Chelsea more at home on Hockey pitch than foaming surf

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete Chelsea Holmes suggests – and it’s accompanied by a loud giggle – that, as a surf lifesaver, she found her true calling on the hockey pitch.

Holmes, 20, who is a member of the Australian Jillaroos Under 21 squad, is in her rookie season with the NSW Pride Hockey One League team after deciding to focus on hockey rather than patrolling sun kissed Elouera Beach – a golden stretch of sand and foaming surf situated between Kurnell and Cronulla in Sydney’s south.

“I started lifesaving in the under sixes and went through to the under 14s,” said Holmes, before training alongside the likes of distinguished Hockeyroos, Mariah Williams, Kaitlin Nobbs, Grace Stewart, and Greta Hayes at the State Hockey Centre, Sydney Olympic Park, ahead of Sunday’s match there against Hockey Club Melbourne.

 “As a member of the Elouera Surf Life Saving Club, I received my Surf Rescue Certificate, my Bronze Medallion . . .  went to all the carnivals . . . and eventually did patrols. It was such a good environment. I made good friends, I was always down at the beach and learning about the ocean, which is important.

“I didn’t ever have to rescue anyone [laughing] . . . but I needed to be rescued myself [laughs]. My friend lost her board [while in the surf], then, when we climbed on the board together we struggled to get out of the rip [so some other members were sent out to get us].”

Holmes, an attacking midfielder who is far from being all at sea on the Hockey pitch, conceded her being selected to compete in the Under 13s National Hockey Championships made her decision to focus on the land-based sport.

“That was quite special, said Holmes, whose younger sister Chloe is a member of the NSWIS women’s hockey program, and cousin, Kian Johnson, is in the Institute’s men’s program. “The friendships and experiences . . .  you realise if you want more you keep practicing until you make the teams.

“Hockey is a very family orientated sport, my mum and all her family played. I’ve played since I was six years old, and I have always enjoyed it. I just practiced and trained.”

NSWIS Head Coach of the Women’s Hockey program, Ben Senior, described Holmes as a player who has made the most of her NSWIS scholarship, and other opportunities, including her involvement in the domestic competition.

“Chelsea offers versatility,” said Senior. “She can play as a striker, she can play as an attacking midfielder –she does have a great drag flick, which is always a bonus and a good weapon for a player to have. Plus, as an attacking midfielder she has an eye for a goal.

“As a striker Chelsea offers the ability to receive and break the advantage line and enter in the ‘D’ [the striking circle players must shoot from to score a goal] along the baseline line with 3d skills [when the player in possession plays the ball in the air] is a massive asset, while her work rate from a press perspective [a defensive pattern established to deny the attacking team certain spaces on the pitch] is also good.

“She brings a lot to the NSW Pride squad in term of her commitment to training, and she wants to play for the Pride, she wants to play for NSW – it comes across that she’s passionate about playing for NSW – and Chelsea is very supportive of the team and that adds to the squad.”

For Holmes, who is studying Occupational Therapy at the Australian Catholic University’s North Sydney campus, being signed for the NSW Pride is exciting, but she’s keeping her feet planted firmly on the ground.

“It’s my first season here, so I’m just hoping to make my debut,” she enthused. “The culture the girls have created . . .  winning the championships . . . is so good.

“But there’s no expectations on me. I’m just being told to go out and have fun, to train hard, and to bring a lot to the team.”

Daniel Lane, NSWIS