Windham High School’s field hockey team has been preparing for the fall season during the summer while also teaching the next generation of players about the game. The WHS summer clinic is run by varsity and junior varsity players who are teaching kindergarteners through eighth grade how to master skills associated with the game.
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| Windham third grader Callie Connor practices moving the ball with WHS junior Abby Trainor during the WHS field hockey youth clinic for kindergarten through eighth-grade players at Windham High School on Thursday July 25. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA |
“Getting everyone as many minutes as they can before the season starts [is important],” said Windham varsity coach Cory DiDonato. “We’ve had a great turnout this summer – best ever, probably for me. I think it will be a good season. We have cultivated a team that knows hard work is how we become successful, so more players are motivated to put in the work outside of the regular season. We’ve had great veteran leaders and lots of enthusiastic younger players who are hungry to contribute.”
Everyone on the team keeps each other motivated with the older players helping the younger ones. The team is learning to gel and are working well together; they are learning to trust one another and their positions. The win over Greely is proof of this.
Windham field hockey began running youth clinics in 2016. In addition to the summer clinic, the youth clinic also takes place on Saturdays during the regular season. DiDonato wants to lay the groundwork early on for what they want to see as a program. They’ve had great numbers this summer with over 50 athletes signed up.
The goal of the youth clinic is to get field hockey sticks into the hands of younger athletes, so they are ready to play when they enter middle school. They work on basics with the younger athletes and more advanced skills for the athletes that have been with the program longer.
“It helps a lot with conditioning and ... running and getting better with your stick skills, gives you a little boost for preseason,” said Windham junior Liz Baker. “[The youth clinic] helps a lot with getting to know the girls and the program they’ll be a part of when they get older. We learn a lot from the younger kids; like attitude stuff and how to be patient, teaching and leadership skills.”
Windham third grader Callie Connor’s favorite part of the youth camp is learning how to pass. She’s also learned how to dribble the ball and would like to play on the varsity team someday.
“I wasn’t really into soccer, but once I played field hockey, I liked it a lot,” said Windham eighth grader Lucy Stretch. “I always have a good time playing it. I’ve learned how to be a leader; I do club and travel field hockey – to play with girls who ... need somebody to help them play I think the youth clinic is really good. It’s a fun experience.”
Windham fifth grader Leah Leighton has been watching her older sister play field hockey and wondered how fun it was.
“It’s been very fun since I’ve been trying it,” said Leighton. “It teaches me about all kinds of moves and I have been having fun learning how to keep my hand grip and how to hit it, keep my eyes on the ball and keep it straight.”
The varsity players are the backbone of the youth clinic. There are 10-15 players who are instrumental in helping out each week. These players are compassionate and energetic who love teaching the younger group. The relationships formed between the varsity players and the younger athletes make the game more fun.
“It’s good to come together and help the younger kids because they’re the next generation of field hockey,” said Windham senior Ava Gerrity. “It benefits us because when we teach [the skills], we’re also learning how to as well. It’s good for them to have teenagers and girls ... to connect with.”
If you are interested in the Saturday field hockey youth clinic, Coach DiDonato will be posting sign up details soon on the Windham Field Hockey Facebook page. <
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