Social events, book clubs, and mentorship sessions are just some ways to maximize the value of the IIHF's HER Coaching Network, which includes international coaches like Czechia's Carla MacLeod.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
The IIHF’s HER Coaching Network is coming into its own and changing lives all over the world. Now is a perfect time to get involved.
Launched during the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Czechia, the online platform powered by Signal has attracted more than 270 female coaches in some 40 countries so far. There is a fabulous mix of professional, international, college, and minor hockey coaches. If you’re a female coach who wants to hone your craft, expand your network, and learn more about the global hockey scene, sign up today!
Launched during the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Czechia, the online platform powered by Signal has attracted more than 270 female coaches in some 40 countries so far. There is a fabulous mix of professional, international, college, and minor hockey coaches. If you’re a female coach who wants to hone your craft, expand your network, and learn more about the global hockey scene, sign up today!
Now, of course, there’s obviously nothing wrong with coaches using HER to share tips on setting up your 5-on-3 power play or improving communication and accountability within your leadership group. But that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Here are seven other ways you can max out the potential of HER either virtually or with face-to-face meetups!
Note: The IIHF offers the following options as suggestions only and does not officially endorse any particular outside activities, resources, or venues.
1. Social events
Are there other HER members within your geographical area? Organize a relaxed meeting at a restaurant, coffee shop, or wine bar – perhaps monthly, perhaps twice a season, whatever the group’s schedules and logistics allow. Find out more about what your fellow coaches are going through, on and off the ice, and strengthen your women’s hockey community.
2. Book clubs
Instead of making “read more books” just another unfulfilled New Year’s resolution, you can form your own book club via HER with coaching in mind. Looking for inspiration?
Coaching women’s hockey is the subject of Sue Ring-Jarvi’s Can You Keep Up? Fifty Years of Coaching, Organizing and Playing Women’s Hockey in Minnesota.
For mindfulness and wellness, check out titles like The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman or Feel Better Now: The Life-Changing Power of Simple Pleasures by Catherine Roscoe Barr.
If you’re more generally interested in the growth of women’s hockey, Ice In Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck by Ian Kennedy and Breakaway: The PWHL and the Women Who Changed the Game by Karissa Donkin come to mind.
3. Youth outreach events
To increase the number of women coaching worldwide, it just makes sense to take the message directly to young girls and women. HER members can stage info sessions for girls – within their own teams, leagues, or countries – to shed light on the knowledge and daily commitment it takes to be an effective coach focused on both improving your players and producing better humans.
Here are seven other ways you can max out the potential of HER either virtually or with face-to-face meetups!
Note: The IIHF offers the following options as suggestions only and does not officially endorse any particular outside activities, resources, or venues.
1. Social events
Are there other HER members within your geographical area? Organize a relaxed meeting at a restaurant, coffee shop, or wine bar – perhaps monthly, perhaps twice a season, whatever the group’s schedules and logistics allow. Find out more about what your fellow coaches are going through, on and off the ice, and strengthen your women’s hockey community.
2. Book clubs
Instead of making “read more books” just another unfulfilled New Year’s resolution, you can form your own book club via HER with coaching in mind. Looking for inspiration?
Coaching women’s hockey is the subject of Sue Ring-Jarvi’s Can You Keep Up? Fifty Years of Coaching, Organizing and Playing Women’s Hockey in Minnesota.
For mindfulness and wellness, check out titles like The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance – What Women Should Know by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman or Feel Better Now: The Life-Changing Power of Simple Pleasures by Catherine Roscoe Barr.
If you’re more generally interested in the growth of women’s hockey, Ice In Their Veins: Women’s Relentless Pursuit of the Puck by Ian Kennedy and Breakaway: The PWHL and the Women Who Changed the Game by Karissa Donkin come to mind.
3. Youth outreach events
To increase the number of women coaching worldwide, it just makes sense to take the message directly to young girls and women. HER members can stage info sessions for girls – within their own teams, leagues, or countries – to shed light on the knowledge and daily commitment it takes to be an effective coach focused on both improving your players and producing better humans.
Whether your audience consists mainly of 12-year-olds or 20-year-olds, this could be the moment that motivates someone to become the next Jessica Campbell (Seattle Kraken), Erika Holst (Frolunda HC), or Daniela Diaz (EV Zug).
4. Technology seminars
Our world is changing rapidly, and the state of technology for hockey coaches is no exception. If you are a tech guru, have one working for your club, or know someone else who fits the bill, why not stage an in-person or online seminar?
Discover the latest developments in AI, social media, and hockey video analysis tools – and how you can take full advantage of them without letting them take over your life.
5. Viewing parties
If you haven’t already made plans with local HER members to watch 2026 Olympic women’s hockey or Women’s Worlds action together, get those conversations started now!
Alternatively, you can enjoy official streams of classic matchups like the Canada-U.S. Olympic women’s gold medal games from PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
For fictional takes on women’s sports, there is everything from the animated film Inside Out 2 (including the voice of U.S. superstar Kendall Coyne Schofield as a hockey announcer) to the streaming series remake of the 1992 women’s baseball film A League of Their Own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with picking a mutually agreeable non-sports-related movie too!
6. Mentorship, health, and strategy discussions
Eager to increase mentorship and sponsorship within your network of women’s hockey coaches? Interested in exploring how to ramp up your professional momentum after returning from maternity leave or overcoming a major health challenge? Seeking strategies to improve your team’s access to ice time, equipment, training centres, and other resources?
These are all excellent topics to discuss with the folks you meet via the HER Coaching Network.
7. Trivia nights
Who coached Canada to gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics? Which Swedish city hosted the 2015 Women’s Worlds? Which two female head coaches squared off in the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four final?
If you love the minutiae of women’s hockey history – or at least love having a good laugh over how much you’ve forgotten – a trivia night just might be in order. Come up with a batch of questions that gives everyone a chance, plus a little prize or two to get those competitive juices flowing.
(Answers to the questions above: Daniele Sauvageau, Malmo, and Ohio State’s Nadine Muzerall and Minnesota Duluth’s Maura Crowell.)
4. Technology seminars
Our world is changing rapidly, and the state of technology for hockey coaches is no exception. If you are a tech guru, have one working for your club, or know someone else who fits the bill, why not stage an in-person or online seminar?
Discover the latest developments in AI, social media, and hockey video analysis tools – and how you can take full advantage of them without letting them take over your life.
5. Viewing parties
If you haven’t already made plans with local HER members to watch 2026 Olympic women’s hockey or Women’s Worlds action together, get those conversations started now!
Alternatively, you can enjoy official streams of classic matchups like the Canada-U.S. Olympic women’s gold medal games from PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022.
For fictional takes on women’s sports, there is everything from the animated film Inside Out 2 (including the voice of U.S. superstar Kendall Coyne Schofield as a hockey announcer) to the streaming series remake of the 1992 women’s baseball film A League of Their Own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with picking a mutually agreeable non-sports-related movie too!
6. Mentorship, health, and strategy discussions
Eager to increase mentorship and sponsorship within your network of women’s hockey coaches? Interested in exploring how to ramp up your professional momentum after returning from maternity leave or overcoming a major health challenge? Seeking strategies to improve your team’s access to ice time, equipment, training centres, and other resources?
These are all excellent topics to discuss with the folks you meet via the HER Coaching Network.
7. Trivia nights
Who coached Canada to gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics? Which Swedish city hosted the 2015 Women’s Worlds? Which two female head coaches squared off in the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four final?
If you love the minutiae of women’s hockey history – or at least love having a good laugh over how much you’ve forgotten – a trivia night just might be in order. Come up with a batch of questions that gives everyone a chance, plus a little prize or two to get those competitive juices flowing.
(Answers to the questions above: Daniele Sauvageau, Malmo, and Ohio State’s Nadine Muzerall and Minnesota Duluth’s Maura Crowell.)