Women's ice hockey in Estonia

Abstract

In Estonia hockey has been active just 10 years. Women’s entrance to the so-called masculine sport has drawn some attention. Female participation in sports has been much lower, and in some cases eliminated. Influential topics are attitude, gender roles, social pressure, and culture. For data collection have used questionnaire, to see hockey experiences from the player’s point of view. This research study was in Estonian women’s ice hockey. The study was done to find out the level and range of ice hockey, to name possi-ble obstacles what could interfere with potential development, to study values and expectations of sport and interest level from the female participants and to look at the current qualification and organization level of coaches and hockey clubs. Study shows that players are highly interested to expand hockey among women. Their motives are to develop their personal skills and gain enjoyment from physi-cal activity. Players like the challenge that the game is offering. Overall society attitude towards this field is mainly positive, although this sport is also seen as a male sport and unnatural for women. Players shared experiences can help to develop and increase women’s ice hockey in future. Tada contains positive and negative information. It can be good starting point for future club planning and overall development