Barry all set to live American dream

Limerick girl Rebecca Barry says she’s ready to embark on a “massively positive life experience” in the United States of America, having been accepted on a scholarship programme to University of Richmond in Virginia. The 18-year-old Laurel Hill Coláiste schoolgirl is currently in the midst of her Leaving Certificate, but it won’t be long before she takes on a whole different challenge on the American east coast. Barry, who is also preparing to conquer Europe with the Ireland U18s having claimed a Four Nations title in Cork last summer and represented her country at the Youth Olympics in Singapore, says an Irish connection to the Richmond Spiders hockey team got the ball rolling earlier this year.

Bangor, Co Down native Ryan Elliott is the side’s assistant coach and made the initial contact via email. Barry eventually got through some red tape to sit the American SAT exams in Waterford last month – hardly an ideal distraction during her final state exam preparations – but achieved the requisite marks, and is excited about opening a new chapter in both her personal life and hockey career. “It was a tough decision to make but to be honest, the minute I heard about this I was feeling positive about it,” she told Southern Fried Hockey. “I know it’s such a cliché but it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “The thought of moving to the States in three months is a bit daunting, considering the furthest most of my friends are going is probably Dublin – I’ve never even been to the States! But at the same time, I’m very excited about it. It will certainly be quite a change from second level education here in Ireland, but I have no doubt on my mind but that it will be a massively positive life experience.” Barry is now one of the first names on Ger O’Carroll’s Catholic Institute teamsheet, having been nurtured through the ranks at Limerick HC until she was 15. An exciting, tenacious attacking player with well-honed 3D skills and an eye for goal, she made major contributions to Institute’s superb Munster double-winning season last term. However, she admits things are set to ratchet up a notch on the training and technical sides of things once she lands on American soil. “As far as my development as a hockey player goes, I really believe that is determined on how hard I am willing to work while I am over there,” she says. “I know that the team trains together three times a week and plays two matches a weekend. Each player also has to do strength and speed work twice a week, and a couple of weekly video sessions. “Due to all this, I especially hope my technical and tactical knowledge of the game – and the physical aspect to my game – will greatly improve. I’ve been told I will essentially be a professional athlete for the first half of the year, and then a professional student! “The professional level of the sport over there really is unparalleled. The Spiders have a full-time management team, physiotherapists and strength coaches. Richmond are currently one of the top 25 teams in the country and they play against teams that are full of junior internationals from around the world and America.” While Barry is ploughing a particularly unusual furrow, she had a couple of contemporaries to call on for advice; former Ballymoney girl Megan Frazer (University of Maryland) and fellow Limerick girl Kate Collins Smyth (formerly University of New Hampshire, now with Old Alex) were both able to provide a few tips. Barry also cites her family and friends – as well as Irish Hockey Association high performance director Dave Passmore, Laurel Hill Coláiste principal Aedín Ní Bhriain and her staff – as vital fonts of wisdom in making her decision, which she admits will curtail her senior Irish international ambitions in the short-term. “I know by going to America I am taking myself out of the Irish hockey circle and by not playing in the Irish Hockey Leage, realistically, I could be out of the picture for a number of years,” she admits. “It is most definitely a risk as far as playing for Ireland again in the near future is concerned, but I plan on working hard to achieve my goals. It goes without saying that the dream is to play for the seniors, but at the same time I believe (going to America) will help me in maybe achieving this one day. The goal is to become a stronger, more knowledgeable and all-round better player upon my return from America.

“To be honest, it was a major factor (in my decision). I weighed up the pros and cons and asked other people’s opinions on it; I spoke to Dave (Passmore) as he has been a major person in my development as a hockey player over the past two years. He was honest with me, as always, and pointed out the possible advantages and disadvantages.” Before she heads off into the Atlantic sunset, Barry signs off with some more positive thinking regarding the opportunity she and other Irish players have been given to further themselves in the US. “It’s great that players involved with Irish hockey are being offered opportunities like this. It gives them a chance to gain life experience while improving there playing ability at the same time. “Their knowledge of different styles of hockey will be improved, so upon there return into Irish hockey circles they can add this knowledge that they gained to the always improving standard in the country. “It is almost a professional sport as far as training is concerned over in America, this standard just cannot be matched in Ireland at the moment, unfortunately.”