The NHL Coaches Initiative may finally help the NHL to stop looking like a fraternity that got kicked off campus.
What You Need To Know: The NHLCA (NHL Coaches Association) just launched the NHL Female Coaches Initiative, year-long initiative designed to support female coaches in areas such as skills development, leadership strategies, communication tactics, networking and career advancement opportunities.
- Scheduled debut is at 2020 NHLCA Global Coaches’ Clinic, held at the NHL Draft on June 25th.
- The program continues through the 2020-21 season.
- Cornerstones of the project include shadowing coaches and an emphasis on growing their own networks of coaches, both male and female.
- The inaugural season will host 50 female hockey coaches.
Let’s Sportify It: While the NHL gets a gold star for the new NHL Coaches Initiative, as a league it barely get a passing grade. In 2016 Dawn Braid (Arizona Coyotes skating coach) became the first full-time female coach in the NHL, but the NHL has never had a woman in a head coach or managerial role.
And since women were paid less than men at the NHL All-Star Skills Challenge this past season, it’s safe to assume the NHL has a long way to go when it comes to diversifying the coaching and management staff. Needless to say, the NHL Coaches Initiative couldn’t come fast enough.
Applause for a great start!
Hungry for more content? Us, too. Let’s talk about that new Rams logo.
