MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Mayfield City Schools floor hockey program has been running for 50 years.

What You Need To Know

  •  Mayfield City Schools has a floor hockey league that has been running for 50 years

  •  The league is co-ed with about 40% of the players being girls

  • Parents often play as kids, then get their own children involved or coach

“Fifty years, that’s a lifetime,” said Phil Weinburg, founder and organizer.

Weinburg started the floor hockey program at Mayfield City Schools when he was a fifth-grade teacher. 

“It was a new game at the time. I had never heard of it,” said Weinburg.

The league has been co-ed from the beginning. The first season, one female played on the team. Today, Weinburg says girls make up 40% of the league.

“We sort of made up the rules as we went along. And it’s lasted,” said Weinburg.

Sam Nass is in the eighth grade and has been playing since she was in the first grade.

“I think what’s really fun about floor hockey is all the teamwork and you get to make new friends,” said Nass.

Nico Gentille knows Weinburg from when he played as a student.

“I played from second grade on until I graduated,” said Gentille. He’s been a coach for nearly 16 years.

“I love the program,” said Gentille. “It’s really fun. It’s good to hang out with the kids, get them started in something. This was my only sport growing up besides baseball. In the winter, it’s good to get them to do something, get them moving, build comradery, teach them a new skill.”

This season, students are wearing special 50-year-anniversary jerseys.

Weinburg said he never expected the program to last so long or be so popular.

“We don’t do kindergarten yet. We go first through twelfth grade,” said Weinburg. 

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