When I sat down with 17-year old Alice Sandiford at the end of the 2017 season to talk about her choice to become a ringette coach, I was immediately struck by her strong sense of self.  Alice is confident and calm and our conversation covered lots of ground in the hour and half we sat together at a local coffee shop.  By the end of our interview, I had a pretty good sense of what Alice valued in a coach and how she has begun to translate these values into her own personal style of coaching. Love your sport? Consider coaching. Alice has some great advice around how to get started and how coaching can impact your life no matter how old you are.         

SWSCD:  Tell me a little bit about your experience with ringette.

Alice:  I have played ringette in Richmond Hill and Newmarket for 12 years.  I first got started in the game when a family friend’s daughter played and I thought it would be good to give it a try.  I have played all positions and I find now when I play with my current U19 team, I will conference with my coach at the rink before I get dressed to determine which position I will play.  This way, I can mentally prepare for the position they want me to play.  Now that I’m playing at the U19 level, it’s sometimes harder to get a full team out to play.  U19 teams are made up of Grade 11, 12 and university-aged players and often times many of the players have other school and job commitments that get in the way of playing every game.

SWSCD:  How long have you had an interest in coaching?

Alice:  I got my first taste of coaching in elementary school where I helped coach the girls’ junior basketball team.  Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer with a U14B girls’ ringette team where I was able to help the team on the bench and during their practices. 

SWSCD:  What did you have to do to begin the process of becoming a coach?

Alice:  This year, I made the decision to begin the coaching certification program offered through my league Richmond Hill Ringette Association, the Ontario Ringette Association, and the National Coaching Certification Program.  It involved:

• a 2-day “Introduction to Coaching Ringette” course
•  an evening “Competition Introduction” course.
• a 3-hour online course called “Making Ethical Decisions” which covered how to make ethical decisions as a coach. 

I can’t be a Head Coach until I’m 18 years old so right now I’m considered a “coach in training”.   

SWSCD:  Do you think there are other experiences that have helped you in your efforts to become a coach?

Alice:  I think having been a team captain as a player also certainly helped.  Being a team captain definitely helped me build my confidence in myself to address player issues in an appropriate way as well as learn to work together with my teammates and with my coaches.

SWSCD:  What team are you coaching this year?

Alice:  A U16B Regional team – the players are 14 and 15 years old. 

SWSCD:  How do you like coaching?   How has it been coaching players who are close in age to yourself?

Alice:  I love it.  I think I’ve proven myself to have the skills as a player and that’s important to earn the respect of the players first and foremost.   I actually like that the players I coach are close in age to me.  We can relate well to each other and we are able to have really good discussions on game strategy, positioning and game preparation.  Because I know the game so well, I find I am able to help the other coaches by running parts of the practices, assisting in off-ice training, and providing players with suggestions and advice to technically improve their game.

SWSCD:  What would you tell someone your age if she came to you looking for advice on becoming a coach?

Alice:  I would say definitely go for it.  But it’s important to understand that coaching is a big commitment.  The players and your fellow coaches depend on you to be there for them and to be a leader.  Although my head coach appreciates I have other commitments as a player and as a student, it’s important that I make time to be at both practices and games.  You need to be able to watch the players in a game situation so that you can learn what you need to cover in our practice time.  I think it’s important to appreciate the impact you will have on the players and your influence on them as a player and as a person.  I think it’s also important to be able to stand up for yourself and carry yourself with confidence.  It will make a difference in earning the respect of the players’ parents and your co-coaches.  

SWSCD:  What would you say are the top three things you enjoy about being a coach?

Alice:  The first would be the personal fulfillment you get out making a difference with the girls and seeing that difference in their play.  The second is the respect you gain as a coach and being able to connect with the players.  The third benefit is the opportunity to be involved with something meaningful.  It helps you put yourself in a good state of mind.  When you’re coaching, you can focus on that alone.  It allows you to forget about what’s happening in your day-to-day life and you can just let yourself focus on the players, the play and the game.  It also allows you to focus on really caring about what you are doing.

(Editor's Note:  For the 2017- 2018 season, Alice is coaching a U14 Regional team.)

Women in Coaching - More from SeeWhatSheCanDo

Learn more about our SWSCD Women and Coaches Circle

Head to our Women and Coaches Circle Activity page

Journey to Coaching

Building a Gender Balanced Bench: The Value of the Female Coach

CYGHA Coach Tayler Gorman Leads With Passion and Confidence

Let's celebrate women who coach: 5 stories that inspire

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Find the Richmond Hill Ringette Association, Ontario Ringette Association and the Coaching Association of Canada (which oversees National Coaching Certification Program) in our Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate and review ringette programs, local community offerings and businesses that will help you do your thing.  

Need a place to coordinate and connect with your own ringette team? Find or start a ringette group on our SWSCD Hub.

Look for advice, stories, news and more on our Ringette activity page.  

Have your own great memory or moment playing ringette?  Share your highlights directly on our Discover blog or by using #seewhatshecando on social media and inspire others to get active.