Red Hook High School freshman Andy Butler has been around the sport of field hockey his entire life, first watching older sisters Maureen and Catherine play as well as acting as the teams scorekeeper, manager and good luck charm.
For the past few years, Butler has been just like a team member but after waging a campaign to be allowed to play on the Raiders girls field hockey team, he truly became a member of the team when he played in his first game against Taconic Hills recently.
" I had been thinking about it in previous years but I didnt make my final decision to play this year until early summer," Butler said when asked when he decided hed go for his dream. " For the past few years I didnt feel like I was ready skill-wise. They lost a lot of people last year and they needed more people so I thought this year was the perfect time."
Feeling that it wouldnt be fair to any other members of the team if he joined the squad later in the season, Andy went through all the drills and practices that his female teammates endured while he went through the appeal process.
" I felt I was obligated to be there and do everything with the team," he said. Butler had researched Section 9 and New York State rules regarding boys playing field hockey. He wrote a letter stating why he wanted to play and to give reasons to justify that decision. He then had to meet with the Athletic Director, School Superintendent and other members of the school staff that formed a committee to decide his fate.
" I was denied originally so I started a petition and wrote an appeal," Butler said. " I was discouraged when I first heard no but decided that Ive just got to try again. I wasnt going to keep haggling with them until I got what I wanted but I decided that Id try one more time. I was kind of glad to hear no the first time because it kind of brought me down off of my high horse."
The committee then took a second look at the situation and granted Butler permission to play. "When they realized that I wasnt going to be taking positions away, they decided that it would be okay if I played this year."
" For the most part, they were all very receptive to the idea," the soft-spoken Butler said when asked how his new teammates reacted to the news that he was now one of them. " In the past years they had asked me why I wasnt playing. They were glad to hear that I was going through with this."
And what was it that finally changed his mind and convinced him that this was the year? " I had always gone back and forth with the decision. I talked to different people and asked them if I should go through with it. Would it be worth it? I decided that this was a sport that I love and it never hurts to try."
His decision wasnt initially met with open arms by his entire family.
" For the most part, my brothers and sisters were very supportive. When I told my parents, I dont think they were too sure about the idea.Then they thought about it and, said that if it was something that I wanted to do, then its was fine. They would be there for me."
" My friends were fine with it once they realized I was going through with it. I dont think the whole school knows yet. Theyll see me walking around with field hockey stuff and do a double take. Everything has been pretty positive so far."
He also wasnt oblivious to the possibility of hearing people tease him about his choice to play on a girls sports team or the catcalls he might endure from the fans of opposing teams. " That was another reason I was on the fence about my decision, because of what other people might think," Butler recalled. " I definitely thought long and hard about it but said to myself that I can deal with this.I really considered what people were going to think at first."
" They should respect this decision," he continued. " Theyre playing sports so why cant I do something that I like? I want people to be more encouraged to try. There are opportunities out there and they should take advantage of them."
Having been around the sport for so long, Butler said there were different things about the game that made it one his favorite sports.
" I like it because its not a typical sport," Butler says. " Its a field sport. Its a fast-paced game. Its not always stop and go. Its pretty quick. I like the running part of the game. Just the whole fundamentals of the game is something I like. You have 11 people out on the field working together Its a real team building game that can really bring out the leadership in some people."
The freshman hones his field hockey skills by getting tips from international players, playing in summer leagues and by practicing his stick skills on his own. When it came time for his Red Hook varsity field hockey debut, he was ready despite some early jitters when he took the field.
" I was really nervous," Butler confessed. " I was counting down the seconds until I could play. I was nervous at the beginning of the game but then I got in to the groove of things. I thought, Im here to play, lets get it done."
He said the Taconic Hills players seemed mostly unfazed by the fact that they were playing against a boy and didnt seem to take it easy on him with their sticks or shy away from him in any way.
" I dont think they were too fazed by it but I could also sense that they were thinking , hey, theres a guy playing. I built myself up to expect anything but it really wasnt as bad as I thought it could be."
Men have been playing field hockey in the United States since 1890 and there are mens national teams at various age levels. What many casual fans dont know is that mens field hockey in an Olympic sport.
Still, no boys in the area had ever taken the steps to play before. Butler is well aware that a boy playing field hockey is something that doesnt happen every day. As far as anyone can remember, Butler is the first male athlete to play on a girls sport team at Red Hook.
" I realized it and thought its great and everything but I dont want a big fuss made over it," Butler said. " Im not in it for the publicity or getting in the local newspaper. Im in it to play. Im in it for the team."
Being a part of the team is better than even Butler imagined.
" Its really extremely different from just keeping the score book," the 15 year-old says." I go to their psych parties now. Its a lot different. Its more personal because Im not on the outside anymore. Im in the huddle and I'm part of the team." Every year will see Butler have to re-apply for permission to play field hockey for the Raiders.
Depending on various factors that may come up in the future, Butler will either be allowed to continue his career or be forced to the sidelines once again.
" I want to play to play in the future but, if I cant, I still want to help out with the team because I love the sport and still want to be involved with this team. Ill be involved with this team no matter what my playing future holds."
