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 Elise Wong

Elise's Background and History in field hockey

What do you love most about field hockey?

The team camaraderie. Especially in a sport as dynamic as indoor field hockey, it's important to have a tight-knit team. It's really special being a part of a group of elite athletes working towards a common goal.

Tell us about your favourite sport memory.

Defeating the United States 2-0 in the Lima 2019 Pan Am Games semi-finals. This historic win advanced our team to the Championship final for the first time since 1991.

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

Have fun. At the end of the day, win or lose, it's the people around you that make the experience worth it. Play for them. 

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?

It was definitely challenging going from competing in Belgium, seeing my teammates every day, and being 5 minutes away from a hockey pitch, to 500 miles away from my closest teammate and trying to keep up my skills and fitness from home. We kept up with team workouts and meetings over Zoom and lockdown gave me time to find balance and address some of the physiological imbalances from playing field hockey that we don't always have time to work on. Thankfully, after five long months, I was able to move over to Vancouver to resume training with a group of Women's National Team (WNT) players.

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?

Absolutely. Being an athlete and a woman are huge parts of my identity. Growing up with older brothers, my teammates became my sisters and I think it's incredibly important to build up this community of support, especially during this time when we have to be apart. 

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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