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July 23, 2001
Charlottesville-In preparation for the 2001 Field Hockey season, rising fourth year Jessica Coleman (Oceanport, N.J.) has participated in a summer tournament with the United Airlines Summer League. Coleman has been a member of this organization as a midfielder since its creation in 1999. Coleman and her team competed in two tournaments in early June in order to qualify for the third tournament, which will take place July 30.
Coleman was also a member of the U.S. National Team, which is divided into four levels. All players were split in a draft pick to go to all teams in the tournament. The rest of the members were selected from open tryouts. This year Coleman trained with the Senior Team and the Under-21 Team in San Diego, Calif. The other levels are the Under-19 and Under-16 teams.
In addition to tournaments, Coleman is enrolled in summer school, which lasts from June to early August. Considering field hockey is a fall sport, Coleman said that the summer can be more strenuous than the academic year.
“The summer requires more training because you have to prepare to go at full speed in pre-season,” she said. “The summer is also more stressful. If you don’t workout every day, you will fall behind the rest of your team and your obligations.”
Besides the tournament and summer school, Coleman has been involved with summer camps at Shore Regional High School in New Jersey and Division I institutions such as Duke University, which Coleman said is a challenge.
“In terms of being a player versus being a coach, both have their perks. Neither one is easy,” she said.
However, Coleman accepts the position as a leader with enthusiasm.
“It’s great being a role model for young children because they are fun and you feel good that you are helping them,” said Coleman.
Despite her devotion to being a leader, Coleman will not participate in Virginia’s field hockey camps, scheduled for July 22-25, because of her commitment to her academics.