Gibson joins Field Hockey Canada as NextGen Director
Field Hockey Canada is pleased to announce the hiring of Andrea Gibson as the organization’s NextGen Director. Gibson grew up playing hockey in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She moved to Canada in 2009 and has been a dedicated community and provincial coach in British Columbia ever since.
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After moving to Canada, she did not initially intend to become a full-time hockey coach and administrator, but her professional background in education and sports experience led her to a path ideally suited to coaching. . After a decade of working in local, club, academy and provincial hockey environments, she is taking on a NextGen national leadership role. For her, this is the perfect next step for her to contribute to the development of hockey across the country.
“I wholeheartedly believe in the need for a strong NextGen program in order to grow the sport and achieve international success,” Gibson said. “Now is the perfect time to get involved with this program. We have a great structure and great people in place. I am excited to be a part of Field Hockey Canada. I believe the way to grow our player base and succeed on the international stage is through a strong and connected NextGen journey.
Susan Ahrens, CEO of Field Hockey Canada, said Gibson’s experience is the perfect fit to take on the role of NextGen Director. His work in the community has already made an impact at the provincial and community levels, and the timing of his shift is great for Field Hockey Canada.
“Andrea has a decade of experience as a technical director and has worked in provincial and youth pathway spaces,” Ahrens said. “She is a systems builder and collaborator who will work with our incredible local communities from coast to coast to build a system that serves our athletes and makes the journey accessible and inclusive.”
Gibson has coached primarily in British Columbia, with experience as technical director of the Sea to Sky Field Hockey Club and head coach of the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club. She intends to leverage her provincial and community relationships to build a thriving NextGen system that benefits athletes and the entire Field Hockey Canada community.
“Through the NextGen program, there is an unprecedented level of connection between all of Field Hockey Canada’s high performance programs. We incorporate indoor sessions, technical, tactical and mental performance sessions,” she said. “We will have the greatest success when we collaborate with provincial organizations and clubs across the country to create a strong NextGen program. »
Field Hockey Canada is thrilled to have such a qualified and dedicated member of the hockey community in the role of NextGen Director.
