NFHS rules writing committees consist of experts in the given sport.  Each committee member is nominated by state associations, as is the chairperson, who guides the members through their work.  Each of the NFHS’s eight sections are represented on the given rules committee.  To allow for equal representation, there is also a member of the NFHS Coaches Association and the NFHS Officials Association on each rules committee.  Each committee member serves a four-year term.

The NFHS is pleased to welcome two new members of the Field Hockey Rules Committee: Jennifer Gouvin and Audrey Ploesser.

Jen Gouvin, Section 1, has served as the Athletic Director for the Belchertown Public Schools for five years and was previously the Athletic Director at Monson High School. Gouvin also served as the Third Vice President of The Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Director Association and was the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association District 1 representative on the Tournament Management Committee.

A member of the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference District 1 Sportsmanship Committee and Constitution sub-committee, Gouvin has over twenty years of soccer coaching experience at the club and high school level. She feels privileged and is appreciative for the opportunity to learn about the wonderful sport of field hockey while serving as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association District 1 representative for three years.

Audrey Ploesser, Section 5, was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. Ploesser earned a Bachelors in History and Psychology from Truman State University as well as a Masters in Education. She has been teaching and coaching in secondary schools since 2010 in the St. Louis region and has always been an athlete, dabbling in many sports including basketball, soccer and field hockey. Ploesser played field hockey for a short time at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, England, but really found a love for coaching the sport during her first teaching job in 2010.

During her time coaching high school field hockey, Ploesser’s team has made it to the final four 8 years in a row and finished second in the state tournament in 2016. She spends most of her free time with her family, husband, three beautiful children, and dog Nala doing whatever they can outside in the sunshine. Ploesser thinks playing team sports is an integral part of developing young people and feels blessed to be a part of that process every fall.

The Field Hockey Rules Committee Meeting will take place January 8-10, 2024.