The Leaders in Hockey Programme by Hockey Ireland was launched in september 2019 through the support of the Women in Sport funding by Sport Ireland.
Brief outline of the initiative
The multifaceted programme aims to enable, encourage and empower females to become leaders. It focuses on 3 areas of leadership within the sport of Hockey: Coaching, Umpiring, and Administration. Sport Ireland’s support through the Women in Sport funding is invaluable for assembling and delivering this programme.
The various elements of the Leaders in Hockey programme were launched in Autumn 2019 and will impact leadership at a club level, as well as at a higher level through mentoring programmes. The ambitious plan will create a supportive leadership pathway for Ireland Hockey coaches, umpires and volunteers. That will create new role models for the next generation of leaders.
The starting point of the programme will be a Female Leadership forum.
Ireland Hockey’s aim from this is that all attendees will come away with clear personalised plans to help them achieve their leadership goals. The organisation wishes to offer support by linking participants to specific coaching, umpiring or administration programmes that include mentoring and support systems.
The programme will also be an opportunity to celebrate other role models in Hockey -beyond athletes. For example, a member of Ireland Hockey’s inclusion programme, a top-level administrator (Inez Cooper/ Siobhan Madeley), Umpire (Carol Metchette) and coach (Arlene Boyles).
Last but not least, with this programme, Ireland Hockey also want to change the content / focus of visits away from hockey to health, lifestyle and leadership to fit in with their goals around creating a social impact with whatever they do.
Duration
12-18 months
Frequency
1 conference to start the programme, then each difference aspect of the programme will have varied frequencies to suit the different participants / areas of leadership.
Funding
Funded by the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Funding
Budget
Average of 1 300 euros per pax
Key elements
Target
Women only
Country of origin
Ireland
Country/Region of implementation
Ireland
Number of participants
130 participants
Core objective of the Programme
☒ Women empowerment (identifying barriers and working on strengths, creating a community)
☒ Supporting organizational change (strategy for developing diversity, implementation of specific policies, support to change makers)
☒ Allies buy-in and support (mentors, men championing)
☐ External Scrutiny (Pledge board, Indicators, celebration of success…)
☐ Other => Please specify:
Actions implemented
☐ Internal Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for a safe workplace with equal rights
☐ Commitment of men - please specify:
☒ Personal development training :
☒ Role model highlighted
☒ Networking (women network, men network or mixed):
☒ Mentoring (unique or mixed gender, please specify) (experienced & wise guide)
☒ Coaching (ability to inspire and grow people/Foster emulation/ Being influential)
☒ Events (sharing with other companies) - please specify: Leadership Forum
☐ Other - please specify:
Format
☐ Online e-learning Module
☐ Online seminar
☒ Workshops
☒ Conference
☒ Self-Assessment tool
☒ Consolidated educational/training programme
☐ Other - Please specify:
Identified Key Success Factors
- 30 participants on mentoring programme
- 2 additional coaching programmes created
- Fully populated board with 50% female representation
- 9 regional club support sessions
- 25 clubs on club umpire support programme with 25 umpire support officers trained up
- 500 umpires engaged with umpire courses through club umpire programme
- 40 ambassador visits
Transferable bites/elements
- Translate a European initiative ( EHF’s Leadership forum + #EquallyAmazing Gender Balance Charter) into a national strategy and programming
Testimonials
Source of information: Interview + Online documentation
An initiative selected as a case study of the SWinG library of leadership development initiatives.
