Field hockey at Watertown Middle School teeming with opportunity
Splash photo Aurise T.
The 2014 Watertown Middle School field hockey team.
November 30, 2014
How many kids are on your sports team? 20,25,30? Well the Watertown Middle School field hockey team has close to 45 girls on this year’s team, according to the coach, Lauren Hegarty.
I know what you’re wondering: How do you sub that many girls when there are supposed to be 11 girls on the field at once during a game without forgetting anybody?
Well, Ms. H has an A and B team.
The 2014 Watertown Middle School field hockey team has learned the importance of sticking together.
“There’s more than one team because there’s many players and I want them to get the idea how to play the game,” she said. “I take into account how long they’ve been playing and their skill level, not just the grade level.”
A lot of girls on the B team just picked up a stick this year, such as Jazmine B., a sixth-grader. Jazzy, as she is called, had five goals in two games vs. Lexington.
“Ms. H has helped me a lot throughout the season,” said Jazzy.
Elaine A. said she is glad there were A and B teams.
“I feel better about it because people first starting field hockey can be on the B team and have the ball be passed to them and we could get better,” she said.
Some girls think practice was difficult, but not to Mia V. She thought it was fine.
“First we run 6-8 laps and we stretch in a circle and the eighth-graders usually lead the stretch,’’ she said. “Then we work on some basics like pulls, dribbling, and shooting.”
Ms. H, a former Watertown High school field hockey player, said that playing field hockey at WHS made her the coach she is today.
“I learned when working together as a team, they are able to accomplish amazing things,” said Hegarty, who learned this from Eileen Donahue, coach of the Watertown field hockey team, which has won six consecutive state championships.
Not only does Ms. H teach girls at Watertown Middle School to play field hockey, but she teaches them how to work together and be a part of a team.
–Nov. 29, 2014–
