Norfolk Recreation’s King Philip Youth Field Hockey Wraps Up Successful Fall Season
Children in the King Philip Youth Field Hockey program with members of the King Philip Regional High School varsity field hockey team during Senior Night festivities on Oct. 21.
King Philip Youth Field Hockey, an official program through Norfolk Recreation, wrapped up its fall participation in the Commonwealth League with a Field Hockey Jamboree on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event culminated the program’s fall season, which included weeks of practices, games, and events.
King Philip Youth Field Hockey was invited to participate in the Senior Night for the King Philip Regional High School (KPHS) varsity field hockey team on Oct. 21. Prior to the game, KP Youth Field Hockey held a combined practice with both the high school’s junior varsity and varsity teams. Together, they made tie-dyed T-shirts.
“As the feeder program for the high school, we have cultivated a strong relationship with the high school program to help promote field hockey and give the younger athletes a chance to see what their futures would look like if they continued on in the sport,” said Kerri Kinsella, a 7th- and 8th-grade coach with KP Youth Field Hockey who also helps coach field hockey at KPHS.
A group of about 40 young girls enrolled in KP Youth Field Hockey dressed in their uniforms and held their field hockey sticks and pom poms to create a tunnel for the KPHS seniors to walk through as they were introduced for their final home game.
The girls then sat in the stands and held posters they decorated while cheering on the high school team.
“Coach Wilder does a great job with the high school field hockey program, and the KP Youth program was honored to support the varsity team at Senior Night,” KP Youth Field Hockey Coordinator Patricia Zini said. “Having some of the varsity athletes referee our youth games has further strengthened the bond between the two programs. I hope that all of our KP Youth Field Hockey athletes will grow to love the game and contribute to the high school program.”
The program held a Halloween field hockey practice with all age groups to end the regular season for KP Youth Field Hockey. The culmination of the season was the Commonwealth League Jamboree last weekend.
KP Youth Field Hockey, led by Coordinator Zini, is a developmental youth program that started over 15 years ago. It provides a structured league for up-and-coming high school players in a friendly but competitive environment. It offers year-round programs instructed by professional and experienced coaches, including KPHS coaching staff, Div. 1 field hockey players, and USA Field Hockey-rated coaches.
The program accepts children of all experience levels and from all towns. Students learn the basics of field hockey and, as they progress, develop and master more advanced skills and knowledge of the game.
Registration for the KP Youth Field Hockey’s winter clinics will open on Dec. 11 through the Norfolk Recreation Department at NorfolkRec.com.