Female Athlete News had the opportunity to connect with USA Field Hockey’s LA28 and National Boys Development manager Marc Bakerman to talk about the newest format of the game, known as Hockey5s.
FAN, LLC is hosting a USA Field Hockey-sanctioned event in July 2025 called the ‘National Hockey5s Chocolate Cup.’ Teams from across the country have already started to sign up for the event.
Registration will remain open until May 1 or until all spots are filled. FAN asked Bakerman about the new 5s format and what he thinks players and coaches should know.
Here’s what he had to say:
Q: Why do you think field hockey players in the United States should pay attention to Hockey5s?
A: “Hockey5s is to hockey what basketball 3×3 is to basketball, rugby7s is to rugby, futsal and 5-a-side football are to soccer. The format has grown to over 70 participating nations since it was introduced at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games in 2013. It is a Youth Olympic Sport and has an FIH Hockey5s World Cup, which makes it eligible for the National Olympic Committee and Management of Olympic Sports Organizations to offer development and performance funding in many nations. Most importantly, it connects local, street, urban participation sport with hockey – it’s a way to play field hockey in a small urban space.”
Q: What is the benefit of playing Hockey5s?
A: “Play it anywhere. It’s fast, entertaining, fun, simple, high scoring, high speed, lots of touches, great action for goalkeepers, fosters quick decision-making, pick up games, simple rules and small space needed.”
Q: Do you think Hockey5s could become an Olympic sport?
A: “It is already a Youth Olympic Games sport. It has the potential to become a second discipline for hockey in the same way that basketball 3×3 has.”
Q: Do you think Hockey5s would replace 11s? Why or why not?
A: “No, there is no evidence of decline of the “traditional” version of a sport where a short format has been introduced. In fact, in many cases a short format has been a catalyst for the growth of a sport in all formats.”
Q: What would you like to see happen in the United States with Hockey5s?
A: “Domestic growth of community-based hockey using the Hockey5s format. The AAU Junior Olympics featured the Hockey5s format for boys play and was hugely successful.”
Also read: Hockey5s first PAC gold went to Team USA, an interview with the women’s head coach Rachel Dawson
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Photos: USA Field Hockey, Michael Barminski and Cassie Sumfest
