2021 Recognition Awards Voting

Astrid ensures that with every team she works with, there is an understanding of fair play, good sportsmanship within the team and for others, and approaching the game with integrity and respect for everyone, including other players, coaches and officials. Astrid has made it her mission to introduce the game to the youngest of players, and continues to work with them as they grow, to learn not only skills on the field, but how to conduct themselves in the world. It has been said that the values and teamwork that Astrid promotes helps her players to grow into respectful and positive young adults, which is invaluable to the players, the team, organization and community as a whole.

Astrid has gone to great lengths to ensure she has the certifications needed to not only provide a safe and efficient learning environment, but also to ensure the players she works with excel in their own development and take responsibility for that growth themselves. She is active annually upgrading and achieving new levels of competency and certification. In 2013, Astrid achieved a truly noteworthy milestone when she became the first female coach from Saskatchewan to earn the Canadian Soccer Association National B-License.

Considered a great asset to her local soccer organization, Astrid continues to broaden her skill set and certifications to ensure she is offering the best environment for her players, each and every time they step out on the pitch. For the last 27 years, she has coached on various levels, including Grassroots programming to the High Performance levels of the provincial programs. From coaching young tots, to a women’s over 30 beginner league, to high performance and university players, Astrid has a passion for all levels of the game. Below are just some of the following opportunities that Astrid has embarked on as a coach:

• 1995 – Present Club Head Coach (Currently coaching with QC U13 Excellence)
• 1998 – 2018 Instructor with Sask Soccer Player/Coaching Programs – Intro to Coaching, SoccerJam, School Camps and Grassroots Development Opportunities.
• 1999 Assistant Coach with the U12 Provincial Development Team (Female)
• 1999-2010 & 2014-Present Coach the University of Regina Summer Soccer Camps
• 2000 Head Coach Team Regina – Saskatchewan Summer Games
• 2000 Taught & Coached Elementary School Program abroad in Sinfong, Tawain
• 2006, 2016-Present Assistant Coach University of Regina Cougars
• 2004 Coerver Soccer Camp Instructor with New South Wales Soccer (Australia)
• 2004, 2005 & 2006 Assistant Coach Saskatchewan U16 Provincial Team (Female)
• 2007 Head Coach Saskatchewan U14 Provincial Team (Female)
• 2007-2009 Assistant Coach with Saskatchewan Canada Games Development Teams
• 2009 Canada Games Apprentice Coach Team Saskatchewan Soccer – Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program
• 2010 Presenter at the Saskatchewan Coaches Association Conference – Mentorship & Apprenticeship Presentation
• 2011 Sask-toba Assistant Coach
• 2012 Provincial Saskatchewan Development Teams (U15/U16) Assistant Coach SaskToba Program
• 2012 Coach with GINGA Futebol Academy
• 2009-2012 Coach/Advisory Board Member I Can Play Sports and Girls in The Game
• 2012 – Technical Coordinator RSA for the Regina Sask Summer Games Soccer Program
• 2010 – 2015 Contract instructor/coach with the Regina Soccer Association Better Than Botox Program, Ladies Only Pre-Season Clinic and Adult Goalie Camp
• 2011 – Present Contract Instructor/Coach The City of Regina for the following programs: Parent & Tots Soccer, Parent & Tot Basketball, Parent & Tot Football, Parent & Tot SportsJam, GoGirl Multi Sport Camps, Cross Country Running, Basketball (5-7), Soccer (5-7 and 8-12), and SportsJam (5-7 and 8-12) Programs. Created course content inline with LPTD and curriculum for all programs.
• 2016 Part-Time Grassroots Lead with QC Soccer
• 2016-Present Assistant Coach University of Regina Cougars
• 2018 – Present Full Time Grassroots Lead with QC Soccer

Here’s a direct quote from Astrid about what has been her most significant accomplishments-
“If I am truly honest I have spent the majority of my 27 year coaching career in age groups where my most significant accomplishments are making kids smile, laugh, feel included and fall in love with sport so that sport becomes a positive impact and influence in their lives; that is where I feel very accomplished as a coach. I love High Performance sport but kids are not mini adults, meeting them at their level to have small accomplishments every time I see them means the world to me. One of the greatest feelings is being in the grocery store and hearing a kid yell “Hi Coach Astrid” Those smiles are important and meaningful to who I am as a coach and person. My time spent in youth soccer is devoted to ensuring that there is a clear and consistent focus on long term player development and that meaningful competition is built in when and where appropriate. I might hold the record for the most “losing-ist” coach in Sask LOL but I really strive to stay true to my belief not to make short term gains at the cost of long term development. I am brave and make decisions aligned to my coaching philosophy and values to ensure every single one of my players is given the tools to succeed at the next level of sport that they choose to participate in.

One of my greatest accomplishments and legacies that I leave on sport in this province will not only be the players that I help fall in love with sport but also the players that I help support into a coaching pathway. This is truly important to me and I have a large number of ex players that are now active coaches that I have mentored as part of the QC Soccer Youth Apprentice Program or that I have informally mentored, current UofR players that I engage in youth programs, and this year was able to encourage 4 female coaches (all ex university players) to join our program as assistant coaches.”

Astrid has been called a fair coach, ensuring to always instill fun and to be positive, also ensuring to provide both important feedback for development for individual players, and the team as a whole.

From a very young age, Astrid has been immersed in the game. As a fan, player, coach, team manager, and staff within the provincial programs, she has been influenced by others in her growth within the game, and continues to impact new generations of players who cross her path today. She is honest with her players in their development, and strives to uphold the ethics of the game and of sport in general. The game of soccer revolves around positive relationships both on and off the field and Astrid is effective in conducting herself with great integrity and honours the sport, its rules, and the fundamentals of sharing the game with others. She considers relationships with her players and their families to be of the utmost of importance and looks to instill the values she possesses to them each time she steps out onto the field.

She is a role model to both players and coaches across the province, and we believe a very deserving candidate for this award

Here’s a direct quote from Astrid that demonstrates how her teams have demonstrated improvement –
“I am currently in a Co-Head Coach role with the UofR Women’s Soccer Team and this year we have a winning record of 7-4-1 with the team finishing second in the CanWest East Division and have qualified for play-offs. This is a huge accomplishment in my world because the program does not consistently qualify for playoffs or have winning regular season records. As an Alumna of the program I am so proud to have been a part of the teams success in this new role. Coming into this Co-Head Coach position with little time to prep and a roster with 19 rookies and having such on field success has been very rewarding for all the players involved and I am bursting with pride at the opportunity to work with these amazing athletes.

I had had many successful youth teams with QC that have won lots of gold medals but honestly its not about that for me – I am always more interested in the journey with the players and ultimately analyzing and reflecting on what got them the success (gold medal) Like I mentioned I have no shame in losing and I think all of my players would say that about me – its the lessons learnt along the way that matter to me as a coach. Winning is just a happy byproduct of all that hard work and I am in this game for the hard work!”

• Coach-of-the-Year-Curtis-Hextall.pdf

Spring 2015- Coached Saskatchewan’s first para dressage rider in live competition
2015-present: Annual seminar and certifications for Equestrian Canada Learn to ride programs across the province.
Spring 2019-Hosted Clive Milkins Technical director for para equestrian Canada and organized group of coaches, parents, athletes, judges, stewards, show committee and PSO representatives at to participate in his seminar regarding Para Dressage.
Fall 2019- Hosted Clive Milkins for training seminars open to para dressage and dressage riders in Saskatchewan
Spring 2020-Joined para dressage Canada committee
Fall 2021-Hosted Clive Milkins for training seminars
May 2007-Completion of “An Introduction to Equine Facilitated Mental Health Workshop”-Canadian Therapeutic riding Association

May 2007-Attended “The Power of the Horse” Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association Spring Conference- Duncan, BC

May 2008-Hosted and attended Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association Workshop with Pippa Hodge, Pediatric Physiotherapist, CanTra Coach, American Hippotherapy Association certified therapist

November 2008-Successfully completed “Signed English-Beginner Course”

October 2009-Hosted and attended Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association “Instructor Preparation Workshop”

October 2010-Hosted and attended Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association “Introduction to Autism Workshop”

September 2006- Winner of the Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan Business Plan competition award
June 2008- Equilibrium Therapeutic Riding was featured on the TV show “Cowboy Country TV”
March 2009- Featured in an article promoting SIAST-by featuring successful grads of SIAST programs.
Spring 2015-Winner of CBC’s Top 40 under 40 award.
Fall 2018- Featured speaker on YXE underground pod cast
Summer 2021- Featured as CTV news Hometown Hero

Equestrian Canada Para dressage National Competitions results for 2020:
12 riders participated in 7 legs of competition(44 entries total for Equilibrium) who otherwise have no other venue to compete in sport .
12 -first placings
15 -second placings
8- third placings
2 -fourth placings
3- fifth placings
1 -sixth placing
2 – seventh placings
1 -eighth placing

Video competition for 2021 so far ( sept, oct, nov results still to come). 11 participants , 36 entries.
5- first placings
10- second placings
7- third placings
6-fourth placings
5- fifth placings
2-seventh placings

My daughter Lauren has been riding for 5 years, she has Microcephaly, a learning disability , short term memory problems and social issues. She started competing in Para dressage 2 years ago. Erin has helped her gain confidence in her own voice, helped her focus and multi task. Lauren started with having to be led by a leader on her horse and is now independently riding on her own and is now competing in the upper levels of Walk/Trot/Canter para dressage. She won high points champion for 2020 Equestrian Canada video dressage competition. Having moved up to a higher level this year, has placed in the top 2 in her last 3 legs of the competition.

Tanya Shevchenko is a Grade V para athlete for dressage. She also won high points champion 2020 for the Equestrian Canada video competition and in summer of 2021 has achieved the marks needed for a bid to represent Canada in the Paralympics in 2024.

Milania is a young girl who was born without legs. She has not only learned how to balance on a horse but has gone on to para dressage competitions and placed in first snd second place. in 2020. With Erin as a coach, who has knowledge and understanding in how horses move and how adaptations can be made to help her riders safely ride independently. Riders like Milania have gain confidence and core strength that carries over into every day life. Erin believed in Milania through tough lessons and knows when to push and when to try something new to aid her disability.

• Document1.docx
• Breanne-refernece-letter.docx
• Erin-McCormick-Sask-Sport-Coach-of-the-Year.docx