University of North Carolina Athletics
Summer Q and A with Karen Shelton
July 31, 2012 | Field Hockey
Before she headed over to London for the Olympic Games, UNC field hockey coach and former Olympian Karen Shelton sat down with GoHeels.com to talk about the summer so far. Read on for highlights:
On summer camps on the UNC campus in early July:
“It's been a very full summer. Camps went incredibly well. They're always a great team-building exercise. We host a lot of wonderful student-athletes and there are lots of logistics involved with bringing them to our campus and have the camp run at a very high level, so it's a very satisfying exercise. It requires everybody doing their jobs and working hard, and this year went as flawlessly as any year we've ever had.
“Our players are considered counselors and they do counsel. One of the great things about our camp is we have a professional coach coaching every team. And so the coaches are able to mentor our counselors and have them take responsibility for set-up. It gives our players a different way to think about practices, that they don't just happen – there's planning and logistical things to think about, and groupings and pairings … it really does help them understand the game to a greater degree.
On the USA Field Hockey National Championships last month in Maryland:
“It's a very, very good experience for all of the college players who participate. It gives them experience at a high level, playing against the best in the country. It's now the avenue to the national team so any of them that have dreams and aspirations of playing at the next level need to go through it, and it's a huge learning opportunity. I know it's convenient for our players because we host practices here, but I want it to be convenient and something they enjoy being part of and can work into their summer schedule. To have so many of our Tar Heels take advantage of the chance is beneficial for our entire program.
“We host practices, but we have some at Duke and some at Wake, and that's the other thing I've always loved about the summer league is that we partner with our neighbors in the South, so we establish good relationships with the Duke players that participate and the Wake players that participate and we come together as one team. While we're all still fierce and competitive, I think it makes the rivalries much more friendly and respectful. I've always loved that about this program as it has developed through the years.”
Since the end of UNC camps:
“I went to the National Futures Tournament, went to the Junior High Performance Tournament, I spent some time in New Jersey at their club championships, I went to the U16 and the U19 club championships … so it's been a very full summer from a recruiting standpoint but one that's become necessary and important to our continued recruiting efforts.”
On heading to London for the Olympics! (Five former Tar Heels are there: Katelyn Falgowski, Rachel Dawson, Amy Tran Swensen and alternate Jackie Kintzer for the U.S. and Illse Davids for South Africa.)
“I'm very excited about the Olympics and about getting to go. We'll have the chance to see 16 games, including three for the U.S. National Team. We'll get to see them play Germany, Australia and Argentina, so three world-class games for the U.S. I leave for London on July 27th and return on August 4th because I need to get back to Chapel Hill for preseason. We start on Aug. 8th and that gives me a little time to unpack and do my laundry before we get going.
“It's exciting for our former players who are there, and it's an exciting time for the U.S. program. It's been a long, hard road for these young women and they get their chance starting next week. It's such a thrill and an honor to be an Olympian.”
On the 2012 season for UNC:
“I think it's going to be a great year and a very fun year for us. We've got some new personalities coming in that will liven up our group and add a great deal of excitement. I'm looking forward to getting started.”
