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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.