Anna Collinge

My hockey background

I started playing hockey at the age of 6, when my dad took me down to my local club in Milton keynes which was just up the road. My passion for the sport started very early on and I really think this was due to the environment and culture of the club. The coaches who turned up every Sunday were all volunteers and coached purely because they wanted young kids to have the same love for the sport they did. I grew up at this club through U8s, U10s and U12s and made the U13 county team when I was 11 where I captained the side. At the age of 13 I started playing women's hockey and was moved to the 1st team of my club. I think this really benefited me from a young age as I believe there is lots to learn from playing with experienced women who almost mentored and helped me to learn and grow as a player in every match. I was put forward for an England hockey performance centre trial when I was 13 and made the U15 regional squad. Towards the end of this season covid hit and for me, like many others, this time period I dedicated to really work on my fitness and athletic development which paid off as at the end of the season returning from covid I was selected to play in the England Hockey Futures Cup. Representing Mercia Lynx U15, I competed against the 3 other english regions as well as Scotland and Ireland youth teams. 

As the England hockey performance system changed I then attended the Performance Centre Challenge Cup with South Mids at U17 where we finished 2nd in the country. The same year, my netball team became national champions at U19 level and I managed to balance competing at high levels in both sports. The following year the performance programme altered again and I competed in the U18 Talent Academy Festival with Oxford Hawks. I used my previous experience to help younger players and act as a leader as an older member of our young squad. This led me to receiving a scholarship to attend a hockey playing school which in England is a big advantage if you want to be at the top of your game. For me this was something really special as I had attended a state school all my life. I remember playing with and against girls who trained 3 to 4 times a week with school as well as matches on top, which just wasn’t possible for me. So, having the opportunity to have so much time on the pitch the following year meant a lot for me. 

This leads me into my previous season where I moved to Buckingham Hockey Club who had just been demoted from the National Premier League and were playing in Division 1. I put in a lot of work during the preseason after my GCSE exams and this was really worthwhile as I cemented a starting spot for the Ladies 1st XI. Since joining I also started playing indoor hockey which really improved the technical side of my game. I trained with the Buckingham Ladies side who went on to the indoor Europeans in 2024. With multiple professional sessions a week, playing with ex-olympians and having international standard coaches training me, I often reflect on how grateful I am to now have the support and structure around me. This also gives me fuel and drives my motivation to be the best athlete I can. I know what it is like to not have this accessibility around me therefore whenever I am on the pitch I never take that time for granted. I always want to be a better player than I was the last time I stepped on the pitch.

Why I want to play college hockey

To play a college sport is a privilege and the legacy behind college sport in the US is one any athlete idolises. For me the opportunity would allow me to study whilst competing and playing at a high performance level to allow me to reach my athletic and academic potential. To attend a college where field hockey is played with such a professional manner would be an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. The opportunity to travel around the country and play against the best colleges would be unforgettable. It is a very exciting thought to have access to high level experienced coaches and have the chance to play hockey and study in a new, high performance culture. 

My passion for the sport is huge but for me it is the team that makes playing the sport so special. The hockey family is very close and tight knit in England. Some of the friends that I have met through the sport are friends who I will have for life. To be in a college team where everyone wants to push each other to be the best version of themselves is something I aspire to be involved in. 

Going abroad and experiencing a new culture, a new education system, a new team is something I see as an opportunity to open doors also later in life. As well as this, it can give me the platform and environment to excel and reach my fullest potential whilst enjoying the journey along the way.

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