James and Ty Callahan do not wear their United States National Team gear around town or to school.
“We don’t like to brag,” Ty said.
But when they wear their uniforms during team training or international competitions, it fills them with pride.
“It’s a great honor to wear these jerseys,” James said. “It’s hard to get on a national team. It reminds us of all the hard work we put in. It’s a sign that we’re doing something right.”
James and Ty Callahan were recently named to the 2025-26 Performance Team of the U-18 United States Men’s National Team, two of 16 men’s field hockey players from around the nation to qualify for the prestigious squad.
The Callahan brothers will participate in an international tour in April, the California Cup in May and a European event over the summer, but first, they are hoping to grow the game locally by hosting a boys field hockey clinic from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 at Vetta Sports Manchester in Ballwin, MO.
“I know other people will enjoy the sport as much as I do if they give it a chance. I want to pass it on,” James said.
The clinic will be held through a new field hockey club called St. Louis Force, a 2025 Tom Harris Boys Play Field Hockey grant recipient with the focus of “increasing the number of boys playing field hockey and giving them further opportunities to play in St. Louis, nationally and even internationally,” according to Parkway West girls field hockey Dawn Callahan, the mother of James and Ty.
“Once you pick it up, you can see improvement very quickly. It’s very rewarding,” Ty said.
James, a Parkway West senior, began to play field hockey at age 5 and practiced with the Gateway Field Hockey Club for five years.
“I enjoyed the sport, but I didn’t like that I was the only boy,” James said.
His mother Dawn, a former player at Maine University and coach at Missouri State, brought James to a tournament in Florida that included boys events.
“That’s when I learned about the US National Team. I thought, ‘OK, Now I have something to work for,’” James said.
Ty’s field hockey journey was less linear.
He also started playing at a young age but stopped playing in the third grade. He returned to the field in sixth grade when a team needed a goalkeeper for a tournament.
“I didn’t face a shot. I got really bored,” said Ty, a Parkway West sophomore.
Ty, now a defensive stalwart for the USA team, eventually picked up his stick agian and began practicing with James, a lightning quick striker with a blistering shot.
“He tries to defend me,” James said with a smile.
In 2020, James attended a tournament in Virginia Beach and was invited to try out for the US Men’s National Team in Charlotte. At age 14, he took his first international trip to Prague where he played field hockey, explored the city and got stuck in an elevator.
“We were coming back from practice and about eight of us got in the elevator with all our gear. We went maybe one floor and it started to slow down. We knew something was wrong, and then the call button didn’t work.” James said.
They called their coach, and 20 minutes later, climbed out to safety.
“The rest of our team was standing there with their phones out recording us. It was really funny,” James said.
Ty did not make the United States team the first time he tried out but used the experience to make sure he was ready for tryouts the next year.
“I was definitely very nervous my first camp and I didn’t do well, but once I got to see that level, I knew how I needed to prepare and how I needed to stay calm on ball. It helped me a lot,” Ty said.
Ty participated in his first overseas tournament last year in the Netherlands, and together with James, helped the USA Team win five of seven games. Now, both are preparing for bimonthly training sessions in Charlotte and a spring and summer of international travel. Both train with the Aim Field Hockey Club on the water turf field at Principia High.
“We do a lot of training at home. The coaches give us a workout program and we go to the gym three times a week. Ty is better at following the nutrition plan than I am,” James said.
Ty added, “There’s a very high standard at the camps, and if you’re not fit, it’s not fun.”
Both admit to facing snide comments about playing a sport that, in America, is often associated with girls.
“Our friends like to poke fun at us for playing field hockey, but they don’t get to go to Europe every year,” James said.
By hosting the Olympics in 2028, the United States is automatically qualified for inclusion in its men’s field hockey tournament. Participation in the Olympic Games is a dream both James and Ty possess.
“We’re probably going to be too young (for 2028) but it’s nice to hope. Even if we miss the 2028 team, I have a good feeling we’ll get over that hump,” James said.
Regardless of what the future holds, the Callahan brothers know that participation in field hockey already has taken them interesting places and taught them valuable lessons.
“I’ve gotten way more disciplined and have developed a higher work ethic,” Ty said.
James added, “I feel it has grown my character a lot. I’m able to be more responsible.”
And the Callahan brothers want to introduce more boys to the joy of playing field hockey during the St. Louis Force clinic on Saturday.
“We’d love to make St. Louis a big, boys field hockey hub and start building a pipeline to the National Team,” James said. “It’s definitely achievable.”