The women’s game is changing — fast. And if you’ve watched the PWHL this season, you’ve seen it clearly: the game is faster, stronger, and more physical than ever before.

On a recent episode of Our Girls Play Hockey, Lee sat down with PWHL and Team USA forward Hayley Scamurra to talk about the evolution of checking, competitive contact, and whether girls should start learning physical play earlier in their development.

This conversation goes deeper than “should girls hit?” It’s about safety, confidence, skill development, and preparing players for the game they’re actually stepping into.

⭐ Why the PWHL Is Already Playing Near Full-Checking Hockey

Hayley didn’t hesitate:
The PWHL is physical. Extremely physical.

Players battle hard along the boards, use contact to separate opponents from the puck, and take — and give — solid, clean body pressure. The only thing missing? The truly open-ice highlight-reel hits that the rulebook still prohibits.

What’s interesting is that this physicality isn’t sloppy or dangerous. As Hayley shared, teams are even bringing in specialists — including NHL names like Ryan Getzlaf — to teach proper technique for both giving and receiving contact.

The game isn’t becoming violent.
It’s becoming tactically smarter.

⭐ The Real Debate: Should Girls Start Learning to Hit Earlier?

Parents everywhere are asking the same question:
If the pro, college, and international game are becoming more physical, shouldn’t youth players start learning how to handle contact?

Hayley and Lee agree on a few key points:

1. Young players should learn physicality — even if the rules don’t allow full checking yet.

This means teaching:

• Body positioning

• Board battles

• Stick and body leverage

• Absorbing contact safely

• Playing confidently without fear

These concepts don’t violate any rulebook — but they create a foundation for safe play later.

2. Many girls hesitate physically because of social pressure.

Hayley explained that younger girls often pull back because they “don’t want someone to be mad at them.”
Learning controlled contact helps players understand:
👉 It’s not personal. It’s hockey.

3. Receiving contact is just as important as giving it.

This was a major theme in the episode. Injuries often come from players who don’t know how to brace or position their bodies.
Teaching girls to receive contact is actually an injury-prevention skill.

⭐ Why Coaches Shouldn’t Shy Away from Physical Drills

Whether coaching boys or girls, Lee emphasized the same truth:
Players at all levels need exposure to physicality in controlled drills.

Examples include:

• Partner grappling/pushing drills

• Board-contact practice using pads

• Safe competitive battle drills

• Balance and edge-work exercises under pressure

Hayley agreed — younger players need this so they don’t freeze in game situations. The reality is simple:

➡️ Someone is eventually going to hit your daughter, whether she’s ready or not.
➡️ It’s far safer to teach her how to handle it than hope it never happens.

⭐ What About International Rules? Or NCAA Play?

One of the most eye-opening parts of the discussion was the comparison among different levels of the women’s game.

IIHF / Olympic Rules

• Much stricter officiating

• Minimal tolerance for extended contact

• Even small equipment issues (like a helmet coming off) lead to penalties

Switching from PWHL play to IIHF competition requires major mental adjustment.

NCAA

• Generally less physical than the PWHL

• Physicality varies by conference (more in the West than the East)

• Coaches don’t emphasize contact much due to stricter penalty standards

PWHL

• The most physical environment Hayley has played in

• Supported by structured teaching of safe contact

• Not officially “full-checking,” but very close in practical play

The message?
Players advancing through the ranks must adapt quickly — and earlier exposure to physicality makes that transition safer and easier.

⭐ The Mental Side: Getting Back Up After a Hit

Hayley gave one of the best pieces of advice in the episode:

“If you get up and keep going, it hurts less because you’re focused on the play.”

Getting up quickly isn’t just physical toughness. It’s:

• Confidence

• Competitiveness

• Poise under pressure

• Awareness of game flow

Learning how to fall, recover, and re-engage is a critical life skill — not just a hockey one.

🏁 Final Thoughts: The Women’s Game Is Evolving — Let’s Prepare Players for the Future

Physicality in women’s hockey isn’t going away.
It’s accelerating — skillfully, safely, and with intention.

Parents and coaches who embrace physical development will help the next generation:
✔️ Play safer
✔️ Play with more confidence
✔️ Transition smoothly to higher levels
✔️ Enjoy the game more fully

If you coach girls, or if your daughter loves the sport, now is the time to incorporate controlled physicality into practice. The game they're heading toward will demand it.

If you want us to explore any specific part of this topic further — drills, teaching methods, age-appropriate contact, or league rules — send us a message anytime. We love helping families navigate the game with confidence.

Thanks for reading, and keep supporting the incredible athletes shaping the future of women’s hockey.