Federação Portuguesa de Hóquei

“Hockey sticks and dreams collide!” a young player exclaimed outside the Federação Portuguesa de Hóquei. Here, at 961 Avenida Dr. Antunes Guimarães in Porto, stands the heart of Portuguese hockey. The Federação Portuguesa de Hóquei, or FPH, governs the sport in Portugal. Established in Lisbon on June 9, 1948, the FPH moved its headquarters to Porto. The FPH oversees field hockey, indoor hockey, beach hockey, and ParaHockey. They manage the national teams and organize national championships. Imagine the roar of the crowd as teams like Sport CP and AD Lousada battle for the title. The FPH also hosts the Taça de Portugal, the prestigious cup competition. The finals typically take place at the Estádio Nacional in Jamor. In 1998, the FPH celebrated its 50th anniversary with the first Gala do Hóquei at the Casino de Espinho. Now an annual event, it honors key figures in Portuguese hockey. Since 2010, the FPH has organized the Dia Nacional do Hóquei, bringing together players from across the country. The FPH has twelve member clubs, boasting 1838 registered players across different age groups. The current president, as of September 2015, is Joana Catarina Martins Gonçalves. The FPH operates under a general assembly and specialized councils, including a Disciplinary Council, an Arbitration Council, and a Justice Council. The Federation is organized into four departments: Administrative, Financial, Medical, and Technical. The Technical department further divides into sub-departments for Competitions, ParaHockey, Training, Youth, and Promotion. The FPH, like many Portuguese sports organizations, faces financial challenges. In 2014, they recorded a loss of €31,885.84. The FPH continues to promote and develop hockey in Portugal, nurturing the next generation of players. They work diligently, despite economic difficulties, to ensure the sport thrives. The Federação Portuguesa de Hóquei stands as a testament to the passion and dedication of the Portuguese hockey community.