To the future...

I'd like to share with you a thought or two about the KaPow Indoor Field Hockey Experience ... about where we've come from ... where we are today ... and where we hope to be in the future.

First ... a little personal history that helps me put local field hockey into its rightful perspective.

It's 1999 ... the night before our indoor qualifier, and my Mom and I don't get on the road to go to the tournament until about 10 PM because of course, there was a school dance that I just HAD to go to! On the way, we pick up one of my teammates, Katie Grant. For the next two hours in the car, she braids every single strand of my hair, inserting about 50 bobby pins along the way. I'm still not quite sure how it was legal to play with so many weapons in my hair!

We finally arrive at the arena with our boom-box in hand, lime green tie-dye shirts glowing, and braided hair flopping all over the place. It's time to start our special pre-game ritual. One at a time, each of us takes to the court, dancing to our own beat. Gradually, we start getting serious about the warm-up. By the time the game starts, we're ready to kick some booty!

This is how it all began. We all loved field hockey. We didn't even know what indoor hockey was. We just knew that we wanted to play the sport we loved. And looking back, my most vivid memory of NIT's was the time we all dove on the court in perfect synchronism with our goalie to save a ball. I think our team laughed about that play for the entire next year. And to make it all the better, we were pretty darned good. Somehow, the combination of hair-braiding, boom-box dancing, tie-dye shirts and a lot of laughter combined with some decent talent, brought us a lot of success at NIT's. In the years that followed, for better or worse, we and a lot of other talented players succeeded in earning for our area the reputation of being a "Hotbed for Field Hockey."

So wow ... let's fast-forward to the 2009/2010 KaPow Hockey Klub season.

Snazzy KaPow team uniforms have been ordered and screen printed. The warm-ups have been distributed. Talented coaches have been hired. Practices and games have been scheduled in a new facility. Our website calendar has been filled so much, we had to ask our website manager to enlarge it! And our KaPow team selections have all been posted.

Yes, we've completed all the superficial parts of becoming a club. But the question remains, are we really a part of something special yet? Are we all part of something we'll treasure for years to come? Or are we somehow trapped by the notion of being a "Hotbed for Field Hockey."

When KaPow Hockey Klub was formed, we knew it could be something really unique. We love the sport of field hockey because of our experiences and the people we have met through the sport. We love how much fun it was, and can be. We love the experiences we shared off the court, as much as (and sometimes more than) the successes we achieved on it. We love that hockey has helped to define us as the people we are today. We want our players to live and experience the innocence and the purity of our own personal journeys ... journeys we took at a time when we weren't a "Hotbed," but instead, just a bunch of kids playing the sport we loved.

Times change. For better or worse. Now we're the "Hotbed." And yes, we have earned that name, and we should be proud of it. But we didn't get there by over-training, or by always being on the "best" team, or by "sweating the small stuff." We got there by following a path filled with laughter, a deep compassion for the sport, and the unending desire to play ... for fun!

KaPow's mission is to recapture that innocence and fun and playfulness ... to combine it with skilled trainers and hard work ... and to keep our kids on a path that promises wonderful experiences and lifelong memories for them, win or lose. We have all the tools to make it happen ... great coaches, talented players, and committed parents.

We hope you'll help us stay focussed on what really matters. And as much as we might be tempted sometimes to think that it's "being on the best team and making it to NIT's so you can be seen" ... it's not. What really matters is taking one year at a time and making improvements. It's becoming a better player this season. It's meeting girls from other schools and learning their stories and growing from their friendships. It's laughing, and hair braiding, and boom box dancing ... and letting hockey weave it's way naturally into the fabric of our lives in a way that nourishes, enriches, and motivates us to be better people.

The KaPow Hockey Klub has a different perspective. Because we want it that way. We come from a place and a time that had a very different focus ... a focus that taught us some pretty important life lessons. It was a focus that helped make us the "Hotbed of Field Hockey." But our challenge today is to forget that we're a "Hotbed." Our challenge and our mission is to live the incomparable dream of playing a sport you love in an environment that helps you be the best that you can be. We hope you share this vision, and we hope you'll help us keep Kapow on the kind of path that puts a smile on everybody's face, and keeps the pressure of winning where it rightfully belongs.

The results will be ... special.

And the games begin!

It has been a whopping 7 months since our last international match! As much fun as it is to play small games against each other and the occasional scrimmage against some of the men's national team, it was nice to final

ly put on the uniform, walk out onto the field, and stand proud while the National Anthem played.

And of course, for it to be against Argentina was even better. As part of the Pan American region, Argentina is probably our biggest rival and one of the teams we most frequently compete against. With their victory against us last spring in the Pan Am Cup, they prevented us from solidifying a spot in the World Cup, sending us to a World Cup Qualifier. One of which we are still waiting to hear the location of for this upcoming spring, we are keeping our fingers crossed for San Diego in late March!!

Our recent series against Argentina, November 4th -12th, we competed in 5 games over the course of 7 days. To say the least it is very mentally and physically taxing to play that many games at that level in such a short time frame, however something not one of us would pass up the opportunity to participate in. We came out of the series with 1 tie and 4 losses. Definitely a position to grow from! With a young USA squad we learned a lot of lessons and will take the experience with us as we begin our 2 month training for our World Cup Qualifier!

Onto the Next Phase

In our lives, there are seasons marked by the weather, or seasons marked by the calender (if you're in California). There are also phases that overlap numerous seasons. This past phase in my life can be defined by playing for the National team (from 2006 to present) and further defined by living in New York City for a season (the fall).

NYC - UN building (green box-like building)

I've been living in NYC for almost two months now and have finally settled into what you could consider a "normal" routine for the city - that is, each day is different. I have a different set of friends in various activity circles - intramural dodge ball, soccer, and club field hockey - a coaching job with Columbia University's field hockey team, and of course my job and activity - yes, its still an activity for me because its fun! - that trumps all other jobs and activities - playing on the Women's National Field Hockey Team.
Empire State Building

At the beginning of November, we start a five-test match series vs No. 2-in-the-world Argentina. We will take on the best player in the world Luciana Aymar and Las Leonas (nickname; literally translated as "The Lionesses") for the third time this year. Side note, if anyone can think of a good nickname for the United States field hockey team, please email. Sorry, but please refrain from the common themes of "chicks with sticks" or anything along those lines. Back to the test match series - This time the competition will be held on our turf in Chula Vista, CA at the Oympic Training Center - matches will be held on November 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, and 10th. Check the US Field Hockey website for updates!! (www.usfieldhockey.com).


With only a week left in the city before heading westward, I had time, while on my 40 minute subway commute to practice, to reflect on the months I got to spend in the biggest city in the country. For being a PA girl, I didn't do so badly. I took the wrong subway only 50 percent of the time, when sub merging from a subway ride, I walked the wrong direction only every time, and I avoided getting my shoes spit on by the every day NYC passer-byer every single time - thanks to those agility workouts!

East Village

What I liked and disliked the most though was the fact that nothing was familiar to me. At first, it was intimidating to walk the streets. Getting elbowed in the ribs while walking as fast as possible to get to the subway, I learned the hard way. So, rain or shine, agenda or no agenda - as soon as I stepped outside of my apartment, I narrowed the brows and marched, speed-walker style with tunnel-vision until I reached my destination, throwing the 'bows if need be... just kidding.. only sometimes!

There are of course downfalls - black holes to be exact - where only your money goes. There are few places you can go in this world where grocery shopping is comparable to my monthly car payment. On the flip side, there are few places you can go where you are able to get every ethnic cuisine desirable within a 2 block radius - and it is absolutely the best thing you've ever tasted..for 100 dollars! So what I'm saying is that it's expensive here - to eat in, to dine out, to rent a 4 x 6 room, to take public transportation, to buy a yoga mat!

U.S. Open

Nevertheless, it has been an experience I would choose to do again. Living here has made me appreciate all of its characteristics - good or bad, beautiful or ugly. I feel "accomplished" having survived the shoe spitting, subways, and rough crowds and know it will be a place I will return to.. next time - better prepared! The city's got nothing on me!

Onto JO's!

We want to congratulate our KaPow girls that competed this summer in Junior Olympics. Even though we missed you at the Whitewater Festival, I guess we can forgive you :)

But, we are so proud of you guys and hope that you continue your success throughout this season!

This is only the beginning, keep working hard and pushing yourself everyday.

We're KaPow'in It!

This summer was filled with loads of hockey! But we loved every minute!

We started at Wyoming Area, where we had a great time with girls from all around the area. One day it rained, but we made the best of it and went inside and played dodgeball and performed skits. Once the rain cleared, we were back outside only to have it rain on us again! The rest of the week was clear skies though.

Wyoming Area 5-day Camp

We headed to Lake-Lehman for a two-day clinic then to Louisville, Kentucky for a two-day clinic. We got lucky again with the weather and it was absolutely beautiful days to be playing hockey!

Lake Lehman

Then it was onto preparing for our one-day KaPow Elite Kamp and overnight outdoor KaPow Adventure Kamp held at Whitewater Challengers Campground and Crestwood's turf. We believe it's not just all about hockey. It's a balance in life between hockey and other things that bring joy. So at camp, our ideas were a little different from others. We had two short and sharp field hockey sessions at the turf. Then in the evening, we did other light fitness activities and intense fun competitions that bring in concepts of working with others and being an all-around athlete, and having fun doing it! Then we relaxed and ate s'mores, listened to music, and talked around the campfire.

Following the camp was our 3rd-annual Whitewater Field Hockey Festival where 16 teams at the high school level competed in front of 15 college coaches from all over the east coast and midwest. The finals were competitive and fierce. A pizza social followed where all of the players, parents, and coaches of the tournament were invited to King's Pizzeria.

Our middle school division followed on Sunday and unfortunate for them, the first couple of games were a bit wet! But they were troopers and powered through the wind and rain.

Monday was our first KaPow Hockey Klub practice combined with our Twinkling Stars youth program open play. The turnout was fantastic and we were able to meet more of the players in the Klub as well as introduce field hockey to the younger age groups.

All of the preparation was tediuos, but it was completely worth it knowing everyone got a little something from our experiences and coaching.. at least, we hope so!!! Now it's time to get ready for the indoor season.

Congratulations!

At this year's NFCs, we had 6 KaPow Klub members compete and medal at the tournament.

Congratulations ladies! We're so proud of you!

Ashley Sebia - Sem - U16 Kutztown Gold

Dominique Pasqualichio - WVW - U19 Lancaster Bronze

Jess Newak - Crestwood - U16 Kutztown Gold

Kelcie Hromisin - WVW - U16 Kutztown Gold

Kayla Garzio - Hazleton - U16 West Chester Silver

Missy Ramsey - Del Val - U16 Kutztown Gold

KaPow's First Klub Adventure!

Hello!

It has been awhile since our last blog entry, our apologies!   Things are just getting started with our kamps, tournament, and klub.   Lets just say Kayla and I go to bed every night thinking, what do we have to do next!?   With all of our events only a few weeks away, it's crunch time!   

Inbetween all of the craziness we managed to get away for our first fundraising event for the KaPow Indoor Klub!   It seems as though everything is moving so quickly, before you know it we will be playing for the championships at NIT's!   

Although we only had one family in attendance, we had an amazing time, determined to soak each and every raft that seemed to be enjoying the dry clothes just a little bit to much!   By the end of the trip, lets just say we had people jumping off their rafts attacking us, not so sure we made too many friends that day!  

We are excited to see the fundraiser grow, and next year possibly soaking other KaPow families instead of strangers!!  But, we both want to thank everyone that we have gotten the chance to work with so far for their enthusiasm and eagerness to help us along this process.  We are excited to see the progression of the sport we all love, and thrilled that we have found a group of people that feel the same way.  To those that we have not met yet, there are good times to come in the future!  

Till the next time......enjoy this beautiful summer weather!

Lauren