Sneakers thud against the court as elementary schoolers swarm a puck in the cold afternoon air. On the sidelines, Mr. Pierog and Mr. Purdy call out encouragement as the students chase, pass and laugh through the scrimmage.
Every Thursday, the coaches host the Outdoor Hockey ASA for first and second graders. The group meets on the front basketball court, which sits close to the cafeteria where the students grab a snack before practice, Pierog said.
The focus of the ASA, said Mr. Pierog, is to share his love of hockey with students while also letting them enjoy the sport. “They have a lot of fun. I played [hockey] when I was a kid. I loved it. It’s my favorite sport. ” Mr. Pierog said.
Even with the relaxed atmosphere, students also learn various hockey skills. “We practice for about 20 or 30 minutes. Mainly passing, shooting. And being safe. After that, we played games. ” Mr. Pierog said.
The lessons go beyond athletic skills. Mr. Pierog said that the students begin to understand teamwork through simple choices, like passing instead of rushing the puck alone. “They learn, ‘Hey, we can pass,’” Mr. Pierog said. “That means we’re working as a team. Working as a team takes a long time. ” Over time, he said, the students start to connect more passes and score more goals.
Mr. Pierog explained that students rarely stay frustrated because they understand that losing is part of the sport, “They forget about it. It’s not a big deal. If you’re playing a game, football, volleyball… The other team’s going to get a point. This is the nature of the game. Sometimes the other team scores, sometimes you score. It can’t be 15-nothing, 15-nothing. That’s not how it works. ”
Students also expressed how their plays have changed. “My shooting got really better,” first-grader Sean Lee said. He added that the ASA has improved his resilience, such as when he falls, “I just get up and play. ”
Second-grader Juwon Kim said the best reason to join is simple. “Because it’s fun and you can learn courage and teamwork,” Juwon said. He added that he has become more confident since he started playing.
For Mr. Pierog, the Outdoor Hockey ASA means more than just an after-school game. He hopes students leave each Thursday with memories and happiness. As the day’s final scrimmage ends and the sneakers stop thudding, the students head inside – looking forward to the following week.
