Staying in the game
Calgary physician Dr. Christopher J. (Chip) Doig dedicates time and energy to helping kids stay active and engaged.
I hope that when kids see me out there still having fun that they’ll find a way to play when they’re adults too. We should all make time to play.
Although most parents may have found themselves coaching kids in some capacity at some point, Dr. Christopher J. (Chip) Doig has gone above and beyond.
Dr. Doig spends his days caring for critically ill patients, and many of his evenings and weekends coaching young soccer players as they hone their skills and their confidence on the soccer field.
“I’ve probably coached soccer for 11 or 12 years now,” explains Dr. Doig. “I coach mainly at the U10, U12 and U14 range and also still play myself, something I’ve been doing since I was five years old.”
He started coaching soccer when his daughter, now 17, first began playing and has stayed involved ever since. “Often it’s with one of my kids on the team but not always,” he says.
Over the years, his summer community league coaching expanded to include indoor soccer as well, and it’s not unusual for him to coach virtually year-round.
In addition to his field time for drills and practices, he also devotes time to doing an initial assessment with each new team and helping each player hone their skills.
And he doesn’t measure his success simply in terms of wins and losses. “I always say that I win as a coach if kids have fun, learn respect for their teammates and opponents and want to keep playing into adulthood.”
Not only is coaching a great escape from the day-to-day pressures of medicine, but it’s also a chance to give back to the community. “Care really starts in the community, and this is a great way to engage with our community.”
Dr. Doig also wants to show kids that sports can be a part of your life, throughout your entire life. “I hope that when kids see me out there still having fun that they’ll find a way to play when they’re adults too. We should all make time to play.”
