“I’m conscious of how fortunate I am to play. Personally I felt like I needed that reset, to realise that I do love my sport, everything I do is towards that and to try to be the best version of myself within that sporting aspect.”
Hastings also knows that the sport faces barriers in getting more players into grass-roots hockey. She said: “The sport is seen as a privileged one with the equipment you have to get: sticks, shoes, gumshields on top of club fees. I do hope it does become more attainable as I feel privileged for being able to try lots of sports, especially hockey which is one of the more expensive ones.”
It is one reason why she has backed grass-roots sports initiative GiveToLocal, which aims to give £10 million to community sport every year. She added: “If we want to build more community hockey we have to open up our own budgets and start giving first, and then in 10 years we can see the outcomes. We are in it for the long game.
“Hockey is not about just being a sportsperson. It’s controlling emotions and team spirit. You have a hockey stick in your hand and you never know what a kid can turn around and do. It’s all about control.”
After hip surgery in 2018, Hastings was handed a first Scottish senior cap last year and is now focused on the national side’s return to the EuroHockey Championship next summer – where they are pitted against Holland – and the road to the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She has also seen first hand – mainly via Zoom – how the Scottish squad has been galvanised under Jen Wilson, their South African coach.
“Rather than seeing it as a kick in the teeth, they used lockdown as an opportunity for us to become a fitter, faster, stronger team,” added Hastings. “Weirdly, personally, I feel one of the closest I’ve felt with the team with all the interaction, including a joint call with all the junior and senior squads. You can see how much work they’ve put in behind the scenes and everyone has come together because of it.”
