Women's Veteran's Hockey: Competitiveness, Ritual and Entitlement

The introduction of Masters and Veteran’s sport in the 1970s in Australia has provided space for women to participate in competitive individual and team sports as they age (Weir, Baker & Horton, 2010). Field hockey is one such sport played by middle-aged and older women. This qualitative research examined the role that Veteran’s hockey plays in women’s lives, in particular, what it means to be highly active, competitive and part of a team in later life. We interviewed 25 women (45 years and over) participating in the 2011 Hockey NSW Veteran’s Women's State Championships. The initial analysis has identified three common themes: competitiveness, ritual and entitlement. While this tournament was framed in participatory discourses, competition was important to these women. Simultaneously, social connections, team bonding rituals and fun were a significant part of Veteran’s hockey. In addition, these women expressed the right to play hockey and negotiated family and work commitments to attend this yearly event. These findings provide insight into personal and cultural meanings of being a highly active, older woman. Focusing on the stories and lived experiences of older sportswomen emphasises the ‘subjective, capable, female body’ and allows for alternative meanings of ageing, sport and gender to emerge.