Phia Gladieux is a word-class athlete who concluded her collegiate career at Penn State less than a month ago. And she entered the 2024 season just days after leaving the Paris Olympics. She is a legendary field hockey player.
Phia’s signature skill is a reverse chip, and her development of this shot did not happen overnight.
“I began working on it the year after I first started playing field hockey, so around 3rd or 4th grade. After I saw the shot, I started watching YouTube videos and wanted to perfect it. I started being successful with it in 5th or 6th grade. That was when I had the confidence to use it in games.”
Before entering middle school, Phia committed herself to master the challenging backhand shot.
“I watched videos of international players, men and women, breaking it down. The videos of the skill broken down helped me to truly understand the information I was seeing. When I was beginning, I practiced the basics and repetitive reps, hitting into my dad’s garage. Once I got the stationary shot, I practiced on the move, then skills into the shot, and working on playing the ball from the air. Now, I work on it from awkward positions and low angles.”
On her accuracy she comments, “It’s second nature and muscle memory at this point. My body takes over. It is all about knowing where the ball is and angles. It has taken practice and experience.”
Phia’s reverse was unstoppable all through high school and college, for that matter. No one could successfully defend her with this backhand weapon. It has been playing at even higher level that has challenged her shot selection.
“I depended on it and developed a reliance. International play has prompted me to find other shot selections to add to my box. At that level, it’s rare that you have time to set yourself up, and it is all about shooting where the ball is.”
Nevertheless, no one in the United States does a reverse chip like Phia. It is her trademark shot that has beaten countless goalies, countless times, but she certainly recognizes the work that she has put in for over a decade in developing her reverse and has advice for others.
“Be confident regardless if you fail, whiff, or miss the cage. Just do it and once it’s game time, you have to do it to get over that fear. It is frustrating and one of the hardest skills to do, but it really elevates your game.”
