Experienced sport scientist joins Field Hockey Canada Staff
Kate Perry, an accomplished sport science expert from West Vancouver, BC will be taking on the role of Director of Performance Science. Perry’s educational background includes a BSc in Exercise Physiology & Sport Medicine from Kent State University and an MSc in Strength & Conditioning from the University of Edinburgh.
Perry has 12 years of experience in high performance sport, as well as five years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Notable highlights include her roles as team manager for Rugby Canada during the HSBC Seven Series, team manager for Swimming Canada at many training camps, and physical preparation specialist for Wheelchair Basketball Canada during the 2019 Para Pan American Games and Tokyo Para Olympics. Additionally, Perry served as the Lead Sport Scientist for Field Hockey Canada’s Women’s Next Gen program for the World Cup in 2022, and the Pan American Championships in 2023.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Perry has a strong background in field hockey as both a player and coach. She participated in the Vancouver Premier League and represented U16, U18, and Senior Provincial Teams. Her talent and dedication earned her a scholarship to Kent State University, where she played in the NCAA Division 1. Furthermore, she played in the National 1 league in Scotland. Perry’s coaching experience encompasses both club and provincial levels in Ontario and BC. Her expertise was acknowledged with the recent acquisition of an FIH Level 3 Coaching Certificate.
Perry is excited to join Field Hockey Canada as Director of Performance Science, as it brings together her many passions.
“This opportunity allows me to combine three of my passions. My love of field hockey, my love of sport science and the intricacies of the physical demands of the game in combination with the technical and tactical components, and lastly, my aspirations to help empower, support, drive, and lead sport science and sport medicine within Field Hockey Canada,” Perry said.
In order to ensure athletes and coaches perform at the highest level of play, Perry’s main ideology is to provide support to athletes and coaches at all times.
“My main philosophy when it comes to performance sciences is to maximize player availability and support athletes and coaches with a team that are healthy (mentally and physically) and in peak condition to meet the demands of international play. In order to do that, I hope to empower a team of experts that can support that vision, take initiative, be innovative, and help elevate performance,” Perry stated.
Susan Ahrens, CEO of Field Hockey Canada is happy to welcome Kate Perry back into the field hockey community as a member of the Field Hockey Canada team.
“Kate has extensive experience across a variety of sports including swimming, wheelchair basketball and soccer. In this move from the CSI network into FHC, Kate is coming home to her sport. She played provincial and NCAA field hockey in her career and remains a passionate coach within the community and still enjoys playing,” Ahrens said.
Ahrens believes Perry will play a valuable role in leading Field Hockey Canada’s teams to podium positions.
“As Director of Performance Science, Kate will work closely with our wonderful coaching and medical staff to lead our high performance teams physical preparation towards world podium performances.”
Perry’s journey as a sport scientist, strength & conditioning specialist, field hockey player, and coach exemplifies her passion for high-performance sports. Her diverse experiences across various countries and organizations have shaped her into an accomplished professional in the field.
