Shooting Star Thanksgiving: Helping Grow Field Hockey Across the U.S.

​Shooting Star Thanksgiving, the flagship event of the nationally recognized Shooting Star tournament series organized by Performance Sport Events (PSE), has become one of the most powerful drivers of field hockey growth in the United States. More than just a tournament, Shooting Star functions as a platform for elite competition and as a vital showcase for aspiring athletes who dream of playing at the collegiate level. Its impact reaches far beyond the turf—it creates opportunities, builds community, and inspires the next generation of field hockey talent.
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The event began with a simple but ambitious goal: to offer more players and club teams the chance to compete at a high level on synthetic turf fields. That vision took shape in 2014 with the first event, held at United Sports Training Center in Pennsylvania with just 30 teams and a single vendor. Despite challenging conditions—the fields had to be plowed for play—it was a success that sparked something much bigger. In 2016, the first official Shooting Star Thanksgiving launched at River City Sportsplex in Virginia, hosting 140 teams. It quickly became a signature event in the national calendar.

Year after year, the numbers grew, and so did the tournament’s influence. By 2017, the event featured 174 teams; in 2018 and 2019, it reached maximum capacity at 180 teams with waitlists forming. In 2020, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, 150 teams still competed at a single site in Virginia. In 2021, the tournament expanded to two sites to host 252 teams. The next two years—2022 and 2023—saw 254 teams attend, once again hitting full capacity with waitlists. In 2024, the event welcomed 240 teams, and in 2025, it is projected to host over 300 teams at two Virginia locations, thanks to a major field expansion at River City. That milestone will mark the 11th year that Shooting Star Thanksgiving has been hosted at this renowned venue.

Yet Shooting Star’s success isn’t only measured in numbers. At its core, the event is designed to serve every participant and stakeholder. Athletes benefit from structured age divisions—from U8 through U19, with eligibility determined annually by birthdate cutoffs—while families enjoy a welcoming environment and club and college coaches gain reliable access to top talent. Umpires are compensated and respected, vendors gain visibility with passionate attendees, and the event is always conducted on synthetic turf, ensuring a consistent, high-level playing experience. Double rostering is not permitted at any event, ensuring fairness and integrity in team rosters.
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What makes Shooting Star Thanksgiving stand out is how it works on multiple levels—not just as a competitive event, but as a showcase for athletes aiming to play at the next level. Over 200 college coaches attend each year, scouting the fields for future recruits. For young athletes dreaming of competing in NCAA programs, Shooting Star is a prime stage to demonstrate their skills, connect with coaches, and take the next step in their field hockey journey. It is this dual role—as both a competition and a showcase—that makes Shooting Star so vital to the sport’s development in the U.S.

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Pam Hixon, founder and director of PSE, remains committed to the event’s original values. “Shooting Star Thanksgiving was founded in 2015 on the premise that the growth of field hockey would benefit by offering more players and club teams the opportunity to compete,” said Hixon. “To make this possible, it made sense that Shooting Star events would be more local, more affordable, and always on turf. From the inaugural event hosting 30 teams and six umpires on a snow-plowed facility in PA to Shooting Star Thanksgiving 2025, where we will host our largest tournament of 300 teams and 140 umpires from across the country, our fundamental principles are still our priority.”

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Ainslee Lamb, an instrumental leader in the growth of the event, emphasized the human impact behind the numbers. “Shooting Star has evolved into the premier showcase of the year. Over the past decade, it has grown stronger each year while staying true to its roots. A first-class regional event played on high-quality artificial turf, with no membership required to participate. Our commitment to service ensures that every participant—players, families, club and college coaches, vendors, and umpires—receives personalized support. Each November, we are proud to host this event and provide a platform for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the sport we all love.”

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Among the many longtime partners supporting the event, YOLO Sportswear stands out. Chris, a representative from YOLO, remembers being part of the early conversations with Hixon. “When Pam Hixon contacted me to meet and discuss her newly established Shooting Star Field Hockey Tournament, I replied with an enthusiastic, YES! Pam and I had known one another for years and having her invite YOLO Sportswear to be the official apparel sponsor of this new event was a proud moment in my career. It has been my honor and pleasure to be a part of this awesome Thanksgiving tradition since it started. I’m so humbled to continue our partnership with Shooting Star after so many great years. I feel extremely fortunate to have been partnered from the beginning of an event that started with about 40 teams and has grown to over 300.”

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Looking ahead to 2025, Shooting Star Thanksgiving is not just preparing to host its biggest event yet—it is continuing to shape the future of American field hockey. For clubs, coaches, and players alike, the tournament represents far more than a weekend of games. It is a gateway to growth, a hub of connection, and a celebration of everything the sport can be. From snowy beginnings to turf-filled stadiums, from youth teams to college dreams, Shooting Star Thanksgiving continues to shine as a driving force behind the expansion of field hockey in the U.S.

FH COLLEGE PATH