Women in Coaching
Do you want to improve your coaching?
Scottish Hockey is committed to promoting coaching as an attractive role for women in hockey. In partnership with sportscotland we continue to offer the Women in Coaching Programme. The focus is on women coaches leading coaching in a variety of environments, mainly club and talent pathway.
Would you like:
- development opportunities that are designed especially for you?
- to get feedback on your coaching practice?
- an individual mentor to support you?
- to meet and share ideas with other coaches?
- to become part of a network of women hockey coaches?
Impact on previous coaches:
“Gaining some confidence in what I’m doing on a weekly basis”
“The video analysis and feedback was beneficial and engagement with National Coaches”
“The WiC programme has helped me to improve as a coach and given me greater confidence. I would highly recommend it”
Please contact Colleen Reid, Coach Education Development Manager for more information.
The coaches who were involved in the sportscotland 2018-19 programme:
Troon Hockey Club junior club coaches: Shona, Tracey, Catherine, Karen, Connie and Claire
The coaches who were involved in the sportscotland 2017-18 programme:
Vikki Bunce
Coaching: Dundee Wanderers Hockey Club
Julie Bryce
Coaching: Hillhead Ladies Hockey Club
Suzi Hamill
Coaching: Watsonians Hockey Club junior section
Jess Martin
Coaching: Perthshire Hockey Club junior section
The coaches who were involved in the sportscotland 2016-17 programme:
Carole Taylor
From Edinburgh
Day job I am a self employed sports coach, I also do Event work along side running my own commercial laundry (random I know).
What are you most looking forward to in this programme? Learning more about hockey and finding different ways to learn.
Best part of my coaching so far? Seeing previous pupils continuing with hockey (years on) and how far they have progressed. Even being on the same pitch both with and against them is good.
Biggest challenge? Its has to be learning and finding ways to learn and doubting my ability to coach due to my dyslexia.
Best part of the programme so far? It has to be meeting so many hockey people that have only inspired me to continue to progress with coaching hockey and that it is possible, and help is there if needed.
Fiona Jordan
From Originally Skipton, North Yorkshire and now Edinburgh.
Day job I am a hockey coach at George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, coaching age groups from 8-18 years old.
What are you most looking forward to in this programme? Developing my coaching techniques and knowledge and being able to apply this both in my day job, as well as in my position as assistant coach for the Scotland U16 Girls. I am also looking forward to challenging myself to increase my confidence and learn from a network of talented coaches.
Most rewarding aspects of my coaching career? Coaching Edinburgh University Women’s Hockey Club 3rd XI to the final of the BUCS Conference Cup in the 2015/16 season.
Biggest challenge? Facing the frustration of coaching everyday whilst going through two seasons of injury as a player.
Best part of the programme so far? The indoor hockey coaching and analysis workshop led by Audrey Sime, which gave a valuable insight into coaching indoor hockey, as well as transferable coaching aspects to outdoor hockey.
Morag Fordyce
Coaching: Linlithgow Hockey Club
Siobhan Penman
Coaching: Stirling University Hockey Club
Kirsty Blackstock
Coaching: Ardrossan Ladies Hockey Club
The coaches who were involved in the sportscotland 2015-16 programme were:
Kareena Marshall
Coaching: Western Wildcats Hockey Club
Nikki Robertson
Coaching: Scotland U18 National Squad
Kirsty Fowler
Coaching: Uddingston Hockey Club and Scotland U16 Development Squad
The coaches who were involved in the 2013-15 programme were:
Hazel Cowan
From Dundee, however been living in Aberdeen most of my life
Day job Centrica Energy E & P – Information Management Lead UK & NL
Club Aberdeen Bon Accord MBC Hockey Club. Also the Cults Academy after school and the Scottish U18 assistant coach
Why did you want to take part in this programme? I wanted to push my abilities to coach further. The ability to make small changes in my coaching to help achieve bigger benefits to any athlete I have contact with. I want everyone to enjoy hockey as much as I do and achieve their max no matter what their age or ability.
What are you most looking forward to in this programme? Having a mentor, and having someone from outside the club/ district I could bounce some ideas off.
Most rewarding moment so far? The positive glow after speaking to my mentor Jackie Douglas, also I’ve managed to do a little bit of video with Ubersense and 5 indoor athletes, and the effect in a few weeks has been positive as they can really see what they need to improve on. Feet, body position ball position, the athletes understand more when they see good practice. So they want to become better and improve.
Biggest challenge? Fitting it all in, I want to give every athlete my full attention and sometimes I feel guilty if I’ve not had that contact with my athletes.
Nicola Whiteford
From Blairgowrie
Day job Tennis coach
Club Blairgowrie HSFP ladies hockey club, junior and senior sections
Why did you want to take part in this programme? I wanted to improve my hockey knowledge and skills in coaching especially for indoor as our team have just started playing indoor and I don’t know much about it. I thought this would be a good experience to meet other coaches and learn from them.
What are you most looking forward to in this programme? At the moment I’m looking forward to going to Prague at the end of January, as part of the programme, to watch the Eurohockey Indoor Nations Championship. It will be good to go and see some world class teams play indoor hockey and to do some analysis of the games with other coaches.
Most rewarding moment so far? This season we have had 2 of our junior girls playing for the senior team and they have been a great asset to the team. It has been good to see them come through the junior section and how much confidence and skill they have to play in the senior section at the age such a young age.
Biggest challenge? My biggest challenge for this programme will be building up my own confidence. I have been told that what I am doing is good and I coach well but I feel that my skills are lacking and I’m not always confident in what I’m doing. But hopefully due to this programme I will gain more knowledge and skills and that will increase my confidence and I will be able to go further in hockey.
Lorraine Nicholson-Bennett
From Bonnyrigg in Midlothian
Day job Supply lecturer at Borders College and fitness class instructor for the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament – Rebounding classes.
Club Eskvale Hockey Club. I mostly coach the U16’s, U14’s and U12’s. Occasionally, I coach the senior ladies teams.
I have been coaching Inverleith Hockey Club Youth Section at their summer youth camps over the last few years.
Why do you want to take part in this programme? I thought it would make me a better coach and help me develop as the Hockey Development Officer for Midlothian Hockey Development Group as I already do many schemes with primary schools, Dalkeith Community Hockey Club and Beeslack Community Hockey Club. I hope to start a club at the new Lasswade Centre. I coach Lasswade High school team and have high hopes for them. I am a former pupil so would be really chuffed if they managed to win one of the Midlothian competitions they enter.
What are you most looking forward to in this programme? Improving my coaching skills and completing my Level 2.
Most rewarding moment so far? Seeing my U14’s win their first tournament.
Biggest challenge? Getting Eskvale players to play modern hockey.
Pippa Bell
Coaching: Scotland U16 Girls assistant coach and Lead Coach Scotland U16 Development Squad
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