I took the plunge several weeks ago and agreed to participate in The Champlain Classic Women’s Ice Hockey tournament which is hosted by Full Stride. Kayla’s Directory began to partner with Full Stride last year to offer an adaptive ice-skating program for children with special needs. Fortunately, we have several skilled mentors that currently play or have played hockey to help the kids – and me – on the ice. I am not a skilled skater! This year I decided to improve my skating skills and joined the Full Strides Learn to Play Hockey program. I continued to the Adult Instructional Program where a woman asked if anyone wanted to play in the Champlain Classic tournament in April. Although I knew this was way out of my league, I decided to give it a try.
A few days before our first game, we were asked what position we wanted to play. I emailed the women back and said that I prefer defense. But in all honesty, it didn’t matter where I was because I have never played hockey before and I can’t skate well! Once all the players were in the locker room, I began to panic. Granted, we were in the novice level which was the lowest level in the tournament, but all these women had skated for years and played pick-up weekly. I was upfront with them and told them that I had no idea what I was doing and that my skating skills were very poor. And then it began.
I am sure that I annoyed the goalie at times when I missed clearing the puck or crossed the puck in front of the net. I probably frustrated some of the more skilled players when I wasn’t quick enough to get to the puck or someone skated right around me. I know I am not a good ice-skater, let alone a hockey player. Yes, I could possibly get a little better if I continued to practice. But for me, I put things in perspective.
I couldn’t keep up with many of the players and I couldn’t skate as well as the other skaters. In fact, I was much worse than most of the women. It makes me wonder if this is what my daughter feels like when she is skating or doing any physical motor activity with peers. Kayla’s muscles are a challenge to her while doing physical activities. Riding a bike, skiing, swimming, and skating take her substantially longer to master than her peers. And once mastered, she is much slower than her peers.
Kayla loves hockey and dreams of playing hockey one day. She has been skating for two years and has made significant improvements, but her peers progress so much faster. Kids that start with her in the Learn to Skate program move along to more advanced programs while Kayla stays in the same group for several sessions. I have never heard Kayla complain about kids moving up to another group and I have never seen her fail to try something because she can’t keep up with her peers. She might complain that her legs are tired and she needs to rest but she has never said she can’t try something. In fact, she always continues to practice a skill to get better. For skating she goes all out and will always practice different skills her instructor has taught her.
I might have been slower and less skilled than many of the women I was playing with or against at the Champlain Classic, but I gave it my best and tried something that was challenging. I was fully supported by my teammates, the refs were forever patient, and my opponents were pleasant. It was a fun weekend with wonderful people. Thank you Full Stride for putting on a supportive and fun hockey tournament that anyone can play in.