schoolsthatrockHockey Captain. In our popular series about sports captains, Schools That Rock today talks to Jenna Davies. Jenna is the 1st team Girls’ Hockey Captain of HeronBridge College, Fourways, Johannesburg. Jenna today scores the fourteenth goal in our series this year on Hockey Captains from high schools in South Africa and Namibia.
“I started playing hockey when I was in Grade 3. I enjoy playing hockey because for me, ever since I could remember it was a way for me to forget about all the worries and stresses in my life. When I can walk onto the field and focus on hockey, I tend to forget about my day-to-day life.
Luciana Aymar
My favourite professional hockey player is Luciana Aymar, a retired hockey player from Argentina. She is the only hockey player in history to receive the FIH Player of the Year Award eight times. Aymar is also considered as the best female hockey player of all time. She inspires me to work harder on the hockey field but also helps me to remember the passion and reasoning as to why I play hockey.
The position I currently play is defender. In addition, I prefer to play left back and/or centre back.
The first time I was elected Hockey Captain, is this year on 29 February. In my opinion, the greatest task of the captain – on the field and during training, is to help motivate my teammates to be positive even in a negative situation. There is always a positive in any situation. The prowess/qualities I think a good hockey player should possess is passion and dedication, adaptability, teamwork, resilience and discipline.
Inspiration
The one thing that inspires me every time I step onto the hockey field for a game, is my team. I aspire to work harder, not only for myself but for me team. Every time I step onto the field I remind myself that I am part of a team and my teammates need my help just as much as I need theirs during a training or game.
The game I enjoyed most as Hockey Captain and was the most fun, was the alumni game during our HeronBridge Invitational 2024. I enjoyed it because I got to play against some of my old teammates who I had gained special relationships with. As a bonus we won the game!
Apart from this, we played in the Best of the West Festival in the beginning of this season. During one of our games on the first day, we played a match and I was very frustrated and angry with my team just because the game was not going well. We hadn’t played together as a team, so we were getting used to each other. What I learnt from this game is that no matter the situation, I need to control my emotions. I need to be patient with myself as well as with those around me. I need to be understanding and encourage my team even if I’m not having a good game myself.
Handling Pressure
I struggle with pressure during hockey games quite frequently. I stress about how I play, how my team plays and how other people think I play. Furthermore I find that once I am on the field, I take a breath and I try to use the pressure or stress I feel to push myself harder to play harder and work harder.
As Hockey Captain, I try to motivate my team by being passionate about hockey. I try to show my dedication and my commitment to the sport. I also try to offer support on and off the field as well as encouraging communication amongst our team members.
As a matric learner, my top 5 priorities in life include university (applications, studying), school work, balancing my school life as well as my personal life, being a good captain for my hockey team and working on myself.
Hockey beginners
My advice for hockey beginners, I would say that you need to be patient with yourself, give yourself time to understand and a lot of practice. For me, one important piece of advice is that you have to enjoy hockey because, if you enjoy it, you are going to thrive. In addition, if you force yourself to enjoy something it is going to damage your love for the sport.
After school I would love to play hockey at university. I have seriously thought about it and I think it would be beneficial for me.
My biggest single highlight for hockey is that I was elected for the first team hockey when I was in Grade 10, and I was elected Hockey Captain in Grade 12. This was important for me because, before I came to HeronBridge I never made a first team and I wanted to prove to myself that I can do anything I try.
I do have Interests, other than hockey. Outdoor activities such as fishing and horse riding and I love painting in my spare time or crafting. Apart from this, I do also love travelling.
I think that my coach and teammates would describe me as trustworthy and hard working.
My role model to whom I look up, is my hockey coach, Garth Neilson. He inspires me to embrace challenges and make mistakes because it’s the only way I can learn from them. I look up to him because he reminds me of why I love hockey in the first place, despite setbacks or bad days.
The professional hockey player I would love to have coffee with, is Luciano Aymar. She has exceptional knowledge and experience to share and I feel like it would be inspiring and insightful.
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https://www.heronbridge.co.za/
Photo supplied
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