LJ FH: A second look

By Ed Piper

As one measure of how far the La Jolla field hockey program has advanced in the two years since head coach Amanda Combs Warford took over, Athletic Director and former coach Paula Conway stayed pretty much behind the perimeter fence during the Vikings' second-round playoff game at home against victorious Henry.

Despite the loss, the Vikings have moved solidly forward under the program's direction by Warford, a former referee with her husband Tucker Warford, who trains referees and during halftime of a recent game answered referees' questions--the rare sight of an assistant coach for one team instructing the officials. It raised some eyebrows on the other bench.

In the past, Conway, an Olympic-level coach, would often visit the Viking bench during big games to provide a boost and coaching experience. Not in an intruding, "helicoptering" way. Always supportive. Providing an anchor, a structure.

But that was before Combs Warford's tenure. Everyone knows who runs the program, and people respect Amanda's dedication to maximized practice time, her relationship with the girls, and her assistant coaching staff.

This time, Conway stayed near the trainer's room area and chatted with trainer Matt Bridges and others during the big-stakes contest.

The Vikings athletic director is the one who brought Combs Warford in. Conway's distance from the bench during the game communicates the solid hands that field hockey is in under her ever-building structure.

Beth "B.K." Flaherty, the JV coach, taking photos from the sidelines, agreed with an observer who commented on the Vikings' improved stick skills. The mobility with the ball and ball-handling were apparent early as Morgan Hansen, Hailey Ramos, and others negotiated crowded areas to move the ball forward.

"Two years ago, that ball wouldn't have gotten through," commented the visitor. B.K. nodded assent.

Stick skills in field hockey take a couple of years. With the Coastal Clash club, there is now earlier opportunity for girls in La Jolla to start acquiring those skills. In time, that will pay off in higher and higher levels of play.

Defense can come quicker. La Jolla has always had girls who are athletic and can run. But defense doesn't require the same level of stick skills to stop the ball.

But on the offense, those ball-handling skills, like a basketball player's ability to dribble and pass, come with more of a premium. They're essential to get the ball past defenders--think Serra and Scripps Ranch players, the elite, who will just stump you if you can't handle their pressure.

The other factor is commonly called "I.Q." in other sports: the awareness of where one is on the field in relation to teammates, concepts of offense and strategy, the "inside" game beyond individual technical skills.

The Combs Warford plan is working. It's going to continue to bear visible, measurable fruit as time goes on.