The Women Coach Internship Programme, launched at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, was a resounding success and created enduring bonds of friendship and support.
When the women crowded into a small room in the Athletes Village for their first meeting, no one knew what to expect and there was no hint that something extraordinary was about to happen. But almost immediately, a powerful connection was established.
Their diverse backgrounds range from growing up in farming communities to small towns to sophisticated urban centres. All were athletes, all are committed to improving opportunities for girls to succeed in sport and in life, and all have a strong desire to give back to sport, which has given them so much.
This book is testimony to these remarkable women and demonstrates that much is possible when talent, determination, discipline, and courage come together.
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Reviews
Praise For Stories of Resilience and Courage: Women Coaches Form a Global Community
Madame Beatrice Ayikoru, Uganda, Secretary General, Uganda Olympic Committee; General Secretary Athletics Federation; member, World Athletics Council
Stories of Resilience and Courage is an embodiment of coaching by women, a challenging sector of sports management. The WCIP is a true game changer in the global women and sport agenda. The stories and experiences by the women is a cumulative footprint in the runway to gender equity and equality in sports. Uganda is grateful to have been a beneficiary of the program. Mildred Gamba’s story is not only an inspiration to many women coaches in the country and beyond, but a confirmation of the potential women have in coaching elite sports.
Dr. Claire Carver-Dias, OLY, President, Commonwealth Sport Canada
Sheila Hurtig Robertson’s book about an internship program for women coaches pulls back the curtain on the lives, careers, triumphs, and struggles of the program’s twenty participants. While their experiences and backgrounds vary, the women coaches share the indomitable spirit of those who break barriers. Inspiring, informative, and at times heart-breaking, the stories compel us to recognize not only the progress made but also the work that must continue around inclusivity, equality, and the perpetuation of opportunities for women coaches.
Stu Ross, Black Ferns Sevens Assistant Coach and Analyst
“An awesome read! So many different stories and journeys all guided by each individual’s love and passion for sport.”
Marjorie Snyder, Ph.D., United States, Senior Research Advisor, Women’s Sports Foundation
How great to hear the so often unheard voices of women coaches! So many books about coaching are about winning, losing, and the technical aspects of sport. This book shines a bright light on the stories behind the scenes. It’s a roadmap for women who are considering a coaching career at any level and demonstrates that investing in women’s professional development as coaches is a pathway to success.
Author(s)
Sheila Hurtig Robertson
Sheila Hurtig Robertson is the author of Shattered Hopes: Canada’s Boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games and the founding editor of the Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching. She attended three Olympic Games as a communications specialist.