You have been a well-established assistant coach in field hockey for many years, why did you decide to do a Masters in Sport Coaching degree at Ohio State?
I think one of the main drivers for getting my Masters in Sport Coaching was to learn more about the coaching profession. At times, I was relying on my previous knowledge, so I decided to broaden my knowledge about coaching and add tools to help me assist my athletes find success on and off the pitch. The program was on its second year of being established and the strong reputation of excellence created in such a short amount of time led me to pursue to further my education.
In 2017, you received a coach educator accreditation and now coach clinics, can you tell me more about this experience?
Yes, I attended a coaches forum hosted by the United States Field Hockey Association, which I was fortunate being one of the few coaches selected for the program. The most interesting part was learning how to teach/coach other coaches. This was a rather intimidating experience since there were coaches from all over with a wide range of experiences. The goal of the program was to receive feedback on how your coaching techniques were perceived by your peers and learn effective coaching/teaching techniques based on learning and educational models. This past year I was able to run the futures program in Miami, FL, which is a developmental pipeline for the Field Hockey National Teams. The south Florida area is not known for producing many field hockey players, therefore the area has been underserved for many years. However, the talent and athletes there have great potential to compete with other popular areas in the northeast. I plan on coaching the same program again this upcoming spring.
You are originally from Venezuela and are now coaching in the US, how does coaching across different cultures within field hockey change?
The key difference is the culture behind each place. There are other important differences to consider as well, such as athlete socio-economic factors, facilities, and type of competition. Back home, nearly every athlete’s goal is to wear the national team jersey and represent Venezuela in international competition. Whereas in the US, nearly every athlete’s goal is to play in college and to receive an education while representing the school of their choice. I have found that playing for the US National Team is not the common goal for the majority of athletes who play field hockey.
Is there anything you would suggest for yourself 15 years ago when you were starting off in the coaching profession?
I would tell myself to listen and absorb more from my mentors, athletes and coaches I worked for. It’s very easy to think you have the answer or the key to every door when you are young.
How has the Masters of Sport Coaching been applicable in your daily activities in both a coaching and non-coaching context?
The program helped in reshaping my coaching philosophy while being more critical and objective of my own self. I’ve certainly changed how I view my profession and have become a more player-centered coach rather than using a coach-centered approach. The Master of Sport Coaching has certainly reshaped me and I feel much more comfortable under my “coaching hat” because of it. Last, I have the confidence that I could venture into other areas (not necessarily related to sports) thanks to what I learned in program here at Ohio State.