When I was a young player, the sport of female hockey was just starting to boom.
I started playing back in 1992, 2 years after the women’s world championship was televised for this first time and 6 long years before women’s hockey made its debut in the Olympics.
As I progressed my way through the levels and age groups, I didn’t have access to a lot of older female players who could give me advice on what I needed to do to take my game to the next level.
At that time, the majority of the best players in the world were doing what they did best - playing.
Many of the women who played at the highest levels of the female game had not yet transitioned from playing the game they loved to helping it grow at its grassroot levels.
But that has all changed.
Now many of the most decorated female hockey players in history are making their living giving back to the game that gave them so much over the years.
Pioneers such as Angela James are coaching multiple girls hockey teams.
Cassie Campbell is becoming a fixture on Hockey Night in Canada.
Danielle Goyette is the head coach of the women’s team at the University of Calgary.
And the list goes on and on.
The wonderful thing about all of the women who have assumed these leadership roles in female hockey is that they are ready and willing to help grow and develop the game in any way they can.
The reality of the women’s game as it stands today is that so many of the greatest players who ever played have made it their mission to help every young girl out there become the best player they can possibly be.
I wish this was the case when I was coming up through the ranks.
I could have (and still could) pick these amazing player’s brains for hours and hours on end.
Now every coach, parent and player in the female game has the opportunity to benefit from the experience and expertise of these terrific role models.
If you have questions about how to take your team, players and game to the next level, all you have to do is ask.
Until next time,
Kim
What can I do to help heal my hamstrings, I think I pulled them during field hockey last week and I also strained my left quad and slightly my right quad at field hockey tryouts too. I’ve been icing them after every game and practice, I’ve also been stretching them every day, even at school.
Is there anything I can eat or drink to help, any specific stretches?
Unfortunately I don’t have a chance to take a break because I have rep hockey, rep ringette, regional field hockey tryouts and school field hockey playoffs and I’m the only goalie.
First off, awesome job posting on Total Female Hockey Club. You are doing a great job of moving closer to achieving your goals on a daily basis and I am so excited to hear how that action really transforms your game.
Now onto the pesky hamstring pull issue.
I had this same problem throughout high school - although it came from soccer practice and not from field hockey. There are 3 critical things that you have to do to deal with any pulled muscle issue, especially when you are continuing to play so many sports at the same time:
1) Drink water: Water helps to fuel and heal the body. The more water you drink, the more hydrated you will be and the better the blood will flow through your body, which will bring more oxygen to injured area and help it heal more quickly.
2) Warm-up AND Cool-down: OK so that’s really two things. You really need to make sure that you are doing a jog and some dynamic (moving) stretches before any kind of practice or game. It is even more important when dealing with a nagging injury to do a cool-down jog and some static (holding) stretches afterwards to speed up the recovery and healing process.
3) Stretch properly: This means that you not only stretch the injured muscle by holding it comfortably for at least one minute, but you also do the same for the other major muscles of the leg and hip. Take 10 minutes to stretch out your hamstrings, quads, hip flexors and glutes. This will really help your legs recover and help the pulled muscles heal more quickly.
I hope that helps!
~ Coach Kim