Oh, honey, let me tell you about this miyekcohaa field hockey thing. It's a right hoot, I tell ya! All them young'uns runnin' around with them sticks, tryin' to whack that little ball into the net. Sounds simple, but it ain't as easy as it looks. I seen 'em playin' down at the field, and boy, can they run!
What's the Big Deal with MIAA Field Hockey?
Well, it's a big deal 'round here. These girls, they practice and practice, even in the summer time when it is hotter than a wood stove. They start up in August, before Labor Day, I heard. That's what they call "Fall practice". It all leads up to the big games. It's like our little town's own little fair, but with more runnin' and less pie.
An.'nd there ain't never a dull moment. Always somethin' happenin' on that field. Suspense, they call it. I just call it excitin'.
Who Can Play This Field Hockey?
Now, you gotta be young, that's for sure. Ain't no place for us old folks on that field, 'cept to watch from the sidelines. They got these rules, you see. Gotta be under 19 for the big team, they call it Varsity. And if you're playin' with the younger ones, the grade 9 team, you gotta be under 16. And them older kids, the seniors, they can't play with the Junior Varsity.
- Under 19 for Varsity
- Under 16 for grade 9
- No Seniors on Junior Varsity
How Many Folks on a Team?
They got a whole mess of 'em out there! But there's rules about that, too. Can't have more than 36 people on the field, they say. And only 30 of 'em can be players. The others, well, they got jobs too. One keeps track of the score, another watches the clock. Important stuff, you know. This year they changed somethin' about how they pick the teams.
No more than 36 people on the field.
No more than 30 players.
The Games Themselves
Now, these games, they're somethin' else. Two teams, 11 on each side, all runnin' around tryin' to get that ball in the goal. It's like watchin' a bunch of chickens chasin' a june bug, but a lot more organized. They even say this game, field hockey they call it, been around since, well, since forever!
They got all sorts of rules. I don't understand all of 'em, but it seems to keep things fair.
The Big 2024 MIAA Field Hockey Playoffs
This year, it was somethin' special. They call it the playoffs. Lots of teams from around here got to play. Nine teams, I heard! That's a lot of field hockey! It's like the whole town was out there watchin'.
This year's games was real good. Lots of teams playin' each other. Walpole and Andover, they had a real good game, I heard.
Why It's More Than Just a Game
It ain't just about winnin' or losin', though that's a big part of it, I reckon. It's about these girls learnin' how to work together, how to be a team. It's about pushin' yourself, seein' what you can do. And it's about havin' fun, too.
I seen them girls out there, laughin' and cheerin', even when they're tired and sweaty. That's what it's all about, I think.
High School Field Hockey is a Big Deal
These ain't just little kids playin' in the backyard. This is high school, honey. It's serious business. These girls are good. They represent their schools, their towns. It's a big responsibility.
And they do a fine job, I must say. Makes a person proud to watch 'em. They play their hearts out there, and you can see it. And it is nice to have somethin' to cheer for, somethin' to bring the whole community together. That's what miaa field hockey does, I reckon. It brings folks together.
So, next time you see them girls out there on that field, give 'em a holler. They're doin' somethin' special, and they deserve a little bit of praise. They are runnin' and playin' and tryin' their best.
