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The Catalònia Hoquei Club is driven by four core values: respect, equality, effort, and teamwork. But for member Rita Barnadas, one value stands above the rest—family.
Barnadas introduced her kids to field hockey several years ago, largely because she believed it was a sport they could continue doing as a family. But Barnadas didn’t anticipate that by joining the team, her sense of family would grow well beyond her household.
Barnadas currently plays for the Mamis team. For her, the definition of family is simple: 'A family always accepts all its members with their good things and their bad things.'
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When asked about the club specifically, Barnadas said, 'In the case of the Catalònia Hoquei Club, everyone feels welcome in the club and feels good. They can do the activity even though there are different levels, ages, and genders.' This inclusivity is important to the club’s culture, ensuring that people of all backgrounds and abilities feel like an important part of the team.
The members of the club are united as a family not only through their shared values, but through their common goal: to win. During games, Barnadas points out that every team works together to 'take advantage of the best of each participant' to put up more goals on the scoreboard.
But the Catalònia Hoquei Club’s impact on Barnadas goes far beyond the game itself. 'Well, of course, now I have a lot of friends, and this year I had to invite them all for my birthday!' Barnadas shared with a laugh. 'Joking aside, we play with other clubs, with other moms, and the circle of my acquaintances has become much wider, and it has also opened many windows in my life.'
While the club expanded her social circle, it also opened doors to new perspectives and experiences, adding to her life in ways she hadn’t expected.
Barnadas also believes that being part of a team can teach valuable life lessons that extend beyond the playing field, especially when it comes to accepting both victories and disappointment.
'It has sometimes helped me a lot to be more patient, you know? And also to manage my frustrations, because sometimes things don’t go well for me. You have things that gratify you, and you have things that don’t turn out as well as you would like, but you have to know how to manage it,' Barnadas said. 'When these types of things happen to you off the field, it helps to have known how to manage it in another area.'
To Barnadas, the Catalònia Hoquei Club is much more than a place to play hockey. It’s a community where she found an extended family and lifelong friends, all while learning life skills that continue to shape her daily experience. At the Catalònia Hoquei Club, family isn’t just a word—it’s a feeling that stays with you both on and off the field.