure on our athletic directors until they listened. We achieved exactly what we set out to do so keep your eyes on the league …
May 30, 2018
Final supporters
To Whom it May Concern,
As an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania and a Division I Head Coach, I am writing this letter in support of an Ivy League tournament for field hockey. Currently, the Ivy League is the only conference that does not support an end of season tournament to determine its champion. The addition of an Ivy League tournament will provide tournament experience comparable to other conferences and honor the current competitiveness in the league.
I credit my passion and continued desire for the game to my four years played at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, I was given countless opportunities as a student athlete to play high level field hockey and maintain a rigorous academic program. However, every year my season ended with the same game against Princeton: because we did not have an Ivy League Tournament. In 2016, I became the Head Field Hockey Coach at LIU Brooklyn which participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). During our inaugural season in 2016, we did not win a single game and finished last in our conference. For the 2017 season, my team’s goal was simple: finish in the top four of our conference and qualify for our post season tournament. Extending our season and being given a chance at an NCAA bid was what the team had in the forefront of their minds all season. After months of handwork and commitment, our team finished second in the regular season, and earned our program’s first ever bid to our MAAC Championships! As a player, I had no experience for how post season conference tournaments worked, but I was excited to be a part of it. My team, a group of mostly freshmen and sophomores, also had no idea what to expect. Upon arriving at our host site, my players realized how special this experience was, and so did I as a coach. Our team was able to experience the professionalism that is part of the NCAA tournament and gain valuable experience in public speaking from interviews. The night before the semifinals games, the top four teams had an awards banquet that honored some of the great athletes and coaches in our conference both academically and athletically. It was such a memorable experience getting to meet and interact with other teams, coaches, and athletic administrators. Unfortunately, my team lost in the semifinals to the three seed, Fairfield. Fairfield then went on to defeat top seeded, Monmouth, and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. Even though it was disappointing to lose, our team all agreed how exciting it was to watch a lower seed end up winning the championship and getting a chance to continue their season. The competitiveness and excitement of the championship created games that were fun to watch for the fans as well. Overall, the feeling of qualifying for our post season tournament was unmatched and the excitement around our team from our school and fans validated all of our handwork during the season.
Following my experience with my first ever postseason tournament I felt very lucky, but also in some way cheated of an experience as a student athlete. The post season championship had made my team feel such a sense of accomplishment, I was angered that current players at Penn and other Ivy League schools didn’t get to have the same experience. Furthermore, being part of a championship where the regular season champion was ousted by a lower seed, just made it clear how the parity and competitiveness in my own league was showcased in a post season tournament. In the Ivy League, this parity and competitiveness is even more evident. As an alumna, I always want the team’s experiences and success to be better than my own. After being a part of a post season championship, I can firmly say that a tournament would vastly improve the student athlete experience in the Ivy League. In addition, giving teams a chance to prove themselves at the peak of their seasons would create more opportunities and presence in the NCAA tournament by the Ivy League. It is now more clear than ever that Ivy League Field Hockey deserves a competitive, meaningful post season championship.
Sincerely,
Kyle DeSandes-Moyer
Penn ‘13
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 2, 2018
April 23, 2018
The administration remains silent on our request but the momentum of this community is undeniable. Direct message your local athletic board members to demand a change in league policy today. Keep the pressure on until they acknowledge the need for a postseason tournament.
April 18, 2018
We just hit 100 signatures to bring a field hockey tournament to the Ivy League. Post this link on your Facebook right now to keep the momentum going. We need to get these numbers in front of the conference officials.
Reached 100 supporters
April 17, 2018
April 16, 2018
We are approaching the one hundred signature mark and need a final push to hit this target by the end of the day. Send the link to three teammates or former players right now. We must demonstrate broad support to get the Ivy League administrators to listen.
253 Comments
A post-season tournament would also reward the teams that continue to get better throughout the season and the coaches who continue to push their players and make adjustments. An early loss in the season shouldn’t mean your season goals are dashed. Yale ‘17
Four years of amazing field hockey memories at Brown, but I have always wished we could have had another chance to beat our biggest rivals. Please make this happen!! I will take my kids to every Ivy League tournament!
The Ivy basketball and lacrosse tournaments have created a great deal of excitement for both the men's and women's teams. The tournament also assures that every regular season game matters. Good for the Ivy brand....
As a member of the 1st varsity Field Hockey Team at Yale and the council bringing women's competitive sports to the Ivy League I heartily endorse the opportunity for women athletes to experience the ultimate challenges in their sport.
As a parent of a former ACC field hockey player, the conference tournament was one of the highlights of the season. No matter where you placed in the league, the conference tournament gave you another chance to finish among the elite.
As a PennFH alum, former DI and current D2 coach with experience at both levels with conference tournaments I could not agree more! It really enhances the student athlete experience. It also allows a better opportunity for a shot at NCAA tournament play.
Student athletes playing Ivy League field hockey deserve an opportunity to develop all season long and strive to peak during post-season competition. I endorse this proposal and encourage others to do the same! Dartmouth '85 Ivy-League Champion!
Let's do this Field Hockey Championship !! BigRed Team'85
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A post-season tournament would also reward the teams that continue to get better throughout the season and the coaches who continue to push their players and make adjustments. An early loss in the season shouldn’t mean your season goals are dashed. Yale ‘17