As the winter season settles in, ASIJ’s field hockey team takes to the field with a fresh sense of purpose and energy. Led by their three coaches—Coach Crissy, Chapple, and Rena—the team plays as a tight-knit “hockey family” that prides itself on trust, positivity, and a commitment to lifting one another up.
Coach Crissy says that this family-like culture is the backbone of the program. “We grow in our love for the game and develop our hockey skills, have fun, win games, and grow a larger hockey community,” she explains. Her emphasis on sportsmanship and the role of women in sports continues to shape the team’s mindset, particularly as the regional tournament approaches.
For Coach Chapple, a new addition to the coaching staff, the positivity of the group is what struck her most. “The girls are focused on improving, but they also genuinely look out for each other,” she remarked. She points out the belief that “athletes bring up other athletes,” meaning that the team doesn’t leave anyone behind. This belief is key to the team’s family-like culture.
That supporting environment was evident in their December 8th performance: a decisive 7-0 win against YIS. The win demonstrated their collective drive and execution, offering a glimpse of the chemistry that is developing among the players. Junior captain Hana Iida remarked that they were “really able to work as a team” and that their “efforts at practice paid off.” She added that seeing both new players and underclassmen step up has been a highlight of the season so far.
When it’s not match time, winter training has also served as an opportunity for skill refinement. Building on the fundamentals that the players already possess, Coach Chapple is beginning to introduce advanced tactics, breaking down set-play strategies and sharpening stick technique.
In pursuit of this growth, senior captain Sara Sakane stressed the importance of team unity, especially given the large number of new members who joined this year. “My goal is to create a fun, cohesive season where every member of the team feels connected,” she said. She looked forward to their January 17th match at HKIS, where she hoped to concentrate less on the results and more on playing with confidence and mutual support throughout the game.
“We all play our best when we’re having fun and not dwelling on our mistakes,” said Captain Karen Schwartz, also emphasizing the need for strong group spirit against HKIS. She recalled last season’s match against the team, which ended in a shootout, and expressed excitement to see how the team responds to the challenge this time around.
Over the weekend, the team carried that energy into the regional tournament, where they earned key wins against both HKIS and YIS. The results highlighted not only their technical growth, but also the trust and cohesion that the players and coaches have pushed all season.
As the team moves into the latter half of the winter season, our field hockey players keep their eyes on both victory and community. With three coaches and three captains leading the team culture, they consistently step onto the field with pride, confidence, and a united vision of what they can achieve together.
