“Respect all, fear none.”
Bum Phillips, a respected American football coach, was credited with coining the phrase four decades ago. Across the pond in 2024 Europe, USA Field Hockey has embraced the phrase as its mantra, according to USWNT assistant coach Tracey Fuchs.
The United Eagles are scheduled to face Argentina in their first Olympic game since 2016. The last time USA clashed with the Las Leonas was two months ago in Antwerp, Belgium, during a friendly FIH Pro-League mini-tournament.
The first of two games was a barn burner with a final score of 5-4 favoring Argentina. The second broke 4-0 Las Leonas. USA plays Argentina Saturday, July 27 at 1:45 p.m. Eastern Time.
“Everyone brushes their teeth and eats breakfast, and does their best,” Fuchs told FAN. “When we get into the Olympics, it’s a different level. There are so many ways to be distracted. To keep that focus, it’s really difficult. You have to set boundaries with friends and family. You want to give it your best shot to be on the medal stand.”
Fuchs, a field hockey Olympian and the current Northwestern University head coach, said she’s channeled her experiences of playing internationally into sideline strategies. She said she thrives on pressured situations and split-second decision-making, which is embedded in her from her playing time at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
The squads finished fifth in Atlanta and eighth in Seoul. Fuchs played for the 1994 World Cup, where USA won bronze; and, the 1995 Pan American Games, where the midfielder helped the team to claim bronze. As a head Division I college coach, Fuchs claimed her first natty for the Wildcats in 2021.
54 United States v Germany (RR)
Picture: Javier TELECHEA
© Worldsportpics/ Will Palmer
“We know who we have in pool play,” Fuchs said. “When we get to the Olympics, we’ll check to see if they’re playing the same way, or what has changed, if the players have changed. We know these teams pretty well. We know most of them with the exception of South Africa and Spain. We’ll settle the nerves, use coping mechanisms, use two-touch play possession hockey until we get into our rhythm.”
USA is in pool B, which includes Argentina, Australia, Great Britain, South Africa, and Spain.
The United Eagles, led by head coach David Passmore, are rookies. It’s every person’s first time to the Olympics in their current role: head coach, assistant coach, and every athlete. Behind-the-scenes is USA’s 2016 Rio head coach Craig Parnham, the team’s now high performance director. Passmore has been to the Olympics as an assistant coach for Ireland.
“I think everything about being an assistant coach is different,” Fuchs said. “You’re more player focused. I come in and out. I do more of the smaller things, individual player feedback and stay away from the tactics. It’s tough to run tactics when you run in and out. I do a lot of defensive corner scouting. Anywhere I’m needed: pull video, or get something ready for a presentation. It’s kind of where I’m at. As a college coach, I’m used to being in meetings with players all day. It’s kind of fun being an assistant coach giving suggestions and pushing for what the teams needs.”
Fuchs has been helping USA Field Hockey with selections at the lower levels for the past few years: U-16, U-18, and U-21 national teams.
“It’s good to be back at this high performance level,” Fuchs said. “There’s nothing better in my mind than playing for the USA. Back in the day, when you didn’t have the heart rate monitors and training mode, we’d be out there for four hours. We know so much more about Sports Science now. We were one of the fittest teams in the world. But this team has made even greater strides to become one of the fittest in the world, while also making sure they achieve the rest that they need.”
USA Field Hockey has been training at the United States Performance Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. They share the same turf and weight room with the men’s team, having access to a temperature-controlled room with treadmills.
“I think every team will be performing at an 8 or 9, kind of like the Olympic Qualifier,” Fuchs said. “We peaked at the right time. We’ll have fewer players in Paris, 16. We want to make sure they’re eating well and at their peak. We’re ranked No. 13 in the world and only eight make it into the final rounds. We’ll try to get into that quarterfinal round. After that, anything can happen. We’re taking it game by game. Not looking ahead. Every game is going to be so important. Top four in your pool play in the quarterfinals.”
Fuchs said she doesn’t fight herself along the sidelines because she trusts the athletes to problem solve. She does, however, like to bring out the elite players inside of them.
“This is about them,” Fuchs said. “We haven’t been in the Olympics for eight years. This is the first Olympics for every player in that team. It’s a big moment. They have to take it in stride. I’m just grateful to be part of the staff and having the ability to help coach our team. It’s what you do on the next play. Pulling information out of them, asking them: what would you do next time? They are the best of the best in our country. They are able to make changes quickly. That’s the challenge and fun, what I kind of enjoy is to help make those changes to change the outcome of the game.”
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