It's been an exciting start to the season for one of Ste. Anne's U11 girls fast pitch teams and coach Alyssa Kibsey couldn't be happier with how the team is doing on the field and also how girls sports are growing around the province.
"The girls are all vibing and having a great time," Kibsey says with a smile. "The commitments have been awesome and it's so great to see them developing their skills while loving the game."
Having been an assistant coach last year, Kibsey jokes that it's a quite a bit different being a head coach. "A lot more planning," she says with a laugh. "There's setting up lineups and practices, getting everything under way with them. It's been great because the girls have shown a lot of interest. I love supporting them and helping them find that next level to their skills."
At the U11 age level, Kibsey says it's been special to see the girls adjust to all that is new for them. "It's been very interesting. The girls are pitching to each other this year, so that's been a big change because coaches pitched to them previous. It's been interesting to watch them push themselves to understand the strike zone. They've really worked on their long throws, making those outs, when they can make certain plays and when to push the base running. There's been a learning curve, for sure."
To start the year, the group is 2-1 through their first three games and what has stood out to Kibsey is just how close this team is on the field. "The support for girls sports in unmatched. The way they cheer each other on and they have a positive comment about everything. If there's an error in the field or a play by the book, they are all so positive and supportive of each other. They're always happy and that's been a real highlight."
The support on the field as teammates is one thing but for Kibsey, she believes the bonds these girls are forming now will continue as they get older. "It's so awesome to see them loving and supporting each other. A lot of them go to school together, so you can see they talk about how they bring their gloves with them outside for recess. You can see how these friendships are going to be a strong foundation for these girls for years to come. It's really great."
Women's sports continues to grow in Ste. Anne, the surrounding areas and across the province, something Kibsey says is crucial for young women athletes and coaches. "I love seeing the growth, it's such a reward that women's sports are taking off. I see a lot more women in coaching, which is great to see. Girls really vibe well with female coaches. It's incredible to see that these girls have a place where they can be themselves and play the sport that they love with other girls of their caliber."
Looking down the road and into the future, having university level schools with ball teams means that these young women will have a chance to get an elite level education along with playing the sport they love, something Kibsey says is pretty amazing to aspire to. "I think it's so important to have for young girls. It's wonderful to know that these girls can see these doors opening and they have opportunities to take things to the next level. They can pursue anything they want to do in life and they can use sports to get there."
A special event upcoming for the U11's is provincials, something that is still being worked out, according to Kibsey. "We're looking at putting together the U11 majority girls to compete at the provincial event. We're still deciding how we're going to navigate that with all of our players, but we're looking forward to being competitive there and having a driving, positive team."
Kibsey couldn't be prouder of the girls but she also says this team wouldn't be possible without the amazing parents who have stepped up in a big way. "It's so important, we started off the season with only myself as a head coach and we didn't have any other coaches. After the first practice, we had three other parents step up and we even had a grand parent step in and they've been helping assistant coach. Having the girls commit, they've been totally bought in for all the games and all the practices. It's been so nice to have parents there for added support, there on the bench, helping get the girls ready for their at bats or fielding, it's all been very special. To have the parents step up when we really needed them to, it means a lot."
The U11 team will have a special tournament in Mitchell later in the summer.