By Caitlin Bewley
\n(3rd Yr Swinburne Uni)<\/p>\n
The apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree with 16-year-old Zali Ward following in her mother\u2019s footsteps and taking her first leap into the elite hockey world.
\nZali\u2019s athleticism has taken her to new heights after being selected to tour Europe in March 2020 alongside other Victorian hockey players.
\nIt isn\u2019t her first taste either, she\u2019s played in squads and representative sides throughout her hockey career, with the selection into the School Sports Australia Squad being a significant achievement.
\nBut the current milestone in Zali\u2019s sporting career may well be her selection into the Hockey Victoria Women\u2019s development squad as a bottom age player.
\nThe process began at the end of last year when 30 girls were chosen to be a part of the initial trials, this then being cut down to 16 athletes who will jet off to the Netherlands to partake in elite hockey training.
\n\u201cShe takes it in her stride,\u201d mother Brittany said when asked what Zali\u2019s initial reaction to being selected was.
\n\u201cShe\u2019s quietly excited. She knows she has a lot of work to do,\u201d Brittany continued.
\nAlong with the other athletes chosen, Zali will be exposed to high level competition, which will further her experience for state and national selections.
\n\u201cThe next step [after training with the women\u2019s squad] is Jillaroos or the Australian squad,\u201d Brittany said. \u201c[Zali\u2019s] grateful she did get a chance.\u201d
\nThe trip to the Netherlands will allow the athletes to train with the best local competition in the world, on the best training and playing facilities to date.
\nThe travelling team will consist of both Hockey Victoria Emerging Athletes, which Zali is in, and Victorian Institute of Sport athletes.
\n\u201cYou have to have certain characteristics for the Victorian Institute of Sport to take you on,\u201d Brittany said. \u201cThey are developing amazing people.\u201d
\nBrittany told the Moorabool News Zali was invited to train with the VIS team over the Christmas break, saying that it showed her \u201cwhat it was like to be a professional athlete.\u201d
\nWhen asked what Zali\u2019s year ahead in hockey may look like, her roster wasn\u2019t shy of a few commutes halfway across the world.
\n\u201cZali has trials for the national team this month which plays in Tasmania in April, the Europe tour in March, and, if all goes to plan, she\u2019ll be heading to South Africa in June for the U\/16 School Sports Australia team,\u201d Brittany said.
\n\u201cAll while studying Year 11 at Bacchus Marsh Grammar,\u201d she continued. \u201cWho have been amazing in accommodating Zali and her hockey. They run an elite sports program at the school.\u201d
\nZali\u2019s Europe tour commences March 6 for two weeks, playing six games over a 12-day period and gaining lifelong knowledge that she will be able to incorporate into her already elite hockey game. <\/p>\n
*** Zali Ward was announced in the 2020 Aus Champs U18 Vic Girls State Team on Friday 14 February, playing in Tasmania 16-24 April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Caitlin Bewley (3rd Yr Swinburne Uni) The apple doesn\u2019t fall far from the tree with 16-year-old Zali Ward following in her mother\u2019s footsteps and taking her first leap into the elite hockey world. Zali\u2019s athleticism has taken her to new heights after being selected to tour Europe in March 2020 alongside other Victorian hockey […]<\/p>\n