Indiana University Athletics
Off the Field with Head Coach Amy Robertson
3/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
March 9, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - After setting a new standard in Indiana field hockey during the 2005 season, head coach Amy Robertson and the Hoosiers have entered into their spring practice schedule. Robertson recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to talk about her program's progress on and off the field.
On the team's new field hockey facility for the 2006 season:
AR: "We have enjoyed our home in Mellancamp [Pavilion], but we are very excited to have our own venue which is designed specifically for field hockey. It will be nice to have a field that has only field hockey lines on it, a place that we can call home and a place we can develop a lot of pride for. We're excited that the University has been very supportive and given us the resources that are necessary to build and establish a state-of-the-art facility, not just any field hockey field, but one that will stand out in our conference. I know that first game on our field is going to be a very special day. I cannot wait, and I know that everybody feels the same way."
On the Ball State Tournament that the team played in February:
AR: "In the spring, things are very experimental. The Ball State Tournament wasn't the usual style of hockey we are used to because it was an indoor tournament, but the indoor game is a great game to sharpen your skills. It is a fast-paced game, which forces us to keep moving the ball. You have to react quickly, there is a lot of action, and you get to touch the ball a lot. We only practiced for an indoor style for one day. We have been working on the game we play in the fall, but the tournament really showed that we can adapt to different types of games. Our players are becoming much more intelligent and their skill level has risen. We had a lot of fun at spring tournaments. I thought that we competed well, and I was able to see a lot of progress in the girls."
On new leaders stepping up during practice:
AR: "When we first started conditioning and practicing, practices were very quiet. It wasn't that anybody was incapable of leadership, but I think that people had taken a back seat to the six seniors we had last year. With six seniors on your team, not everybody has the chance to step forward as much. However, bit-by-bit, as we have continued practicing, different leaders have emerged. The team has become much more vocal. There is a lot more communication, and everyone has really started to come out of their shell. I have seen different sides to people that we really haven't seen in the past."
On what the team's strengths have been in practice:
AR: "We have always been a team with a lot of speed. We have moved the ball well off of the dribble, but we need to develop our passing game. We have to work on our fundamentals. We want our fundamentals to be sharp. Our receiving, our passing and our defense are all things that we can improve on. I think that we have established more structure on this team. We had a lot of structure last year, but there were times when I felt that our fundamentals were behind a little bit, and we would play more with our heart and desire. We are really trying to sharpen our fundamentals and work on our passing game for speed, rather than speed of foot."
On the incoming freshman class:
AR: "The freshman class comes with a more mature level of hockey. Their skills are all sharp. Their understanding of the game is very good. Sometimes in the past we have relied a lot on our athleticism, and now we have evolved to have more intelligent hockey players coming in. I feel that they will adapt quickly to our style of game. This group is very well rounded, and they give us a lot of variety. They are not all one personality. There are a lot of unique personalities and each one will make a different contribution."
On the 2006 fall schedule:
AR: "We try to play as many teams as possible from our region because that is how you get ranked for the NCAA, but we see those teams every year. The most exciting games are those that are on the road. Our opener will be very exciting. We have never played against Virginia or Longwood. Going out on the road, after having the excitement of preseason, and getting to play those opening games in the South and against a really strong ACC team will be a great highlight. We also have a very challenging weekend when we have Northeastern returning to IU, and then the next day we play Michigan. Another weekend that will be a big challenge and very exciting will be against Iowa and Ohio State. Overall, I like our schedule for next year."
