Thank you for your support during the 2008 season! See you in '09!
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Hot
Shots is unlike any sports program you have ever experienced. We build
girls self-esteem, athletic skills, and sense of belonging in a
supportive, fun-filled, non-competitive environment while providing
parents a rare opportunity to play, learn and bond with their daughter.
We
use puppets, parachutes, pillow fights and other unique tools to help
girls enjoy trying new and often difficult things. We play
unique, often silly games that appeal to the girls’ imaginations and
demonstrate that learning can be fun. Girls pretend to be boa
constrictors, thieves, or alligators — all in the course of learning
soccer skills. | |
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There is no
competition. No one is ever placed in a situation where their skill
level might embarrass them or one of their friends. The only
“competition” is within each girl. Each week, we challenge each girl to
push herself to try something new to improve her skills.
We also strive to build a sense of belonging and of being special.
At the beginning and end of each session, we sing a Hot Shots song and
introduce several girls, learning about their “favorite things” and
shouting out their names. The colorful Hot Shots T-shirts also create a
pride of membership. Every girl’s name is on the front of the shirt and
one girl’s soccer drawing is on the back. (On the fourth Sunday, all
the girls draw soccer pictures that are voted on by the girls in each
session of each age group. The winners are imprinted on that group’s
T-shirts.) The shirts are distributed at graduation along with a medal. | |
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To create a
culture of pride, we use strong women role models as coaches, including
college and high school varsity soccer players.
Hot Shots also supports reading and giving back to our community. Last year, we purchased 900 used children's books for our new Hot Shots
"library" so girls can take 2-3 books home to read every week. The
sale of Hot Shots souvenirs funds our “Reading Is A Kick” program that
has donated over $5,200 worth of books to Marshfield’s five elementary
schools. The girls sign the books’ inside covers, and we hold
ceremonies at each library with the girls from each school giving
the books to their librarian and principal.
Hot Shots is so special to girls that some postpone birthday parties to
attend our graduation party. Hot Shots is so effective that coaches
marvel each spring at our graduates’ growth. Above all, Hot Shots is
fun. Where else can girls play soccer to their favorite tunes and learn
skills using puppets and pillow fights? | |
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Numbers tell
the story: Since 1996, more than 3,650 girls have graduated from Hot
Shots. Most girls return year after year, and many come back to coach
after they’re too old to play.
At a time when our daughters are subjected to so many confusing and
demeaning influences, Hot Shots strengthens girls’ self esteem and
self-image, helping to arm them for the challenges that lay ahead.
-- John Wilpers, Founder and Director | |
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If you have any questions or comments, please fill in the fields below
and hit "Send." I will get back to you ASAP. Or feel free to cal me at
617.688.0137. Thank you for your interest in Hot Shots. -- John
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Visitors to the Hot Shots web site:
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