How to Get Girls Into Hockey

The first recorded women's hockey games took place in Ontario and Quebec in the late 19th century. Few women played the game at that time, but today, thousands of females are lacing up in rinks across the United States. According to "USA Hockey" magazine, in 1990, there were 6,336 women playing the game in the United States. In 2008, there were more than 60,000 registered female players. These high numbers means that it's easier than ever to enroll girls in hockey, but you might need to do a little convincing before you get them on the ice.

Instructions

    • 1

      Take the girls to a college or national female hockey game. Colleges across the country have female hockey teams, and the U.S. national team plays exhibition matches throughout the hockey season. Showing the girls how the experts play the game might spark their interest.

    • 2

      Encourage the girls to speak with female hockey players. Have them ask the players about how they got into the game, why they love it and why someone else should get into it. These answers and personal connections might allay any concerns they have about hockey.

    • 3

      Rent out your local arena for an hour or two and gather a few girls together to try the game. You can often rent hockey equipment from sporting good stores.

    • 4

      Find female hockey camps in your area and ask the girls to sign up. Make sure reputable on and off-ice staff, such as women’s national team members, run the camp. Hockey camps develop camaraderie between players, and the expert coaching will allow the girls to get a sense of what to expect while playing.

    • 5

      Hire an experienced women's hockey coach for a couple of hours, if you can't find a female hockey camp in your area. Ask the coach to conduct an on and off-ice session with the girls, teach them about the fundamentals of the game and answer any questions they have.

    • 6

      Promote the social aspects of the game more than the physical parts. In a 2005 national survey conducted by North Shore Girls Hockey and USA Hockey Girls' and Women's Section, researchers found that girls mentioned teamwork, friendships, camaraderie and bonding as the most important parts of the game.