Somerville councilors and parents press parks department for middle-school girls intramural hockey; item kept in committee

Councilor Kristen Strezzo, chair of the Committee on Equity, Gender, Seniors, Family and Vulnerable Populations, heard advocates on April 16 pressing the city to create a Somerville-only intramural middle-school girls hockey program for the 2025–26 school year. After presentations and discussion the committee decided to keep the item in committee for further work.

Advocates said an all-girls middle-school intramural program would address gender, economic and cultural barriers that limit girls' participation in hockey and give students time to develop skating and stick-handling skills required for high school play. “We’re here to advocate for an ongoing intramural middle school girls hockey program to be established in the 25–26 school year as a crucial stepping stone,” said Annette McKean, who identified herself as representing a parent group dedicated to growing girls hockey in Somerville.

Why it matters: Advocates told the committee that girls face stereotypes that hockey is a male sport; rules for coed play often default to checking, which many girls want to avoid; and equipment and club tuition are expensive. McKean said a recent interest survey of middle-school-age girls drew almost 50 responses, with about 60% saying they would participate and roughly 18 saying “maybe.” She added that town-run programs can cost more than $1,700 and that club tuition can be substantially higher.

Councilor Stephen Davis said he supports the idea and described his experience coaching girls' hockey in neighboring cities. “If the mayor is on board with this, it'll happen,” Davis told the committee, urging city leadership to commit to program support. Director Yerkes of Parks and Recreation confirmed the department’s interest in inclusionary programming and described existing girls-only learn-to-skate pilots and other youth offerings intended to feed future teams. Director Singh from the mayor’s office said the mayor and department remain committed to continuing conversations with families and advocates.

Advocates described community resources and offers of help. McKean said Somerville Youth Hockey Association has a supply of used equipment the group has agreed to lend to middle-school participants and that coaches from neighboring communities offered coaching help and donated equipment that could not be used by their programs.

Discussion versus decision: The committee did not adopt a program or approve funding at the meeting. Members and staff described short‑term and longer‑term steps — continuing outreach, coordinating with Somerville Youth Hockey Association for equipment, aligning with existing Parks and Recreation learn-to-skate activities, and further conversations with the mayor’s office and recreation staff. Chair Strezzo said the item will remain in committee for follow-up.

What’s next: Committee members asked staff and advocates to return with more details on costs, program structure, and how the pilot would be staffed and sustained; the committee scheduled further discussion at a future meeting.