On October 23, 2021, fifteen women who had never before played a full game together stood nervously against the glass of the indoor rink at the Longplex Family and Sport Center in Tiverton, RI as they awaited the start of their first game in the inaugural Novice Division at UWBHF’s annual Oktoberfest tournament. For over 90% of the women on the team, this was their first ball hockey tournament and they had no idea what to expect. The buzzer sounded to indicate the end of the game and the heavy, glass door swung open. With nervous smiles and racing hearts, a group of women filed onto the rink, coming together for the very first time as the Steel City Slashers. 

For a group of women coming from the Pittsburgh Women’s Ball Hockey League, a learning league with a broad range of skill and hockey experience, this was an opportunity to stretch outside of their comfort zones and reach for something more; something bigger than themselves that felt both a little nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time. The tempo, physicality, and overall intensity of tournament play is a noticeable step up from the pace of league nights, but a necessary step in the growth of players. The team quickly acclimated to the pace and over the course of the two-day tournament, found their rhythm, and made adjustments on the fly. They built each other up, literally picked each other up off the ground when they fell, and leaned on each other during the highs and lows of each game. They quickly went from being fifteen individuals to being one team.

There are so few opportunities for women who are new to the game to break into the tournament circuit. A tremendous amount of time is spent paying lip service to the sleepy hashtag “Grow the Game,” but what exactly does that mean? To truly breathe life into growing the game, deliberate efforts must be made to be inclusive of new demographics of players; otherwise, the game is not truly growing or expanding; it’s simply providing more opportunities to the same group of established players.

UWBHF has their finger on the pulse of a growth mentality with their introduction of a Novice Division for their annual tournaments. Women from Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts all competed as brand new tournament teams. Seeing great success in their first year with four novice teams and even more new teams knocking at the door, UWBHF has tapped into a goldmine of women who are eager to compete and expand their ball hockey horizons. It’s a simple, yet previously overlooked formula: the more that is offered, the more fun it becomes, and when you’re having fun, the more likely it is that you will keep coming back and that you’ll bring along some friends. Growth of the game is easy with the right mentality: be clear in your communication and outreach, make it fun, and make it for everyone. UWBHF has done just that by opening a door and welcoming in a new crop of players that are all chomping at the bit for another taste of tournament play.

The Novice Division at Oktoberfest was a truly remarkable experience from start to finish. From the pre-tournament communication to the team-specific social media hype, all of the teams were excited to compete in the event and gain valuable tournament experience that is hard to come by anywhere else. The vibe of C Division felt exactly the same as the A and B divisions. Nothing was watered down for these women; they were respected and welcomed as players and given the full experience. All four teams left stronger than when they arrived. UWBHF showed the ball hockey world that if you open up the door and invite people in, not only will they walk through the door, but they’ll keep coming back as long as you invite them. If that’s not #GrowingTheGame, then I don’t know what is. 

-Jennifer Free | Steel City Slashers | GM USABH Women’s Masters Team 

 

Photos courtesy of Mike Surette and Jen Free