This summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Houten in Holland to compete in the World Youth Festival writes Hockey Mentors player Katherine L. It was an amazing experience and one that has given me a lot more confidence and experience going into my upcoming England Hockey U16 trials.
The Hockey Mentors team was made up of some of the best individual players already involved in the programme. Being selected for the team was a great opportunity. We were going to be competing against teams from different countries, meaning that the style and speed of hockey could be very different from what I was used to.
One of the biggest challenges was adapting to the faster pace of the games. We played six matches and won three of them, eventually finishing fourth overall. Although we obviously wanted to win every game, finishing fourth was still a really valuable experience because of the standard of opposition we faced and everything I learned throughout the tournament.
Two of the teams we played against were the USA and Hurley from the Netherlands. Playing against the USA was probably my favourite part of the whole festival. The level was extremely high, which made the game both exciting and challenging. It was a great feeling to be able to test myself against players from another country who were playing at such a high standard. What made the experience even better was getting to know some of the USA players and becoming friends with them.
Playing against Hurley was another really great experience. The speed of the game meant that I had to think and react much quicker. As a screen, I had to be more aware of what was happening around me and make decisions quickly. I found myself making more passes and increasing my intensity so that I could keep up with the pace of the game. These are things I can take forward into future matches.
I was also lucky enough to be captain for two of our games. This gave me experience beyond just playing hockey. Being captain meant taking on more responsibility and trying to support the team during the games. It helped me learn about communicating, encouraging your teammates and staying positive when things aren’t going your way.
This tournament also reminded me of my experience at the Holland Elite Hockey Tournament last year, where my team won the competition. That tournament was my first experience of playing hockey in Holland, and winning it was amazing. Coming back this year for the World Youth Festival felt like another step forward. The level of hockey was even more challenging, and I was able to use the experience I had gained last year while also learning new things.
With my England Hockey U16 trials coming up soon, I know that the experience from Houten will be something I can take onto the pitch. I now feel more prepared for the intensity and pressure of playing against strong players. Most importantly, I want to take what I have learned, keep improving and enjoy the opportunity.
Looking back, the World Youth Festival was an excellent experience. It gave me the chance to challenge myself, learn from better players, take on leadership responsibilities and make friends from different countries. It is an experience I will definitely take with me as I continue developing as a hockey player.
