A Coruña‘s burgeoning hockey scene faces a critical hurdle: a lack of dedicated field space is forcing promising athletes to seek opportunities elsewhere, threatening the sport’s growth within the city.The issue stems from intense competition for limited facilities among numerous clubs and disciplines, leaving hockey players with few options for advancement locally.
The scarcity of appropriate playing fields is particularly concerning as youth programs-prebenjamín, benjamín, and alevín categories-continue to flourish. Coaches fear a wave of talented young players will be lost when they reach ages requiring a full-sized pitch. This challenge is already impacting athletes like Darío Sánchez Gerpe, a former Athletic player who recently earned a silver medal with the spanish national team in the 8 Naciones sub 16 tournament. Despite his success, Sánchez will compete in Valencia this season, seeking a higher level of play unavailable in A Coruña. “Its a problem for local players; they can’t play here at a slightly higher level,” Sánchez stated,adding that his own path to the national team was ”practically a miracle.”
Both Athletic, Escola, and Hércules are actively recruiting through schools and indoor hockey programs, building a foundation for future growth. However, without a dedicated field where the sport can thrive, that foundation risks crumbling. “That base we have now, when it grows, will find there’s no field where they can play,” explains a coach known as Coque, who believes a suitable pitch would attract even more athletes to the sport. The current situation highlights the difficulty all three clubs face in securing adequate facilities amidst the city’s diverse sporting landscape.