In honour of International Women’s Day, the Coaches Association of Saskatchewan reached out to participants of the of the 2025 cohort of the Women in Coaching Mentorship Program, a joint initiative with Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan.
The mentors and mentees were asked to provide their thoughts to three questions. Here are some of the answers they shared with us.
Why is it important for athletes to have role models at every level of sport?
Representation matters at every level of sport. Athletes need to see what’s possible before they can fully believe it for themselves. When young women see someone leading, coaching, calling plays, building programs, or balancing faith, family and football it expands their vision of what they can become. Role models provide more than inspiration, they provide permission. Permission to lead. Permission to be competitive. Permission to be confident. I believe that’s especially important in emerging sports like women’s flag football, where we’re still building the pathway. If we want sustainable growth, athletes need visible examples at every stage from youth to college to the professional level.
-Amanda Ruller
I believe all age groups and all levels of sport need strong role models, especially when it comes to women in sport. There are fewer female athletes and a lot of pressure/criticism on those that continue to be active in sport. It is essential to have role models of all shapes, sizes, ages and accomplishments. Sport for life for females is a relatively new concept for our culture and those role models are key to encouraging more activity for more women.
-Joan McCusker
How can organizations benefit from providing women coaches the opportunity to learn and grow?
Women empower women. And when they really feel and believe that confidence to lead they start to engage more fully into an organization. The organization provides the platform and opportunity and then empowers women to seek out their own opportunities and pay it forward.
-Jen Wood
When organizations invest in women coaches, they strengthen their entire system. Diverse leadership brings broader perspectives and communication styles. Women in leadership are often more likely to bring a more holistic understanding of athlete development. Supporting women in coaching pathways also increases athlete retention, particularly for girls navigating adolescence. It signals that growth and leadership are accessible and attainable for everyone.
-Lauren Ryan
Organizations benefit when they give women coaches real opportunities to learn and grow because it strengthens the entire coaching environment. When women are supported in developing their skills, gaining experience, and moving into leadership roles, organizations expand their coaching knowledge base and bring more diverse perspectives to decision-making.
It also creates stronger role models for athletes. When athletes see women in coaching and leadership positions, it shows them that those pathways are possible for them too. That visibility can improve athlete confidence, retention, and overall culture within a program.
Supporting women coaches also helps organizations build depth and sustainability. The more coaches who are trained, confident, and capable, the stronger the program becomes over time. Investing in women’s development isn’t just about equity—it’s about building better coaches, better environments for athletes, and ultimately stronger organizations.
-Tina Chernoff
Are there any women in sport who have inspired you and how?
Growing up in a sport with the majority of coaches being males, I felt very inspired with how my club’s coaching staff was female dominated. It is very empowering, knowing that women can do anything that men can do, and can reach the same results. To this day, that is something that my club still follows; I feel very special to be a small part of it, as I have moved roles from athlete to being one of those coaches. I hope I can inspire my athletes the same way my coaches did when I was younger.
-Jenna Weldon
There are so many women in sport who have inspired me and continue to inspire me. I was fortunate to have head coaches who were female in my high school and University volleyball experiences. There are so many amazing women in volleyball currently that I admire and am continually inspired by but my most formative inspiration was my high school coach Leslie Foss who showed us all what it meant to take up male dominated spaces and do it in a way that was authentic to ourselves. There wasn’t any curriculum or activities that we did to specifically address it but it was in the way she lived it and encouraged her athletes to do the same.
-Stacey Laing
