Former Thailand star Onuma Sittirak never imagined coaching would be part of her future. After more than a decade representing the national team, she believed her journey in volleyball would end when her playing career did. Instead, she found a new purpose on the sidelines, where she is now working as an assistant coach while aspiring to one day become a head coach.
Becoming a coach was not part of Sittirak’s original plan. The transition came only after she realised her passion for volleyball extended beyond competing on the court.
“First of all, I have to admit that becoming a coach was not something I had planned from the beginning. At first, I only wanted to be a player. But after my playing career, I realised that volleyball is what I love most. That is why I decided to become an assistant coach, and I hope to continue developing and eventually become a head coach,” she said.
Sittirak believes initiatives that place women on coaching staffs can help more former players envision a future in coaching. During her own playing career, female coaches were rare. She said greater representation gives aspiring coaches confidence that opportunities exist beyond retirement.
“When I was a player, there were very few women working as assistant coaches or coaches. Now, because of this initiative, every team has a woman on the coaching staff. I believe this has a positive impact on women players who want to become coaches in the future because it shows them there is a pathway. It gives them confidence that, after becoming an assistant coach, there will continue to be opportunities and support for them to progress,” she said.
She also believes women coaches bring an important perspective to women’s teams, creating an environment where players may feel more comfortable discussing personal matters that affect their wellbeing.
“When there is a woman on the coaching staff of a women’s team, the players are often more comfortable discussing matters related to their health or other personal issues with a woman coach than with a man. I believe that is a very important role that women coaches can play,” she said.
Drawing on her own experience, Sittirak encourages other women to overcome hesitation and embrace coaching, even if the role initially feels unfamiliar.
“I believe the most important thing is to be brave enough to take the first step. At first, I did not have the confidence to become a coach. But once I tried it, I realised how rewarding and challenging it is. I want to encourage everyone to be brave, embrace the challenge, and move forward. I believe that anyone who is determined to become a good coach,” she said.
Creating opportunities remains the foundation for increasing the number of women in coaching. She believes giving women the chance to begin is the first step towards seeing more female leaders on the sidelines.
“I believe the most important step is giving women coaches the opportunity to begin. That is the starting point for seeing more women become head coaches. Right now, there are still very few women serving as head coaches or on coaching staffs. But now that this opportunity has been created, I believe we will continue to see more and more women coaches in the future,” she said.
