“Capturing the hearts of the nation”

With the next Olympic hockey tournaments set to take place in Los Angeles, USA, in less than two years, we spoke exclusively to the hosts - the women’s and men’s US national teams - when we met them at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup earlier this year. Today, we hear from Allan Law, Head Coach of the US men’s team.

FIH: Allan, what does participating in the Olympic Games mean to you?

Allan Law: It brings a smile to my face. The excitement, the “once in a lifetime opportunity” for many athletes and staff, is incredible. Hosting a home nation's Olympic Games – in the US, where sport is at the heart of society - is truly spectacular. It is also daunting, considering where we are coming from. We want to ensure that we are competitive and deliver a strong performance. This will require a great deal of hard work.

We have connected with many of our past Olympians who have experience of their home nation’s Olympics. The stories they share and the advice they have given us are truly remarkable.

As a coach, what will be your primary areas of focus over the next two years?

Allan Law: Physical conditioning and development are crucial; playing at that level and against such opponents, we will probably need to be the fittest team in the world! We also have to be exceptionally good at defending - defending really low - and be one of the world’s best counter-attacking teams.

Which legacy would you like the LA28 Olympics to leave for field hockey in the US?

One goal is to capture the hearts of the nation. If we succeed, we will build greater support and create more opportunities for male athletes to want to play field hockey in the US. This will pave the way for future Olympics, enabling us to qualify for Games held outside our home nation and consistently reach the top 15 in the world rankings. Achieving this would allow us to qualify for World Cups and compete for gold medals at events such as the Pan American Games.

Our legacy lies in developing a strong Olympic pathway, with robust U21, U18, and U16 teams, and a broader base to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the programme. Hosting the Olympics at home allows the entire nation to watch us play and witness the passion and love we have for the game. I always say that to be a male field hockey player in the US, you have to love the sport more than anyone else in the world, as hockey is predominantly a female sport in our country.

Precisely, what would you say to a young boy to encourage him to play field hockey?

That's the golden question, isn't it? Most of my mentors in the US are women, and they are incredibly supportive. Our sport and team are very diverse, with players of different ages and backgrounds. I believe field hockey is the most technically and physically demanding sport in the world, and it also stands out for having a truly welcoming community. It is very satisfying to play because you have so much support around you.