Colleen P.

My experience is in training/coaching young female-athletes in the sport of field hockey. I began coaching with private lessons for uprising athletes, ages 8-12, interested in learning field hockey. Throughout 2007-2009, I was an instructor at Competitive Edge Day Camp each summer. Throughout my collegiate years of 2010-2013, I coached high school juniors/seniors at Rutgers University Camp(2011) and Northwestern University Camp(2012). At Division-1 University camps I was given ownership of teams consisting of prospective student-athletes striving to take their skill to the next level. Not only did I provide lessons in the sport, I guided young athletes in the importance of teamwork and a strong work ethic. During the summer of 2012 I coached for Windy City, a Chicago club team. Throughout the 2012-2013 season, I was a USA Field Hockey Futures coach, instructing high school age D1 bound athletes.

During my time at Eastern High School (New Jersey), I made the varsity team as a freshman and worked my way to a starting position for my junior/senior seasons. My senior year I was a team captain and led my team to a Group IV State Championship as well as a Tournament of Champions 1st place standing. Eastern HS is currently ranked #1 nationally and in 2009 was ranked #3.

I was recruited on an athletic scholarship to Northwestern University, where I again earned a starting position by my junior/senior seasons as well as a position on the Leadership Council my senior year. By my senior season, we ranged from a #11-#19 ranking nationally.

In a typical session, I begin with an extensive warm-up catered specifically to the muscles used for playing field hockey. Next, I take the athlete through a drill spanning the width of the field. This drill would consist of various dribbling exercises, pulling techniques, aerial ball handling, and explosive movements designed to evade defenders. Depending on the level of athlete, we would spend more or less time on these ball handling techniques/skills while simultaneously keeping an aware mindset of the field surroundings (body position,vision,communication). I would then go through passing (push-pass, sweep, drive). I excel in my training of defensive skills and would train on the techniques of 1v1, 2v1, and 3v2 offensive/defensive skills. Shooting skills and a scrimmage/small game (depending on the group size) would conclude the session.