Katie Clark | Co-Founder & Coach, Rocky Mountain Field Hockey (CO)
On the Front Range—far from East Coast hotbeds—Katie Clark is proving you can build competitive field hockey teams and a healthy culture at the same time. The former UMass Amherst playmaker and Rhodes College coach co-founded Rocky Mountain Field Hockey to give Colorado athletes real pathways, strong mentors, and a place where kids are allowed to learn out loud.
“Be a perfectionist of effort. Mistakes are part of the process. What matters is how hard you hustle.”
From Multi-Sport Kid to Culture-First Coach
Katie played “just about everything”—soccer, basketball, lacrosse, swimming, track—but field hockey stuck. College sharpened her competitive edge; coaching revealed her purpose. After a stint in NCAA coaching at Rhodes College, she came home determined to build the kind of program she wished every kid could find: skilled, supportive, and steady.
Three coaches shaped her philosophy:
- A high school coach who always believed in her (and still shows up for life’s milestones).
- A private coach who taught mindset—like “stomp the ANTs” (automatic negative thoughts).
- A youth coach who helped her channel energy: “Slow down to speed up.”
Those lessons show up in every Rocky practice.
Starting a Club—Then Opening It to Everyone
Colorado’s field hockey scene is small and mostly clustered around Denver. That makes high-level training and competition harder to find. So Katie and co-founder Emily (a college teammate and Colorado native) created Rocky Mountain Field Hockey—initially to keep a group of players from falling through the cracks when another club folded. A USA Field Hockey grant helped them lift off and Grow the Game beyond the city core.
The Program
- ~100–150 athletes have come through in 3 years; ~50 active at a time
- High school (9–12), middle school, and elementary (“the Pebbles”—yes, adorable)
- Runs September–May (coaches both work full-time jobs)
The Goal: Continuing to build toward national-level competition—without importing a cutthroat culture. That means teaching Colorado kids they can hang with anyone.
“If you think you can, you probably will. If you think you’ll lose, you probably will.”
After a mindset reset, Rocky beat a local rival they’d once found intimidating—and went on to win the tournament.
Coaching Philosophy: Confidence Is a Skill You Train
1) Permission to make mistakes
No punish-and-pull. Players are coached to recover with effort: “Be a perfectionist of effort.”
2) Train the mind
“Stomp the ANTs” is a live drill at Rocky—athletes call each other into positive self-talk during practice, not just after games.
3) Belonging by design
Every session starts with names, grades, schools, and a Question of the Day—from kindergartners to seniors. Everyone speaks up (audible = repeat!). Partners rotate outside their school to push new friendships and reduce cliques.
4) Play bold
Colorado isn’t the traditional pipeline. So Rocky practices engaging distance, game IQ, and the courage to take space—skills that translate against faster, more seasoned opponents.
What’s Next
- Grow each pathway (Pebbles → Middle → High School) so athletes can stay in the sport longer
- More reps vs. top competition without sacrificing culture
- Mentorship loops between older and younger athletes to keep confidence compounding
Katie’s north star hasn’t changed: the right coach at the right moment can alter a kid’s entire trajectory.
“Having a coach who’s always in your corner gives you the baseboard to see what you can do.”
Why Signature Is Spotlighting Rocky Mountain FH
At Signature Athletics, our mission is to Grow the Game—especially in places where access lags. Katie’s team checks every box: local roots, athlete voice, mindset training, and a clear path from first touch to national competition. It’s how you build a sport where it isn’t yet a hotbed—and keep it fun.
Steal-This: 4 Coaching Moves to Try This Week
1. Mistake → Effort Rule: After any error, athlete has 5 seconds to make a positive play (recover, press, connect).
2. ANT Buster: Players name one negative thought they had today and rewrite it in competitive language.
3. Voice First: Start with QOTD; if the room can’t hear, repeat until it’s clear—public speaking is part of sport.
4. Cross-School Pairing: New partner every drill, never from the same school—friendship is a skill, too.
Get Involved / Learn More
- Colorado families curious about field hockey? Reply to this email and we’ll connect you with Rocky Mountain FH.
Coaches outside hotbeds: want Katie’s one-pager on “confidence drills that travel”? Ask for the Rocky Confidence Pack.
