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New role for Wheeler Field Hockey players

My name is Jean Carlson and I coach and teach at The Wheeler School in Providence. I have been the varsity field coach since 1989 taking over for Julie Baldwin, who handed over the reigns after leading her Warrior team to the State Championship Title in ‘88. Yikes….I was just a rookie, only coaching a few years at the junior varsity level and boy did if feel the pressure! Big shoes to fill for sure! I begged her not to leave but she wouldn’t listen. Her mind was made up. OK, on to the Major League. Fortunately we had a great bunch of kids who worked hard and helped me make the transition pretty easily. I’ve since calmed down and yes, even mellowed a bit, ask any official and I’m sure they’ll agree! Since then Wheeler has earned many playoff berths, played in several state final games and even won another Division I State Championship in 2000.

I have seen many changes in both the sport itself and in the young women who play it. The dedication many of these athletes have is outstanding. Years ago field hockey was a fall sport. The players put their sticks, mouth guards, and sticks away for the winter not touching them again until pre-season practice in late August. No longer! Many girls play year round in programs such as Lead the Way and Futures, programs designed to help them refine their skills and help them prepare for their next season whether it’s back to their high school team or for their upcoming challenge of college play.

Speaking of dedication……

After years of taking directions from their coaches, 7 Wheeler varsity players are now on the other end of the whistle. In a new program initiated by Lead the Way, young girls in grades 3-5 and 6-8 now have a chance to learn the game through weekly practices and Saturday morning games. The unique part is that in the Central Division of this program, the girls are being coached by current varsity players at Wheeler.

Enter the rookies…
Some players were not much bigger than their sticks… they were all decked out with their new goggles covering their faces, mouth guards in place, shin guards on, and new sticks ready to be broken in. What a great site to see! The girls took to the field to huddle up with their new coaches and within minutes everyone was moving and having fun.

I think both the coaches and kids had a blast and I’m sure this enthusiasm will continue for the next 5 weeks! These young volunteer coaches are great role models, enthusiastic and passionate about their sport, and absolutely love working with these younger players. It made me proud to see my players take the lead, demonstrate skills, breakdown drills and to joke and laugh with the girls. I heard “They are just so cute!”, “I can’t believe how excited they get when they do something right like a dodge or something”, “I love doing this” “They’re going to be pretty good”.

Good luck players and coaches!! . Here’s hoping that more young girls will get ‘turned on’ to this great sport. Who knows maybe one of these player/coaches will someday be on the sidelines at the Farm coaching her own Warrior team.

Posted by Jean Carlson  at 4:38 PM to Field hockey | Permalink | Comments 0