In many ways, Charlie Webb is a typical second-year student at the University — hoping for acceptance into the McIntire School of Commerce while juggling a rigorous course load and bustling social life. But unlike the rest of his peers, for four hours a day, six days a week, Webb trades his laptop and notebook for shin guards and a stick to practice with the varsity field hockey team.
Webb, a native of Haddonfield, N.J., is a practice player — an officially recognized member of the squad that trains with the team but cannot play in matches or receive financial compensation from the school. In practice, he plays whatever position is needed of him, often simulating opponents’ play style to help his teammates.
As NCAA field hockey has grown more competitive, numerous schools have incorporated male players into their team. Top programs such as Maryland, North Carolina and Penn State all have practice players on their rosters. Many are international students from countries where field hockey is more prevalent, like the Netherlands or Great Britain. Webb might not hail from Europe, but New Jersey is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for field hockey.
“Growing up, [my friends] played, and one day we were in the backyard and they were playing field hockey,” Webb said. “And you know, I wasn’t just gonna sit in the backyard, so I … picked up a stick and started playing … And I just kind of stuck with it.”
Stick with it he did — at Haddonfield Memorial High School, Webb took up the mantle of practice player and manager for the field hockey team, participating in practice sessions and recording stats during games. He also played for Princeton Field Hockey Club, where he was allowed to take part in the occasional scrimmage with the permission of the opposing coach.
When it came time to begin the recruiting process, he faced a serious challenge. For one thing, since practice players do not play in games, they are not on the official roster and thus are not recruited by schools. That put the onus on Webb to reach out to coaches, many of which did not approve of practice players in the NCAA at all, according to him.
Out of the 20 or so schools Webb contacted, the University proved to be the best athletic and academic fit — Virginia’s field hockey program offered him a spot as a practice player, and the academic opportunities spoke for themselves.
While he has no official responsibilities beyond practicing with the team, Webb goes above and beyond whenever possible to ensure Virginia field hockey runs smoothly. During games, he can be seen carrying defensive masks from goal to goal or helping warm up the goalkeeper as the rest of the team stretches. When the team scores, he does a backflip in celebration and runs up and down the bench, cheering alongside his teammates.
“There’s definitely a choice aspect to it based on how much you want to put into it,” Webb said. “I kind of chose to go all in … I’ve really tried to create my schedule around field hockey the best that I could.”
That schedule also includes suiting up for the Virginia club field hockey team, which he helped to win the National Field Hockey League Championship last spring. The club is coeducational, and Webb takes advantage of the opportunity to play in official games, scoring in almost every appearance he makes. In the club’s recent match against Duke, he scored five of the team’s seven goals.
The contrast between starring on the club team and sitting on the sidelines with the varsity team can be challenging for Webb, but he refuses to let his practice player status stop him from supporting his teammates. He makes sure to attend every away game, even if it means paying out of pocket to drive on his own. He keeps up with conditioning, even though he is barred from lifting with the team. Where others would be disheartened, Webb continues to emphasize his love for the team.
“Anything I can do to hype the girls up or help them out, that’s really … how I choose to channel that energy,” Webb said. “So instead of moping around about … not being able to play, I really try to take on active roles in other ways.”
Webb’s hard work has not gone unnoticed amongst his teammates. Senior back Jans Croon was quick to sing his praises, emphasizing Webb’s importance in helping Virginia improve during training sessions.
“Charlie has been such a great addition to our team,” Croon said. “He’s not just a practice player, he’s also a member of our team. He comes to every practice, every event, every game. He’s always there to support everyone. He makes us better at practice every day. And overall, he’s just such a great person, and player, and we’re lucky to have him on the team.
In addition to playing for Virginia, Webb was recently named to the United States U21 Men’s National Team Training Squad, which met in Charlotte, N.C. over the weekend. Although men’s field hockey is the third most popular sport in the world, the U.S. has yet to catch up, as there is no NCAA male equivalent.
Webb hopes to see more boys get involved with the sport in the near future, especially with the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics on the horizon. As the U.S. will be hosting, the USMNT is automatically granted a berth in the games, bypassing the competitive qualification process.
While Webb is excited at the prospect of playing in the games, he recognizes the daunting task before him — the U.S. men’s team has only competed in four total Olympic games and has not medaled since the 1932 Los Angeles games, where they earned bronze. Then there’s the challenge of even making the team in the first place.
“Just kind of getting better every week, every practice, to work towards that 2028 goal,” Webb said. “There’s a lot of work to be done… I gotta stay at it, for sure.”
Individual success might be in the cards for Webb in the coming years, but for now, his focus remains on the 2024 season with Virginia. He will undoubtedly play a large role in the team’s success moving forward, whether he’s pulling off celebratory backflips on the sidelines or bringing up team morale in other ways.
As the NCAA Tournament approaches, the Cavaliers are going to need his optimism on their side.
“At the end of the day, it's so rewarding, especially when you win games,” Webb said. “And even though I’m not playing in the games, I feel the team is just so welcoming and inclusive that, you know, I feel like part of the team, and those wins are really … just as important for me.”
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