Newton Girls Hockey
About Girls U8/U6 Hockey for Beginners
We have a few programs for this age group, but we know with each step of the way in Hockey for Beginners is learning the sport. After all, Boston is now the home of the 2x NWHL Champions - the Boston Pride! We look forward to being part of your daughter's journey and growing this great sport called hockey!
There is no checking in the sport until way up the ladder in Bantams (U14). Girls are a little more coordinated than boys, but most of the time at the U8 level, all kids stepping onto the ice still have 2 left feet. It is not a violent sport, and it is important to remember all of the kids on the team are 6, 7, and 8 years old. They are all in elementary school and still developing near the same pace. There is a stigma that this is a boys sport, and boys are automatically better than girls at hockey. I have yet to see an all boys U8 or U10 team, very few U12 teams are all boys, and we are seeing an uptick in coed U14 teams.
With assumptions, we forget what is most important - fun and development! Your daughter may not enjoy her journey if she only touches the puck in practice. Luckily, Newton averages 3 Mites (U8) teams per season so we have plenty of options for your daughter to be paired by her ability to play. Your daughter will both challenge others' skills and be encouraged to develop at her own pace regardless of gender. Remember at all times, the competition is left on the ice when you play another team! Her competition does not include her teammates.
As part of the NYH Girls U8 Hockey Development program, the girls will have the opportunity to practice with our U10 team and may have the opportunity to play a few games with the U10 team in the Middlesex Yankee Conference Girls Hockey League. Currently, the MYC does not offer a U8 Division.
The U6 girls groups are encouraged to participate in NYH's coed Learn to Play Hockey program before moving on to the Girls U8 Hockey Development program. At this point, your growing female hockey player will have improved her coordination and the basics of hockey at a rate with kids of her age level.
NYH has female volunteers and alumni that are more than happy to share their stories with you and provide suggestions for you. I encourage that you ask as many questions as you'd like.
Newton in the news: Spotlight on: Newton Youth Hockey's Girls Program (mahockey.org)
If you are new to hockey or have more questions, feel free to reach out to Lisa Casillo, Girls Program Director, for additional guidance or get connected with a fellow hockey parent.
Girls@NewtonYouthHockey.com
