Top coach award a team effort: Arnold
ALICE Arnold, proud as she is, does not believe her recognition as Queensland’s Community Coach of the Year is hers to claim.
It is a collective effort of the entire Townsville Hockey community.
Arnold’s recognition comes from her 2019 endeavours with the Mini Sticks program, educating youngsters on the game and progressing them into the club competitions down the line.
She was joined on the Hockey Queensland Awards podium by Steven Knight (Technical Officer of the Year) and Annette Maidment (Outstanding Achievement Award).
The passion comes from her own upbringing, with it came a variety of coaches in the UK and Victoria eager to instil the disciplines of the sport in their respective communities.
Since her childhood she has grown into a formidable representative player for Queensland Country, as well as Commercials Hockey Club, and said her volunteer efforts came from wanting other aspiring athletes to have the same opportunities as she did.
“The whole program is a community effort, there are a lot of other people who have been able to help me achieve what I’ve been able to achieve,” Arnold said.
“I think it’s more of an award for Townsville really in my opinion, it was a huge effort to get the program up and started.
“Getting both kids and parents reassurance they are welcome in the sport is really big for me – giving opportunities and keeping kids as engaged as possible.
“I think watching the kids go from not being able to hold a hockey stick to jumping into their teams enjoying what they’re doing … it’s pretty rewarding watching kids do what kids do.”