Coaches at all levels play a crucial role in ensuring that football is an enjoyable experience for everyone and lay the foundation for the development of better players.  As part of Female Football Week, FSC is proud to showcase some great female coaches.  Introducing Sophie Hancock…

Sophie Hancock

Coach

Football South Coast

Sophie Hancock is 22 years of age and already a very talented coach, so much so that she has been appointed to coach one of Football South Coast’s very first FNSW Girls Skill Acquisition squads. Sophie has completed her skills training certificate and currently completing her AFC C-license. Miss Hancock is not just a coach though, she is also a player for the region’s top female football club, the Illawarra Stingrays, and on top of that is also a University of Wollongong student completing her degree in PE teaching.

Sophie started Coaching a year ago as a volunteer and immediately fell in love with it, taking it from level to level, coupling it with her learnings at UOW to become one of the top young coaches FSC is proud to have in its ranks.

Sophie has an immense love and respect for the game as a coach and a player. Her goal is to pass on the knowledge and experiences she has acquired over the years from playing, coaching and being coached to the young girls she is in charge of today and the future.

One of the most rewarding aspect for Sophie it is to see these young players develop and grow.  ‘Being part of this process is an incredible experience’, says Sophie.   

Sophie isn’t just their coach, she’s their role model, someone to relate to and most of all, their friend - with an almost unparalleled rapport with her SAP team.

People who inspire Sophie include her former coach Tony, when she used to play for Far South, “He was a great coach, he had a great sense of humour”, having the good memories of Tony speared her on to becoming a light hearted, humorous and knowledgeable coach herself.

From the player ranks, Sophie looks up to Caitlin Cooper who is an Illawarra Stingrays team mate and recently part of the Westfield Matilda squad that has just qualified for the Olympics.  “It is great to see someone from our area striving to go far and allowing young players like my SAP team and even myself to look up to, having someone who inspires you gives you a goal to go just as far”.

Knowing how male dominated coaching football is, Sophie highly encourages other women to be open to the idea and have a go at coaching. ‘Australia needs more female coaches to inspire and spur on young girls to play this and many other beautiful sports’.

Sophie is case in point, as she hadn’t thought about coaching, until she did it, and now wouldn't have it any other way.  Sophie often converses with fellow student at uni about becoming a coach of their favourite sport, especially if they love kids.

Sophie is on track to become a successful PE teacher and join Australia’s education sector, and she has no intention of giving up coaching or playing, and will be involved in our game for a very long time.  She is also challenged knowing there is still lots to learn and is absolutely committed to it,  because coaching a W-League squad would be a dream come true for her…. but one session at a time for now.

Story by Samantha Jordan.