Content Courtesy of San Francisco Hawks
In 2017, Michelle Van De Braak launched the San Francisco Hawks, the first youth field hockey club in San Francisco, Calif., inspired and supported by USA Field Hockey. With 24 players, three coaches, and 24 sticks and balls from that initial support, she partnered with the local YMCA to run a 6-week program that introduced field hockey to a brand-new community. What began as a small pilot quickly took root, fueled by the enthusiasm of players and families eager to see field hockey thrive in the Bay Area.
Seven years later, the San Francisco Hawks have grown into a true developmental program on the verge of becoming a field hockey hot spot in Northern California. The players are achieving national recognition through opportunities at the Nexus Championship and AAU Junior Olympic Games, and the club is proud to have both girls and boys in the development pipeline. Yet despite these successes, one challenge has always remained: the lack of a proper surface to play on. To this day, players often practice on tennis courts and other makeshift spaces, limiting their ability to fully develop their skills. In 2024, Van De Braak applied for and joined the first cohort of USA Field Hockey Bessant Grow the Game Grant recipients.
The Bessant Grow the Game Grant will be transformative in addressing this challenge. Thanks to this support, San Francisco Hawks have secured a permanent location in Pacifica, received donated AstroTurf from Stanford University, and partnered with the nonprofit America Scores to serve as their contractor.
These pieces are critical steps toward building a dedicated field hockey facility in the region, ensuring the players and future generations have a proper home for the sport. This field will not only support current athletes but also create a lasting impact on the broader Bay Area field hockey community.
By USWNT
