THE impact made by the Investec Hockey Academy on the lives of KZN school girls who took part in the first KwaZulu-Natal courses at the weekend at Crawford College in Durban, extends beyond the AstroTurf.
The young players, aged eight to 18, were given the opportunity to work closely with a number of former and current SA hockey players.
The courses featured six Olympian players and two World Cup players as well as SA men’s hockey coach, Fabian Gregory, and SA women’s hockey U21 coach, Lindsay Wright. The coaches at the academy used their expertise to provide players with an understanding of what it takes to succeed in women’s sport and in life.
“The courses we offer work on creating a dynamic well-rounded athlete. We try to give young, aspiring hockey stars a glimpse, and start the process of what is required to fine-tune their skills and abilities,” said current SA women’s hockey player and Investec Hockey Academy’s general manager, Shelley Russell.
“Although we try to identify, and nurture, future hockey stars through the programme, we are by no means an elitist programme, and any female players with a desire to improve their hockey expertise are welcome at the academy,” said Russell.
The academy acts as a platform to identify potential talent which allows players to be noticed in order to grow the sport national
