This weekend I had the pleasure of guest coaching the Bedford Recreational Field Hockey Program which my mom started just about 10 years ago and still leads. She had called me earlier in the week asking me to stand in as the other team she coaches had a game that conflicted with the Rec Team’s practice time. Ridgely played field hockey through high school and was on the Boston University squad, where she was also supposed to play lacrosse,  for one season before she blew out her hamstrings trying to impress men in the weight room – girls, take note :).

Growing up I started soccer around four and, like any good parent, my mom and dad supported my sisters and I in our athletic endeavors which, over the years, included soccer, lacrosse, basketball, ski racing, cross country, track and field, karate, kickboxing, rock climbing, ice climbing, and dance. For a long time field hockey was missing from this list not because we weren’t interested in trying it out, but because no programs existed for children our age that weren’t super intense travel teams that just didn’t work in our schedule. The first opportunity I was going to get to play field hockey was going to be in the middle school modified program.

Ridgely or, as I call her when she’s coaching me, Wriggly Worm (<3) was not happy about this and, after a few dinner table rants, marched (or rather drove) down to the Town Rec. Office and stated that she was going to start a field hockey program. It was probably more complicated than that with paperwork and such but I like to remember it as her in a wonder woman costume defending my right to use a heavy wooden stick to shoot a heavy plastic ball at people.

The program started off with eight kids that my mom either picked up off of the street or wrangled into playing with the promise of Carvel’s. Today, the program has more than 60 kids from 3rd to 7th grade. I think that is pretty awesome. The other day my mom was at a local high school field hockey game and was approached by a parent whose daughter had started playing in the program she created. He thanked her for starting it, encouraging his daughter to play, and supporting her in her athletic career long after her time in the Bedford Rec. program was over. Today, she is a senior in high school and is being recruited to play for a top college come next fall.

Parents thanking Ridgely for what she does isn’t a rare occurrence. She gets approached at games, the supermarket, parties, and town events. Every time she shrugs it off and says it was the kids talent or heart or hard work that made the difference, not her. She’s wrong. Talent, heart, and hard work are great but if there isn’t someone there to motivate you and provide the basic programs necessary to channel your skills, you won’t get anywhere.

So, when I was standing in the middle of the field watching the the girls run back and forth warming up, I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude for what she has created and, as parents watched on, I could tell that they felt the same. It takes a special person to do what she does and give as much as she gives. I am so blessed to have her not only as a mom but as a mentor.