National Coaches Week 2023

National Coaches Week is a time to celebrate the positive impact coaches have on athletes and communities across Canada. This annual campaign is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play, and to take time to say #ThanksCoach.

To celebrate National Coaches Week this year, we caught up with new, local coaches to hear their stories.

Cody Hemmerling

Cody began playing volleyball in 6th grade, and is now an 'In Training Advanced Development Coach', and has been coaching since 2018.

As a player in your sport what was the biggest difference you noticed when you made the transition from player to coach?
More than being a player, coaching is about being a role model. Some things must remain unsaid and it’s all about modelling positive behaviour. I was super hard on myself as a player but as a coach it’s all about nurturing the athletes, especially young ones.

What was your relationship with your coach (or coaches) like as an athlete? What was their biggest influence on you?
Really good! I had some coaches I didn’t love but overall I developed great relationships. At a young age they helped me fall in love with the sport.

What made you want to start coaching?
I wanted to stay involved! After I was done playing I didn’t want to be done with volleyball. I started as an assistant and have now head coached for the past few seasons.

What is your coaching philosophy like? How has it evolved?
Positive at all times! Try to say more positive things than bad things, highlight the good.
Develop players on and off the court, we do mental training sessions and team building sessions. Our goal every year is to make a family.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new coaches?
If something isn’t working, don’t force it. Each group of kids is different and you need to be adaptable.

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?
I used to get way more invested as a player. Not to say I don’t care about winning now that I am a coach but I see the bigger picture now.

What has been the most challenging part of your coaching experience?
When conflicts arise within the team. There hasn’t been many but I struggle when teammates are having isssues with one another and how to support everyone in that situation.

What does it mean to you to be coaching the next generation of athletes?
I take a lot of pride in it! It brings me back to my playing days.

What is your favourite memory from coaching?
Battling back from a rough day one and two at nationals to grind out a gold medal on day three, including multiple comebacks en route. I will never forget the celebration our power made when he got the winning kill. The boys earned that one.

Shanna Walchuk

Shana began coaching rugby in 2016, after first getting involved in the sport herself in 2012.

As a player in your sport what was the biggest difference you noticed when you made the transition from player to coach?
I gained a deeper understanding of not only how to manage different skills and abilities, but the inner workings of how to make a team function well and play together and not just as skilled individuals.

What was your relationship with your coach (or coaches) like as an athlete? What was their biggest influence on you?
I had a very positive relationship with all my coaches and was always eager to learn more. I asked many questions and adopted many practices from them when I transitioned into a coaching role. Their biggest influence on me was their ability to bring out leadership qualities I didn't know I had, use my voice, and step up into positions where I could be a positive leader for my team. They gave me confidence and continued to do so after I moved on from their programs and supported my entire career both as an athlete and as a coach.

What made you want to start coaching?
I have always been passionate about the sport of rugby from growing up in a rugby household. I have been around the game since I was a baby and grew up around a vibrant community of athletes and coaches who showed so much passion for growing the game and supported women in sport. I wanted to do this myself, provide young girls the same confidence and care my coaches had poured into me and grow the game no matter what city or club I worked with.

What is your coaching philosophy like? How has it evolved?
My coaching philosophy always centers around accessibility and not only teaching the sport of rugby but showing athletes how to be good citizens of the world no matter what they pursue. Though rugby was the center I always believed and continue to promote being a good team mate, having respect for others, and gaining the ability to work hard. As I gain more experience and work with different age grades and teams my coaching style was evolved by building on the foundation I started with, gaining confidence in being a positive role model for others, and continuing to give back to my community whenever possible.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new coaches?
Don't be afraid to be yourself and speak up for what is important to you! It is important not only to advocate for yourself, but to model confidence and vulnerability for those you are coaching.

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?
As an athlete I was a constant sponge wanting to soak up any bit of strategy, knowledge of the game, and philosophy behind coaches decisions. Though this did not change when I stepped into a coaching role it gave my space establish my own values and methods and provided freedom to structure my teams foundation around the philosophies and could relay to my athletes. It allowed be the space to step up and make decisions which grew my confidence and through that was able to model the coaches I most looked up to for my athletes to give them the best experience.

What has been the most challenging part of your coaching experience?
Learning that sometimes you need to make hard decisions and that though they may not make everyone happy, they have purpose and reason behind them.

What does it mean to you to be coaching the next generation of athletes?
It means everything to me to see the next generation learn to love the game, improve their skill, and become leaders themselves. As a young girl I had so many strong female role models around me that showed me that despite what you look like or your ability, there is always opportunity to work hard for your goals, have confidence in the strength you possess, and be a kind and contributing member to your community. These are the values I aim to instill in the teams that I coach and it is amazing beyond words watching girls gain that confidence and grow into themselves as they journey in their own careers in rugby.

What is your favourite memory from coaching?
Watching my Junior Varsity team who struggled to come together and have confidence in their abilities win their final three season games after a long series of tough losses. I shared their excitement as the things we practiced and discussed in film finally clicked, and they began to gel and trust not only themselves but each other.

Alexa Koshman

Alexa began playing volleyball in 6th grade, and went on to play collegiate volleyball. She now coaches the Griffins volleyball team at Winston Churchill High School.

As a player in your sport what was the biggest difference you noticed when you made the transition from player to coach?
I truly didn't realize the level of commitment and the amount of time that coaches give to their players and team. As a player, you kind of have an idea because the coaches show up to the same practices as games as you. What I didn't realize then, was the amount of work that goes in behind the scenes. Also, when you are an athlete, playing your sport is your "job" whereas with coaching, you have to balance your job, family, friends, and still make time for yourself. It makes me reflect and think about how grateful I am that the coaches in my life dedicated their time so that I could have the opportunities that I did.

What was your relationship with your coach (or coaches) like as an athlete? What was their biggest influence on you?
I was extremely lucky to have the same coach, Jamie Bach, from Grade 7 until Grade 12. I would not have been the player, person, or coach that I am now without his influence. He was the type of coach that you wanted to show up for. He had a wealth of volleyball knowledge, he knew when to push us or joke with us, and it was evident how much he cared. He quickly became a father figure in my life and someone who I looked up to. The best part is that now I get to coach alongside him at Churchill. And let me tell you... coaching with one of your role models is a pretty surreal experience.

What is your coaching philosophy like? How has it evolved?
When I first started coaching, my practice was centered around building relationships. Once players had trust in you and felt a sense of belonging, they would be more motivated to train and get better. In the past couple of years, something that has really grown to be very important to me is empowering young female athletes to be leaders and competitors. I want my players to know that they are capable, fierce, and strong athletes. I believe that begins with having that trusting relationship with your player.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new coaches?
Talk to other coaches! There is so much to learn as a coach and your community has a wealth of knowledge. Reach out to others and ask about tryouts, player communication, practice structure, coaching philosophy, and anything else you are curious about. If you can, try to get into a couple practices and watch how they are ran. You will find things that will work for you, won't work for you, and ways you can adapt your own coaching practice.

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?
Loving the sport through a different lens. As a player, I loved the competition and playing with my teammates. I miss the pre-game butterflies, playing in front of my friends and family, and sitting in the team room after a game. But now as a coach, I get to help build my players love for the game. All of those things that I loved as a player, I get to help create them for my players and I think that is a pretty wicked thing.

What does it mean to you to be coaching the next generation of athletes?
It is a privilege. One that I never want to take for granted.

What is your favourite memory from coaching?
Winning the first zone championship for Griffin volleyball since 1996. I remember in hitting warm-up, the home team tried to get in our heads by playing extremely sad and slow songs. Instead of complaining or getting worked up, our team treated it as a mini performance. Everyone was so relaxed and so eager to play. I knew right then we were going to win that game. It was just such a special moment.

Jessica Zarowny

Jessica is a former Pronghorn Basketball player, who began coaching as a teen and is currently in the process of completing her NCCP Learn to Train certification

As a player in your sport what was the biggest difference you noticed when you made the transition from player to coach?
I noticed that while it is the same sport, it looks very different from the sideline coaching it than it does being on the court playing in the middle of it. It can be difficult to bridge the gap between the two at first.

What was your relationship with your coach (or coaches) like as an athlete? What was their biggest influence on you?
I have always been very fortunate to have had very positive relationships with my coaches and I think this is a big reason why I was keen to transition into coaching. I always had very open communication with coaches where they could give me feedback and I felt comfortable giving my coaches feedback in ways as well. My last, most recent coach and I have a very close relationship that goes far beyond basketball. As a player, he always coached myself and my teammates in a way that made us better and made the systems we ran work for who we were as players, rather than coaching us to fit into certain systems and types of players. He has mentored me as both a leader and a coach. The coaches who cared more about myself and my teammates as a person than just players on a roster are the ones I had the best relationships with and made me want to continue and excel in the sport and coaching.

What made you want to start coaching?
It honestly just kind of happened. I started just working Horns basketball summer camps as a high school student for some extra cash in the summer and then continued to do so for a couple more summers leading up to me joining the Horns program. From there I kind of fell into being an assistant coach with the Jr. Horns program at the U of L. I was a local athlete and a Jr. Horns alumni so I understood the impact of having girls who were currently playing for the Horns had on the younger girls, because I was once the younger girl looking up to the Horns girls that coached me. In my final year of playing for the Horns I was injured and actually didn't play and instead got the opportunity to still be a part of the team from the sideline and take on a "player-coach" kind of mentee position with my coach. During this I learned that even from the sidelines I still loved basketball and gained an appreciation for the more technical side of things and this is kind of what made me want to lead a team myself and do more training and work with coaching.

What is your coaching philosophy like? How has it evolved?
I don't know if I have a coaching philosophy yet. It is still developing and evolving as I learn more and experience more. I know that I want to make sure I maintain an open and honest relationship with players like I have had with my most impactful coaches. Game-like repetitions, and gameplay vs straight conditioning or skill work are also something that I want to adopt because I know as a player which one I enjoyed more and got more benefit out of.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new coaches?
I think you have to do it because you want to do it, because you enjoy being around the sport and taking the time to do it, not just because you think you should do it. It's okay to not want to coach, or not want to coach right away after finishing with a sport.

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?
For me, it feels like a lot more work to be a coach than a player. As a coach, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work like planning, learning, communication with parents and other coaches. As a player, I always just got to show up and hang out doing the sport I loved. Yes, there were workouts, extra shooting, film, etc. but those seemed easy and fun still. That's not to say coaching isn't fun either, it is. Coaching just feels like more sometimes work than I thought it would making that transition.

What has been the most challenging part of your coaching experience?
Communicating what is happening in my head, to my players, in an effective way. I still see things as a player first and to me it makes sense at a high level but I find it difficult to break down what I am thinking/seeing to my players in a way that they can understand it and apply it effectively.

What does it mean to you to be coaching the next generation of athletes?
As a former player it means a lot to me to be starting to coach the next generation. I think it's a big responsibility and I want to make sure that I do it right and that I do it to the best of my ability. I know the impact that my coaches had on me as both a player and a person and I want to make sure that I am giving that type of experience and leadership back to the players that I coach. Since I've been coaching young girls, it is also super important to me to help girls see the power of staying involved in sport. I want to try and help make sure girls feel comfortable in sport and that they enjoy it so that they continue to pursue it.

What is your favourite memory from coaching?
I don't think I have a favourite yet, but I just enjoy any time I get to be in the gym around basketball!

Teagan Viney

Teagan is a rugby player, volunteer, and fan, and since 2021, she is also a coach.

As a player in your sport what was the biggest difference you noticed when you made the transition from player to coach?
The background work. As a player, you often do not realize all the preparation that goes into running a practice, coaching a game, and organizing everything to run perfectly. Coaches work hard to share knowledge and improve skills but, they have to do a lot of the work behind the scenes that is often overlooked

What was your relationship with your coach (or coaches) like as an athlete? What was their biggest influence on you
I have always found it important to be close with my coaches. Coaches often fill mentor positions for me and having them as a friend on top of that has allow for mutual respect, open conversations, and a positive environment for growth. I have had a lot of coaches over the years across many sports, and each of them have left me with different lessons. Some of the ones that stick with me are “know your role”, “don’t be a robot”, and "make your teammates look good". “Know your role” has helped me understand what is expected of me in any situation. It has allowed me to analyze where I can succeed, where I need to improve and how to be a good teammate. “Don’t be a robot” sounds a little bit silly at first. To me it means that you do not have to stick to the status quo, you are your own person, and whichever path is best for you, is the correct path to take. "Make your teammates look good" is a classic Ric Suggitt quote that stuck with me. To me it means to take care of others, you have to take care of yourself. In rugby terms, this can mean things like making a good pass so that your teammate can run through a gap. However, this quote also translates to daily life. If you are struggling with your mental or physical health, have something going on in your family or even just need some time to yourself, it needs to be a priority. Take care of yourself, then take care of others.

What made you want to start coaching?
I am a born and raised Lethbridge girl. This community has done so much for me and supported me so well over the years. When a coaching opportunity appeared, I felt like it was something small I could give back. Coaches have always been a great support for me and allowed me to do the things I love. I wanted to take the opportunity to be that for someone else. I am also lucky enough to be a part of a rugby family. My dad played rugby at the Lethbridge Rugby Club while I was growing up and both of my siblings play as well. My sister, Payton Viney, and I work as a package deal in the coaching department so, having my family around to back me up was a bonus.

What is your coaching philosophy like? How has it evolved?
I started as an assistant coach for the Chinook High School girl’s rugby team in 2021, coming into the program shortly after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and sport could continue. I based my philosophy around sharing knowledge, developing skills, and having fun. As many of the athletes had never played rugby before, knowledge and skills were very important. Sports have always been a huge part of my life and it would all mean nothing if they were not fun. Throwing a fun game into practice always helped to build morale and connections between players. I have also had the privilege to coach the Junior Horns 7’s and 15’s teams for the Alberta Regional Competition over the last year. My philosophy has grown to include the importance of teamwork, and character development. I mostly work with high school aged athletes, so I find it important to coach them as people by teaching life skills. Most importantly, I teach them to enjoy the things they do. It is important to take things seriously but, no one has been hurt from throwing a dance battle or rock paper scissor challenge into warm up.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new coaches?
Don’t be afraid to try something new. Just because things have been taught a certain way or others lead a certain way does not mean you have to do that too. It’s okay to be different. Be creative and have fun!

What was the biggest difference between your experience as an athlete and your experience as a coach?
As an athlete, you are focussed on so many things at a time. For example, remembering plays, nutrition, fitness, skill development or even where to be on the field. Everything you are doing is based on yourself and your development. As a coach, your focus shifts to how to help others. You yourself are not on the field running around and making tackles anymore. You get to be on the sideline watching, giving feedback, supporting players, and calling the shots. People look to you for advice, to be a shoulder to cry on after a tough loss and to cheer them on. The mindset changes from “how do I do this for me” to “how do I use what I have to help others succeed”.

What has been the most challenging part of your coaching experience?
My first season coaching, only 8 of our 48 players had played rugby before. I was so excited to jump into it but was forced to take a huge step back to the basics. This reality check changed my idea of who I was going to be as a coach. Instead of focusing on gameplay and strategy, my focus shifted to skills and team building. Although this was a challenge at the time, I am very grateful that it happened. It shaped me as a coach and made me understand how to build connections and manage expectations.

What does it mean to you to be coaching the next generation of athletes?
I am beyond thrill and grateful for all the athletes I have been able to coach. Each of them provides me with a unique experience and I cannot wait to see what some of them do. They remind me every day that anything is possible, and the only limit is the limit you place on yourself.

What is your favorite memory from coaching?
I will always remember our last game at the U18 7’s Alberta Regional competition in January. It was a super close game against the Mavericks. Our team scored on the last play of the game to win it. The excitement in that moment was unmatched. Everyone ran into the end zone to celebrate. It was one of those moments that makes all the time, effort, and preparation worth it.