Aug. 25, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- On Sunday, Aug. 17, Northwestern hosted its annual Coaches Clinic at Lakeside Field to give local youth and high school coaches insight into some of the most effective training methods in field hockey. Twenty-one coaches from Illinois and Wisconsin attended the all-day event to learn from and interact with NU head coach Kelly McCollum as well as Northwestern assistants Jennifer Pelleriti and Marti Kane. In addition, the entire Wildcats team was on hand to demonstrate drills and share in the learning experience with the coaches.

"Our players and staff really enjoy hosting the coaches clinic," Coach McCollum said. "We've held it for several years now and it has become an important piece of our team's preseason. It's an excellent opportunity for the Northwestern field hockey program to share knowledge, techniques and strategy with our regional coaches."

Attendees of the clinic received strategies for improving individual skill instruction, teaching concepts of the game as well as tips for practice planning and the development of year-round training programs. Coach Kane also led a session aimed to help coaches teach the fundamentals and the finer points of goalkeeping to their players.

Local coaches and their teams can come to Lakeside Field to watch the Wildcats in action beginning Saturday, Sept. 5, when Northwestern opens the home portion of its schedule against Miami (Ohio) at 3 p.m.