Soccer runs in Hannah Ritchie’s veins; her family members are longtime supporters of soccer and the Foothills Club and are shining examples of outstanding people who are aligned with us. Hannah is our Grassroots Coordinator and an Academy Coach. She also attends the University of Calgary and coaches high school basketball in her limited free time. In 2024, alongside coordinating the Club’s Grassroots Program Hannah was Head coach of the Girls u13 Tier 1 team (2011 Green), who ended the season as league champions.
Read our “Meet Hannah Ritchie” article to learn more about our amazing Grassroots Coordinator.
***
Hannah, you and your family have been involved with Foothills for a long time. Tell us about that.
Yes, I come from a long line of soccer fans. My grandmother used to work for the Club. She has fond memories of being the custodian of the Skills Centre when it first opened. I started playing with the Club when I was eight and moved on to coaching when I was 16, teaching academies and skills programs.
Both of my parents have been active members every step of the way. My Dad coached many teams (sometimes with me as his assistant coach) and still does. He is from Scotland and has deep roots in soccer. My Mom is a die-hard supporter. Over the years, she carted me and my teammates around to many soccer and non-soccer related events. She spent hours with us, including taking us to a Justin Bieber concert and the World Juniors, waiting patiently with us so we could congratulate the players who rewarded us with sticks and autographs. These are just two examples of the hours she put in and the great memories she helped create for me and my soccer friends. My younger sister, Olivia, played for Foothills as well and is currently an academy coach.
What is your current position with the Club?
I’m the Grassroots Coordinator. I’ve been doing this role since 2021. I work closely with Sean Petryna and Chase Jacquart to make sure our kids and their families have the best experience possible. I help with academy sessions, handle the day-to-day administration, and liaise with our members to answer their questions.
What are your other passions?
I have a Health and Physical Education degree with a Physical Literacy major from Mount Royal University. I’m now studying for my teaching degree at the University of Calgary.
My Physical Literacy specialization is a perfect fit for my Grassroots role. It’s all about helping improve players’ motor movements, like running, jumping, and skipping … to control their bodies.
The Club’s focus on Women in Sport is something I’m keen to get more involved with. Sarah Taylor is something of a mentor in that regard. I admire what she has accomplished and love working with her. I am also a volunteer coach of a high school junior girls basketball team. My limited downtime is spent with my family.
What’s a top goal of yours for the Grassroots program?
Playing in our Grassroots program is often an introduction to sport for many players, so everyone at Foothills works hard to make sure it’s as positive an experience as possible. The more kids in Canada playing sport, the better and we want to do everything to ensure they continue participating. Building a positive, friendly environment is a big part of that.
I am a better person for having joined Foothills. I don’t know where I’d be now if I hadn’t joined the Club. I say all the time, “Foothills is my second family.” I want our players to feel that sense of community, too.
Do you have a favourite memory with Foothills?
There are many, but this one really stands out. I was 16, and our team won provincials and were guaranteed a spot at Nationals. Making it to Nationals was my team’s highest goal, and we were over the top ecstatic when we did. My whole family was there when we won provincials, and the first thing I did was run to my family to celebrate with them. It was incredibly emotional to achieve that and have them there to share it with me. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring home a National title, but it didn’t matter. We had reached our goal of making it there.
And now I get to watch the boys and girls I’ve worked with as they start to achieve their goals… both on and off the field. They are going on to post-secondary school (and some of them are playing for their school’s soccer teams) and growing into outstanding citizens of the world. Their success gives me a great sense of accomplishment and inspires me to continue to make an impact on more of our kids.
