Elsa Green

My hockey background

I started playing hockey at the age of four with London Wayfarers Hockey Club where I am still a member. I have been playing representative hockey for the last six years: initially when 11 yrs old at U13 County level for Surrey and then for 2 yrs with London, and subsequently at Talent Academy level for Hampstead & Westminster (H&W) since 2023. I was selected for the end of year national Talent Academy festivals in 2024 and 2025. I have been on tour to Holland twice with H&W Talent Academy, and attended an open assessment trial for the England U16 team.

I have continued to play Junior hockey for London Wayfarers throughout, captaining my team for the last three years.  I play school hockey for Streatham and Clapham High School, captaining my year group for the last three years, and have also played for the school’s first team (U18) from the age of 13, and of which I am vice captain this year.  My school is part of a network (GDST) and I have successfully trialed to make it into the GDST select team three years running.

As well as Junior hockey, I have played Senior hockey since the age of 13, training and playing with adults. I have played for a range of the Club’s Senior teams, and this year I am playing for London Wayfarers Women’s 2s (playing in the London Premier League, one level below National League), starting every match.  I train with the Women’s 1s every week, which gives me the chance to stretch myself.

As a defender, and sometimes in a leadership role, I organise the defensive structure and help make sure everyone is well positioned. I take up very good field positions, using my speed and positioning to make a lot of interceptions. I make good passes, priding myself on not giving the ball away. I do a lot of outletting and have a strong aerial shot which I use frequently in matches. In some of the teams I play in, I am first runner for defensive penalty corners and I also score quite a few goals from attacking penalty corners.

‍Why I want to play college field hockey in the USA

I am very excited about the idea of going to America to play college field hockey.  My sister went to the USA on a field hockey scholarship and I have been lucky enough to watch matches at quite a few different colleges and see the unbelievably high standard of coaching and facilities.

I also know several other teammates who have gone to America in the last few years, all of whom have only positive things to say about their student athlete experience.  I love the idea of being able to devote so much of my time to being the best athlete I can be, with the support and encouragement of a dedicated coaching staff.

As well as sport, I am also focused on my academic career and look forward to being able to play sport whilst also benefitting from a high-quality educational experience.  I feel very positive about the impact that a US college experience can have on my future career.

I love being part of a team environment and working to improve the performance of the team as whole in any way that I can, I have really enjoyed all the teams that I have been a part of to date.  Being part of a US college field hockey team where everyone is working together to achieve the best possible results is really appealing and I think will reconfirm my love of team sport, as well as giving me the opportunity of making friends for life.

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