Parent
WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 633
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: FITTING IN
by Jan de Regt
2) Playing with the Big Boys
by Daun DeFrance
3) Re: FITTING IN
by email@hidden
4) Re: FITTING IN~my way! =)
by email@hidden
5) Re: FITTING IN
by email@hidden
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Date: 17 Jul 1997 08:09:08 -0400
From: Jan de Regt
To: email@hidden (Return requested),
Subject: Re: FITTING IN
That's an interesting (and perceptive) question... I've skated for two
years with a group of men who have skated together for many years, so
was an outsider as well as the first woman to play with them. During
registration, one of them asked me if I played hockey - "I mean, do
you *really* play hockey? Because we do." PLEEEEEAAZE!
Anyway, the best I can think of right now is to skate and play as hard
as you can (as always), don't apologize, tell any jerky guy he's full
of shit when he is (in a game when my team was behind 10-2, one guy
wanted me to move to wing: "it just isn't working with you on
defense." I pointed out that all of those goals hadn't been scored
when I was on the ice, and why wasn't he putting more goals up for our
team? Ultimately, he was traded to the other team, and our team
improved dramtically!), find the nice guys and try to get to know them
a little, joke on the bench with them, and try to have fun!!!
I did/do have the support of the guy who organized the whole thing.
Without that, I don't know if I would have/could have kept going. The
first year skating with them was tough, but the second year it seems I
was more one of the guys. There isn't really a locker room to change
in, and the first year I changed in the women's room while the guys
changed in the warming room behind some partitions. The second year I
decided I would do the same, and I think getting to know them just a
little while we were dressing and undressing helped (I still do the
basics in the women's room, of course!) I found that once they saw
that I was serious about playing hockey (even if not all that good,
being fairly new at it!), they accepted me.
Good luck!!
Jan.
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: FITTING IN
Author: email@hidden at Internet
Date: 7/16/97 8:22 PM
Help! can anyone give me some hints for playing with men? if i don't
find a women's team i'll have to try the St. Joe's men's club team.
Thanks!
Heidi Sheets
email@hidden
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Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 08:21:59 -0500 (CDT)
From: Daun DeFrance
To: email@hidden
Subject: Playing with the Big Boys
Message-ID:
Heidi et al.
I play in the Men's League in Austin, Texas. There are only 6 women who
play ice in Austin, so they chances of playing with someone my size are
slim to none. My best advice on how to handle the change? Fast feet.
You're smaller, lighter, and weaker... but that doesn't make you less of a
player. There are a few guys I go toe to toe with but at the end of the
day, it's still better to skate around a check and steal the puck than to
try to weather the storm. I play aggressively with a lot of forechecking,
and that really upsets some guys. So when they make a run, I step aside
and let them meet the boards on their own terms. You can't argue with
physics... their mass * velocity = squished Daun. Become a role player...
a sniper, probably not a grinder.
So work on your stick skills and run or do something else to speed up your
feet. It's a whole new game against the boys... and a lot of fun!
Daun
P.S. I have found that the older the men, the more likely they behave like gentlemen out there. There's nothing worse than a high school
boy's scorn when you take him to the boards. :)
"You spend a life seeking the Opportunity, without realizing that the
decisive moment, the moment that justifies birth and death, has already
passed. It will not return, but it was - full, dazzling, generous as
every revelation."
- Umberto Eco, Foucault's Pendulum
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Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 13:31:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: FITTING IN
Message-ID:
Heidi,
I currently play for 2 Men's teams and LOVE IT! I rarely get a chance to
play with or against women at all although we are developing a women's team
here for the fall. My biggest advice to you if you end up playing with men,
is to just go out there and be willing to do whatever they have to do, don't
shy from corners, if your a forward fight like heck to be in front of the
net, play your position at all times and play hard with or without the puck
and you should do just fine. Also - BE A TEAM PLAYER with the guys, this may
mean taking yourself out of special units in certain situations or in "tight"
games like taking yourself out of the power play, out of the penalty kill,
but don't think of it as taking yourself out cause your a female, think of it
as taking yourself out as a smaller player. Once you have earned their
respect, that is what they think of you as, not a female player but as a
smaller Hockey Player! Be willing to be played just like everyone else and
don't take hard knocks personally, it's just part of the game!
Until my playing days are through (hopefully not for a long time!), I will
ALWAYS play on a men's team (or two) as you only get better by playing with
men and you can learn so much from them. Men are more than willing to teach
you all the secrets they know, take advantage of that and learn from them.
Good luck and I hope your experience is as rich and fulfilling as mine has
been!
Jackie - #22 - She Shooooooots, She Scooooooooores !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 15:46:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: FITTING IN~my way! =)
Message-ID:
Heidi~~
Hey! Congrats on playing on a men's team....hopefully only good things will
come from this for you! I know I love playing with the boys. (or men as they
prefer to be called!) I have always played on guys teams, in the begining
when I was not a skilled player like many of them, it was a bit of a struggle
to earn their respect.....but don't let what they do discourage you at
anytime from playing. Remember that is what you WANT to do, and always strive
for sucess, and in the end you will be a better person for it. As far as
fitting in goes, don't expect any kind of special treatment, because you
don't deserve it just cause your a female. If you, or anyone chooses to play
in a men's/boy's league they must take what comes with the teritory. Asking
for specials privlages will only lose respect they have for you. Other than
that, fitting in just comes with getting to know, and becoming friends with
your team mates, become a true team player! Well I hope this will somewhat
help you......I wish you the best of luck! And remember to always keep your
head up, and your goals in sight! =)
Kellie Severson
# 30 MHS boys varsity team (MN)
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Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 23:27:52 -0400 (EDT)
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Subject: Re: FITTING IN
Message-ID:
Regarding LuvCLemx22's suggestion to leave yourself out of "special" units at
times, I disagree, sort-of. My college "career" made me a pretty decent
penalty killer and I trust myself out there more often than I trust a
teammate. Unless I do a horrible job, I will always try to be on the penalty
kill, whether it bruises an ego or not, I know I can do it, so I won't let my
team down.
But I agree with LuvCLemx22 if you're not sure about your skills in a special
unit of play, then wait and learn from your team and later see if you can try
it.
Jenn
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End of WOMEN-IN-HOCKEY Digest 633
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