Maryland Field Hockey Coaching Duo Earn Elite Status
12/27/2007 7:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Dec. 27, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head coach Missy Meharg and technical director/coach Tjerk van Herwaarden have received USA Field Hockey's highest coaching accreditation, receiving Level III certification. The coaching duo was invited to participate in the first-ever USFHA Level III accreditation course in Palm Springs, Fla., in late November.
The USFHA's comprehensive coaching accreditation program features four course levels, beginning with the developmental through to the international/elite levels. USFHA Technical Director Terry Walsh held the inaugural Level III coaching course where 18 high-level international and NCAA coaches were in attendance, including 20th-year Terrapin head coach Missy Meharg and Tjerk van Herwaarden, who completed his third season in College Park.
After earning the high-level certification, van Herwaarden, a native of Holland, was also recommended for FIH (international field hockey's governing body) course work and will co-lead the first Level II coaching course at the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Convention, which will be held in Hartford, Conn., Jan. 3-6, 2008. He will also be joining the U.S. Men's National Team again as an assistant coach and will be traveling to New Zealand in February for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
"Tjerk brings to Maryland field hockey a high quality of tactical and strategic awareness, which has been grounded from world hockey power Holland," said Walsh. "We in USA Field Hockey look forward to having Tjerk share his knowledge as he strives to improve himself as a coach under the very capable guidance of Missy Meharg and her staff at the University of Maryland. The inaugural Coaching Accreditation Program recently completed by USA Field Hockey is the first strong step in raising the level of coaching within USA Field Hockey and all of the Field Hockey family in the USA."
After leading Maryland to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Meharg was named the NFHCA's Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year for the 11th time in her career. She is the only coach in NCAA Division history to be selected the NFHCA Coach of the Year six times, last earning the honor in 2006 after she led the team to its fourth national title in her tenure.
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