Survival of the Fittest: Girls on Boys Teams

Girls hockey has come a long ways in the past several years, but many areas still lack a good all-girls teams. So if a girl wants to play good hockey—or sometimes even hockey at all—she will likely find herself on a coed team, which we all know means almost all boys. Playing on a boys team is not a big deal before checking is introduced (at PeeWee, age 11) and puberty hits. But as the game and players change, girls have to decide whether to continue playing with the boys or not.

To Play or Not to Play

Not every female hockey player will be able to handle playing with the big boys, nor does every girl want to. But there are girls capable and willing to do just that. If a girl wants to play hockey in a checking league, she should:

Be at the same skill level as her teammates

Thrive on competition

Not be intimidated by the size and strength of the boys around her

Be focused on the game and skill development

Not be in it for the social aspect alone

Want to be the best player she can be

Overcoming the Gender Barrier

No matter how good a female athlete is, if she’s playing on a boys team, she may face teasing, unequal playing time and/or a bruised ego. But if she really wants to play, she needs to step up and prove her worthiness to her teammates and coach.

Tips for Girls to Survive with the Boys

Push hard: Competition is usually high in boys hockey, so girls are naturally pushed hard during practices. Come game time, they might not see many minutes if they are weaker players or have unfair coaching. Even though it can be frustrating, always work hard at every practice—so when you do get ice time you can play your best and be happy with your performance.

Don’t be the “odd man out”: Be aware of everything your coach and teammates are talking about. Older girls generally change in another area, possibly missing out on important locker-room talk. Join the boys after you’re done changing if you have to, so you don’t miss out on any tips from the coach, hear what you’re teammates are thinking and hopefully develop a sense of camaraderie with them.

Be vocal: It’s easy to ignore a quiet teammate, so whether you’re on the bench or out on the ice, let teammates know you’re there and you support them. In turn, they’ll do the same for you.

Don’t give up: It can take time for teammates to warm up to a newcomer, especially one of the opposite sex. Prove to them you want to be there and you deserve to be there. They’ll respect you for sticking it out.

Says Heather, 17, “Hockey will always be a male-dominated sport, but I’ve found everyone just thinks it’s really cool I play.”

Editor's Note: Thank you to Kristin Carlson, member of Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota.

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