National development squad selection fast tracks Warrnambool hockey player Madi Ratcliffe

Hockey Australia yesterday named the Warrnambool College student, 16, as one of 30 girls in its national futures squads for 2014-15.

The selection comes after  representing Victoria at under 18 and under 21 level.

Madi, who is also a member of the Victorian futures squad, said she was “pretty happy” to learn of her selection.

The midfielder/striker will take part in national training camps throughout the year, starting with a trip to the Gold Coast in December.

“At the start of the year I had no idea what I was going to be doing. I knew I was going to trial for the 18s. I would’ve been happy to get into that,” she said.

“My parents thought why not trial for the 21s. I said ‘righto’ and I ended up getting into that. The futures squad is really cool, hopefully it keeps going.”

Madi said stepping up to Victorian Premier League level with Powerhouse-St Kilda this season had been beneficial. “You get to play against people who are better than you,” she said.

“There are very good players in the Premier League and in the tournaments I’ve played in. Playing against them makes you step up to their level.

“I’ve gotten a lot of experience. You learn so much just watching them, playing against them and playing on them.”

Madi honed her craft in the Warrnambool District Hockey Association before catching the eye of state and national selectors.

She used to play tennis and remains a keen surfer, but hockey has become her sporting passion — one which could yet lead to the international stage.

“I’ve always liked sport and my family plays hockey. I’ve grown up around it and I’ve made a lot of good friends from it,” she said.

Hockey Australia national talent pathway manager Michael Crooks said the futures squads aimed to help maintain Australia’s standing in international hockey.

“The national futures groups identify an emerging cohort of athletes with the potential to progress to the national junior squad within two years, with a significant focus on the 2016 Junior World Cup campaigns,” Crooks said.

“Athletes will be predominantly serviced and developed through a combination of targeted Hockey Australia development activities, such as our super camps, in partnership with the national training centre network and state and territory support.

“On an individual level, the outcome of the futures group programs is for athletes to achieve advanced junior elite-level skills and tactics, with the ability to perform these skills under pressure and in game situations.”