As soon as I entered the hockey hall, the cool air struck. On the smooth ice, children wore red team uniforms, red helmets, and held hockey clubs, like clumsy little penguins. They look a little "out of control", some hold the coach's hands tightly, some are constantly swinging, some are wandering alone on the sidelines...
Most of them are autistic children from a special team – the "No Longer Alone Ice Hockey Team".
Yang Liying slid on the ice with the "no longer lonely ice hockey team". Courtesy of respondents
In July 2020, the Shenzhen Longgang District Ice Hockey Association launched the "No Longer Lonely Ice Hockey Team" public welfare project, calling for the care of children with autism. This public welfare project has been successfully held for two phases, and 30 or 40 children with autism have learned ice hockey, made friends and enjoyed the joy of ice and snow here.
Autism, also known as autism, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Autistic children are like stars in the sky, twinkling alone in the night sky, hence the name "children of the stars". According to the "Report on the Development of China's Autism Education and Rehabilitation Industry III" (2019), it is estimated that the number of autistic patients in China may exceed 10 million, and the number of patients aged 0 to 14 or more than 2 million is increasing at a rate of nearly 200,000 per year.
"I don't ask them to play hockey well, it's good to be able to play happily on the ice." Coach Yang Liying, a former member of the Chinese women's national ice hockey team, hopes that ice hockey can bring happiness to this group of "star children" and help them see a wider ice and snow starry sky.
A special ice hockey team
Between tall buildings and green trees, a pale blue ice balloon air film pavilion insulates the sweltering heat.
The ice hockey hall is located in Longgang District, Shenzhen, costing 30 million yuan to build, covering a total area of 8344 square meters. It is the only Olympic standard ice rink in South China and a training base for the Chinese women's national ice hockey team. The management party, Shenzhen Hongxing Kunlun Hockey Club, was established in 2017 and is the only ice hockey club in China to participate in the world's highest level professional league.
When professional players do not train, the hockey hall is also open to the general public.
People skating on the ice rink on February 18. Beijing News reporter Wu Caiqian photographed
For Shenzhen, where the average annual temperature exceeds 22 degrees Celsius, ice and snow are rare and distant. In August 2021, 4-year-old Liu Zihao came to the ice hockey hall for the first time, he is a child with autism and the youngest member of the "no longer lonely ice hockey team".
"No Longer Alone Ice Hockey Team" is sponsored by Shenzhen Longgang District Ice Hockey Association and is also one of the activities of "Longgang District Sports Care Project". Launched in July 2020, it has been held once a year, and so far 30 or 40 children with autism have benefited.
"The original intention of forming the team is to help autistic children integrate into society through the sport of ice hockey." Wang Siteng, vice president of the Longgang District Ice Hockey Association, said. In the project survey, they found that the canadian ice hockey academy's research also confirmed this: skating, ice hockey and other ice sports have a certain positive effect on the rehabilitation of autistic children. Referring to canada's research programme, the "No More Lonely Ice Hockey Team" is staffed with professional coaches, "autism" instructors and doctors.
As for the head coach candidate, Wang Siteng first thought of Yang Liying. She is a professional ice hockey player at the Shenzhen Kunlun Hongxing Ice Hockey Club, who began playing ice hockey at the age of 8 and was selected for the national ice hockey team at the age of 19, helping the team win the season championship of the Russian Women's Ice Hockey League, the first top professional league championship in the history of Chinese ice hockey.
In August 2021, Yang Liying stayed in Shenzhen for rehabilitation training due to injury and illness. After learning the news that she was going to form a "no longer lonely ice hockey team", she agreed to teach this group of children.
When they first met, Yang Liying did not find anything different about the child in front of her. But when she introduced the hockey and equipment, the children began to show different states, some quietly listened to the whole process, some heard half of it and ran out, some suddenly cried out...
After listening to Yang Liying's introduction, Liu Zihao began to wear equipment, but he was a little irritable in the face of strange and numerous ice hockey protectors. Mother Wang Fang was a little worried, she heard that some children just can't accept clothes and give up, she patiently helped and kept encouraging.
Yang Liying communicated with children in the locker room. Courtesy of respondents
Smooth on the ice, the children are extremely excited. Liu Zihao, who was "fully armed", stepped onto the ice and did not take a few steps, he wrestled one after another. He cried and said to Wang Fang, "I am in so much pain, I don't want to wrestle." He began to realize that skating was different from the roller skating he had learned before, the ice surface was smoother and colder.
Wang Fang asked him to take a break in the outfield to see how others slid first. She didn't force her child to learn, she just hoped that he would feel the ice and snow when he grew up in the south. "His perception of heat and cold is weak and he will be a little scared at first."
Seeing that everyone was having a lot of fun on the ice, Liu Zihao was once again moved.
The coach came to the sideline, slowly took his hands and slowly slid into the middle. The ice knife slashed across the ice, bringing up Xiaoice grains, and strangeness and fear were also left behind. At the end of the training, Liu Zihao refused to even leave the ice, he took off his gloves and curiously touched the hard ice surface with his small hand.
When she returned home in the evening, Wang Fang was pleasantly surprised to hear her son say: "Mom, I am not afraid of wrestling, when will we go skating again?" ”
The youngsters of the "No Longer Alone Ice Hockey Team" practice batting. Courtesy of respondents
"I was the best"
During the three-month training, the children experienced skating, ice hockey, ice tug-of-war and other sports. Their progress is on the ice and is also seen by the coaches.
What makes Yang Liying feel most relieved is that slowly, some children take the initiative to greet her, even if it is just a wave of the hand and a smile. She also witnessed the children becoming more and more courageous – no longer needing the coach to hold hands, and they dared to "gallop" on the ice themselves.
In the eyes of this group of "star children", Yang Liying saw a familiar light, which was a love for ice hockey.
Once, Yang Liying found a little girl standing on the ice and kept quietly watching her. "Do you want to skate?" Yang Liying asked. The little girl did not respond, but Yang Liying saw the longing in the child's eyes. She took the little girl's hands and slowly slid up on the ice, step by step. The little girl learned quickly, but her steps were still a little hesitant, and Yang Liying saw that she was a little unconfident.
They stopped sliding, and Yang Liying asked the little girl to shout to her, "I'm the best!" "There was no response. She didn't give up, crouched down and asked the little girl why she didn't believe she was the best. The other person whispered that her mother would sometimes criticize her, and she felt that she was not the best.
Yang Liying called the other children to let them slide together, and encouraged them to shout "I am the best!" ”
The atmosphere of encouragement faded through the ice rink, and the children shouted more and more vigorously. Finally, the little girl also said the words "I am the best!" Although very quiet, there was not a trace of doubt.
"It's a good shift and hopefully they'll be more confident." The changes in the children, Yang Liying is remembered in her heart. She didn't set limits for her children, she just wanted them to grow up freely and happily. The curriculum design of this project is also not fixed, and it will be flexibly adjusted according to the children's acceptance level.
Qi Xueting is teaching the "no longer lonely ice hockey team" team members skating. Courtesy of respondents
Qi Xueting is also the coach of the "No Longer Alone Ice Hockey Team", she is the former captain of the national women's ice hockey team, who played at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
On the team, she once met a quiet little boy. After talking about how to put the legs and how to step, the little boy did not have any words to reply. Qi Xueting thought of a way, she shouted the password of "one two one two", and the two people raised their feet together. After several practices, Qi Xueting just shouted "one", and the little boy then shouted "two", which surprised her.
After learning to step on the ice, the little boy began to learn to skate on the ice. At first, Qi Xueting held him with both hands, then became a hand, and then completely let go of his hand. Before class, Qi Xueting let the little boy slide to his mother's side by himself, and she followed closely. The center of gravity moved forward, step by step, he completed the 20-meter "journey" and slid to his mother's side.
Before leaving, the little boy said "thank you" to Qi Xueting. She still remembers the situation: "It was very quiet, but I felt a great sense of accomplishment." ”
Happy on the ice
There are still some children who are afraid of ice and snow and dare not slide out of that small step. The coaches found blue mats, sat the kids on them, and pushed them to glide on the ice. Sitting on this "ice train", you can also feel the joy of speeding on the ice.
Coaches and children are playing "Little Train on Ice". Courtesy of respondents
Yang Liying remembered that the first time she went to the ice was also sitting on the bench, letting the coach push the slide. When she was 8 years old, she felt the joy of skating for the first time on the school's ice playground, and she fell in love with the sport ever since.
"In the Northeast dialect, I am 'right-minded' and very persistent." Yang Liying, a second-year student, wanted to transfer to a school with an ice hockey team, but her parents thought she was three minutes hot and ignored her. Yang Liying did not go to school for two days before she successfully transferred. From the varsity team in elementary school to the sports school, to the national team, until joining the club to become a professional athlete, she skated on the ice rink for 16 years.
When I was a child, I played ice hockey purely for fun. Now, Yang Liying found that ice hockey changed her life, making her more tenacious and cheerful.
The ice surface is smooth, the ice knife has a curve before and after, and it is easy to fall forward or backward. For beginners, wrestling is commonplace and the best growth. Some children fall a few times and then think of giving up; some children will become more and more courageous and stronger.
Qi Xueting is the latter. When she was 10 years old, Qi Xueting skated on the ice rink for the first time, and she carefully moved against the board wall. She fell dozens of heels, almost after class or did not learn, anxious to sit on the ground and cry. The coach sniffed and slid over and comforted her: "It's okay, two more slides tomorrow, it will be." Later, she not only learned, but also slid to the international arena.
Ice hockey has brought strength and change to Yang Liying and Qi Xueting, and they also want to pass it on to the children.
Yang Liying participated in the 2019-2020 Russian Women's Ice Hockey League. Courtesy of respondents
What do you hope hockey can bring to this group of autistic children? Their answer is "happy." As a head coach, Yang Liying does not require children to learn much hockey skills, nor does she force them to play a game, "It is good to be happy on ice." ”
During the three months of training, Wang Fang found that there were indeed some changes in her son. Before learning roller skating, Liu Zihao studied for two days, fell a few times, and did not want to go again. The arena was switched to ice, and he wrestled more often. But to Wang Fang's surprise, his son did not say no more this time, he wrestled again and again, and stood up again and again.
Liu Zihao also overcame his fear. He was sensitive to sound and couldn't accept too much noise. When you hear the sound of firecrackers during the Spring Festival, you will also cover your ears uncomfortably. In the hockey arena, sometimes the radio will broadcast the score, and Liu Zihao will tremble uncomfortably in Wang Fang's arms after hearing it. But he insisted on waiting until the end of the game, and said the end of the game in a dashing manner: "Okay, finished, I'm gone." ”
Every time before leaving the hockey hall, Wang Fang would ask Liu Zihao's feedback.
"Happy today?" "Happy!"
"Will you come next time?" "Come back."
"Ice and Snow Starry Sky"
The light illuminates the white air film upwards, and there is an extra piano on the smooth ice, and colorful balloons are placed on both sides. The keys beat, the 1988 Winter Olympics promotional song "Winter Games" sounded, and children in red jerseys, like strings of small red flames, slid to the center of the ice rink.
On December 19, 2021, the children received the "honorary certificate" from the organizers, and the second season of the "No Longer Lonely Ice Hockey Team" public welfare activity officially ended.
The three-month hockey trip made this group of children no longer alone. They still can't glide fast and hit the ball like a normal team. But they also have their own small progress, some have learned to glide and brake, some can hit the ball of victory on the goal, some take the initiative to greet the coach, some are willing to share the bit with others...
"The overall performance level and communication skills of the children have been greatly improved." Wang Siteng introduced that the "No Longer Lonely Ice Hockey Team" project has been successfully held for the second consecutive year, and the three-month training consists of 12 activities, mainly for children with autism.
The children returned to the auditorium with their certificates in their arms. At this time, another piano song sounded, a familiar melody, clear and ethereal.
On December 19, 2021, pianist Liu Ji played the piano song "Ice and Snow Starry Sky" in the ice hockey hall for children with autism. Courtesy of respondents
This is the graduation gift of the famous pianist Liu Ji to the "No Longer Lonely Ice Hockey Team", and he played the original song "Ice and Snow Starry Sky" on the spot. In the summer of 2021, after receiving the invitation to create, he was touched by the warmth of this public welfare project. Liu Ji uses the melody of the children's song "A Twinkle and a Little Star" to run through the entire work, ice and snow and starry sky, haunting it.
"I hope to bring this warmth to more 'children of the stars', may the stars be bright, and the 'children of the stars' can get more protection and love in the world." At the event site, Liu Ji encouraged the children not to be afraid to be different from others, and he played a symphony of "Destiny".
Liu Zihao was in his father's arms, quietly listening to the piano music, and he commented word by word: "Good." "Since then, he has fallen in love with the sound of the piano, and wherever he hears it, he has to stop and listen.
More than a month later, the Beijing Winter Olympics opened. The Beijing Olympic mascot and banner were hung on the ice rink, and the words on a red background were written in white characters: "Chinese Ice Hockey" and "Shenzhen Power". More and more people are coming here to experience the charm of ice and snow.
Liu Zihao's family pays more attention to the Winter Olympic games than in previous years. Seeing ice hockey players playing, Liu Zihao would point to the TV and say, "I've played ice hockey, and I like skating." ”
In 2021, the children of the "No Longer Alone Ice Hockey Team" are skating. Courtesy of respondents
Yang Liying went to Guangzhou to explain the ice hockey events of the Winter Olympics online. Qi Xueting, in Beijing, served as a sparring supervisor for the ice hockey teams participating in the Winter Olympics. They all hope that with the east wind of the Winter Olympics, more people can pay attention to the sport of ice hockey, and more people can feel the joy brought by ice and snow.
In a few months, the summer of 2022 is back, and the "no longer lonely ice hockey team" will appear on the ice rink again.
Yang Liying also wants to continue to participate, which in her opinion is a very meaningful thing. "Children with autism are little angels, but there is a low level of attention in society, and I want to do something for them."
Wang Fang cherishes every opportunity to broaden her son's interests, and looks forward to more such opportunities. She called on the public to dispel stereotypes about children with autism, and not all children are severely ill. Children like Liu Zihao can be integrated into society, and they need a little more understanding and a little more support. "I hope he can be like a normal person and integrate into some mass activities."
Since learning to play ice hockey, Liu Zihao's world has not only gained more knowledge of "ice hockey", but also has some more colors. He loves to draw and can also draw hockeys. The brush outlined a pair of skates and flew upwards, and a pile of snowflakes flew out of the back, like happy elves.
(At the request of the interviewee, Wang Fang and Liu Zihao are pseudonyms in the text)
Beijing News reporter Wu Caiqian, intern Sun Qingyue, reported in Shenzhen, Guangdong
Edited by Guo Yimeng
Proofreading Li Lijun