#EquallyAmazing aims to promote gender balance throughout European Hockey. Different stories from members of the hockey family are highlighted; illustrating the important role that both men and women have in strengthening the sport.
When she first started playing hockey, Sofie had to play on the boy’s team as there were not enough girls to play with. Having seen major changes occur throughout the sport in her home country of Belgium, Sofie is confident that the sport is headed in the right direction.
For Sofie Gierts, #EquallyAmazing is necessary to help raise awareness and show the importance of having a balance not only on the field of play but also as coaches and boardroom members.
Both men and women have influenced Sofie’s hockey career, as player and coach. She names Michele Kienen, as the man who introduced her to coaching. An advocate for all coaches in Belgium, he encouraged her to take a role as an EHF coaching mentor after she completed the necessary courses. Thinking back on her experiences with her coaches 20, 30 years ago, they helped ensure her success. When asked what advice she would give to women and men interested in coaching, Sofie said: “realise the role that you can play and realise that you can change lives through coaching”.
Stories like Sofie’s show us why the equal involvement of women and men adds value to the European Hockey brand.
The #EquallyAmazing campaign is supported by both the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the European Hockey Federation (EHF) in an effort to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities – from the pitch to the boardroom.
For more information, click here