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Field hockey team scores points off the field

Decked out in work clothes and gloves, with sweatshirts to combat the early morning chill, University women's field hockey players have on the past two Saturdays assumed their positions on a barren lot in Trenton with a somewhat different-than-usual goal in mind: to help build a house.

The ongoing project to construct four townhouses from scratch is sponsored by the Trenton-area chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that provides low-income families with affordable, new housing.

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For the field hockey team, now in its off-season, the day-long community construction effort served not only as a chance to build homes for hardworking, needy families, but also as a time to build team spirit and strengthen team dynamics, according to team co-captain Bridget Marchesi '01.

Jill Venema '01, Habitat for Humanity coordinator for the Student Volunteers Council, explained that group community projects do not always fall easily into place. As a result, Venema said she has volunteered to act as a liaison between the SVC and campus groups such as athletic teams, the Wilson School, fraternities and sororities.

"Teams want to do this but it's hard for them to work around time constraints and get these projects," she said. "Things get lost in the shuffle."

Coordination

But Venema is trying hard to change this situation. She said that as a part of her new liaison role, she already has sent a list of one-day group projects to all University coaches, and many have already expressed interest in team community service.

"We're pretty privileged and we wanted to give something back," field hockey head coach Beth Bozman said.

She added that the team has participated in other community efforts, such as Athletes Against Cancer. The players also regularly hold field hockey clinics at a reduced cost for young players from the surrounding area.

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Dave Gibbons, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity's Trenton-area branch, said he believes the projects help teams to see each other in a different context than usual. "On a sports team there are primary positions that people play and they don't get a chance to change roles," he said.

"Here, the best player may be the worst hammerer," Gibbons added with a chuckle.

"It was an amazing experience to work together with the team in a non-sports related way," Naela El-Hinnawy '03 said. "We are a part of the community, too."

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