Learning, doing and supporting

As part of our focus on creating more awareness around Canada's National Women's Indoor Field Hockey team, SeeWhatSheCanDo asked each each player to share some details around their introduction to and history playing the sport; what they love about field hockey; what their favourite sport memory is; and what each player would say to their 10 year old self if they had the chance to go back in time.  

The significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our everyday lives for much of 2020 has been life-altering for so many.  For many elite athletes in particular, it has meant a complete shutdown to their ability to train and compete as a team or an individual athlete.  This is certainly the case for Canada's National Women's Indoor Field Hockey Team.  To get a better understanding of the pandemic's direct impact, we asked each athlete to share their thoughts around the challenges and frustrations they've experienced over the last nine months not being able to be together as a team. Knowing what they are facing, we also asked how a community platform like SeeWhatSheCanDo could support each of them and what that could look like.

Head to Getting to know Team Canada's Women's Indoor Field Hockey Team to get the background story on the team, the Indoor Pan American Cup and to find links to more player profiles.

Introducing Alison Lee

Alison's background and history in field hockey

Alison Lee is an eight year veteran of Canada's National Women's Indoor Field Hockey team who plays both defense and attacking positions. She is 25 years old and has played field hockey for the last 10 years. After completing a successful university career at the University of Toronto she moved to Vancouver to train full time with the Canadian Women's Outdoor National team. She is only one of a few players who plays for both of Canada's Indoor and Outdoor National Field Hockey teams. Alison has spent the last three years playing field hockey abroad in The Netherlands. She was introduced to indoor field hockey through her field hockey club where they switched to indoor during the winter months.

What do you love most about field hockey?

There are so many things that I could list off here. On the playing side, I love how fast paced indoor is and how quickly the game can change. We rely heavily on tactics and are changing them on the fly.  So you have to be able to think quickly and adapt. Off the field, I love the tight knit community that surrounds us.  I have made many of my closest friends through this sport.

Tell us about your favourite sport memory.

My favourite memory from indoor field hockey is from 2014 when we won the Indoor Pan American Cup and qualified for the World Cup.

What would you say to your 10 year old self about playing and staying in sport?

I would tell my 10 year old self that it's all worth it.  Never give up on the dream, no matter the high's or the low's.  Push through it all because some of your best memories will be from this sport.

What challenges and frustrations have you faced over the last few months because of COVID-19? And what have you done to manage these challenges and frustrations?

At the start of this all COVID-19 hit hard. It was like a wave came crashing down and took all of my plans with it. The first few days, after WHO announced that it was a pandemic and countries began closing their borders, was hard. I had just returned to the Netherlands to finish the second half of the season with my club team, was 3 weeks away from the Pan Am Cup and 4 days out from hosting a group of Canadian girls in The Netherlands to give them an amazing hockey experience. Within a few days, everything was cancelled and I was on a plane headed back to Canada.

After the initial shock of heartbreak of everything that had happened, and the shedding of many tears, I was able to re-group and focus on the good things.  Apart from the obvious challenges and frustrations that were visible on the calendar, the non-visible challenges were the unknowns. No one knew how long this was going to last, or really what anything looked like even a few weeks ahead. I tried to adopt a very optimistic and positive mindset during these times because the one thing I did know, was that everyone was in the same boat, no one knew what was going to happen. One thing that got me through the shock of the first few weeks was something my mum always used to tell us growing up, and that was that everything happens for a reason.

Aside from the initial shock, I tried to take everything in stride and go in with the thought that whatever happens, happens. I was grateful that I was healthy and happy and with my family.

Additionally, do you think there are ways that a women's sport community like SWSCD could provide support to you? And how would you envision this happening?

Definitely! Now more than ever, people are turning to online communities. Because we can't meet up or host events I think this is a great time for SWSCD to really start getting creative and help people connect virtually. Be it, mentorship zoom calls, group workouts, talks about past experiences, or many other things. I think, through the community already built with SWSCD, we can make our online community even tighter by supporting each other through everything.

Connect with Canada's Women's Indoor Field Hockey Team

Want to send some good vibes to the Canada's Women's Indoor Field Hockey team?  Here are their social media coordinates.  

Facebook: @canindoorwomen

Instagram: @fhc_indoorwomen

Twitter: @canindoorhockey

Hashtags: #MindtheSkirt 

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