Micaela Roos is a queen of all trades - from being an Admitted Attorney to coaching the Youth Girls at TuksHockey. Early this year, she graduated having obtained an LLB at UP-Tuks. She lives up to the means of fear lies in freedom, knowledge has power and what you do today determines who you will be tomorrow, thus, your future is being written today.

Here, Roos tells us about her experience as a student-athlete of TuksHockey, venturing into coaching and her advice to the next generation of hockey players at TuksSport.

1. Who is Micaela Roos?

I am a full-time candidate attorney and hopefully soon to be an Admitted Attorney, LLM Mercantile Law student, Tuks first team hockey player, indoor and outdoor umpire and coach of TuksHockey Youth Girls. At first glance, my life looks demanding, but truth be told, it is merely a balancing act and even though it gets challenging, one must look at the bigger picture. Like someone said to me recently; “something big is coming your way”.

I grew up next to a sports field, learning to live up to the expectations of both my big brothers shaped into being professional rugby players and provincial cricket players respectively. It formed the basis of my love for all sorts of sporting codes from rugby, athletics, Formula 1 and even lawn bowls. Therefore, sports will forever be a big part of my life whether it is playing hockey, coaching or umpiring.

I am a driven, motivated, and passionate individual who believes in working towards something in life whether it is in my professional, coaching or umpiring career. Staying busy is a method of staying productive as we all know a person who cannot sit still. Even though I am a firm believer in woman empowerment, I am a disbeliever in undervaluing the other gender as equality and fairness lie deep in my heart. I am known to be a person that speaks up easily and one that will always stand for what is right.

2. What has your experience been like as a student-athlete of TuksHockey?

In all fairness, I am where I am at today due to TuksHockey due to its astonishing and sensational management that keeps the club together. My experience as a student-athlete has been a rollercoaster, from torn hamstrings, torn calve muscles, broken bones and even the passing of a close family member. TuksHockey has always prioritised my health and mental state and consequently never stopped providing a continuous support system.

TuksHockey motivates and drives each member to be successful, whether it is in their profession off the turf or playing career. Since my first appearance back in 2018, my coach, Inky Zondi, has repeatedly stated over the years that we are here (at Tuks) to study and to make sure you get the degree behind your name but we are also here to perform on the field. Consequently, a student-athlete is probably one of the most underrated individuals in my opinion. From training at a high intensity for four to sometimes five times a week, playing games on the weekend and still having to go home and study is rather difficult and strenuous on the body. It collectively consists of early mornings, late nights, laughter as well as tears. Again, when we work, we work towards something.

I have had the privilege to have represented the Stripe Generation for four years and won three back-to-back gold medals at the USSA Hockey Championships. Now I can honestly and openheartedly say, there is no better team to play for than this one. It has been an energetic and bustling few years even so the Stripe Generation family has motivated me to study for my Master’s degree. Every year, we have a team motto that we take with us leading up to our tournaments, but it is never left on the turf but also carried into our daily lives such as; “Run for Gold”, “Beyond Number 1”, “Don’t duck the Boat” and “PPUG – Pride, Passion, Unity and Grit”.  It is true what everyone else says, once you have played for in Stripe colours, you will never want to play for any other team.

3. Where does the love of youth hockey development come from?

I started playing hockey at the tender age of eight; I was immediately hooked from the first training and my very first hockey stick. My skills developed and my dedication grew with the hunger to be better, faster and more successful. I grew up with the motto ‘to be the best, you got to beat the best. With each achievement, I have set my next objective.

Over the years I have gained knowledge about the game and decided to broaden it by doing my coaching courses. All sporting codes start at one place and that is in the developing years of adolescence. In society, we tend to give less attention to the forming years of an individual. Sports and their skillsets are like building a house, you lay a foundation to set them up for greater success in the future. Thus, adequate coaches need to have adequate skills to develop youngsters in their various sports.

I am a firm believer that basic hockey is the best hockey which goes along with my coaching principles - giving positive criticism, and positive feedback and using every setback as a starting block to reach higher achievements. For a team to succeed, one must focus on team goals, structure, strong points, weak points and most importantly, a team culture. Team culture can win games or lose games, build relationships, or break relationships.

4. What motivated you to venture into coaching?

I would say, I am a person that speaks a lot on the field as communication is a key factor in a team’s success on and off the field.  I have always been one of those players who wanted to understand why I am doing what I am doing on the field, of which led me to go into coaching, to get a way for players to think outside the box. In addition, seeing how players grow is one of the biggest gifts we can receive back from the players and one I would regard as an achievement.

5. What is your advice to the next generation of hockey players at TuksSport?

We are all unique and should never try to be and play like another player. Our minds and thought processes differ from one another. Thus, learn the skill and implement it into your own game. Create your legacy and something my coach told me that I would want to carry over to the youth; “Don’t go looking for flair but let flair find you.”

6. Why do you love hockey?

Hockey is an escape game from reality. It is satisfying to master a skill and to use it in a game. Every game is different with new opportunities and new challenges. It is quick and one can say, ‘there is never a dull moment. It is just such a great sport and with it comes lifelong friendships and bonds from strangers to family and friends. That is what this sport is about.