In this episode, we cover…
(0:00): Bella shares how gymnastics shaped her athletic mindset before she discovered field hockey in eighth grade.
(2:15): Bella explains how quickly she fell in love with field hockey and committed to playing in college.
(4:33): She remembers her first field hockey camp and how overwhelmed she felt learning the sport for the first time.
(5:34): Bella discusses her Division III experience at Gettysburg College and why D3 athletics are often underrated.
(8:37): She talks about pursuing a master’s degree in sports psychology and how it influences her coaching style.
(10:46): Bella explains why building trust and confidence is so important during private lessons with young athletes.
(13:00): She breaks down how she structures field hockey training sessions with conditioning, stick skills, and game scenarios.
(15:17): Bella shares how she helps athletes manage pressure, fear of failure, and confidence struggles in sports.
(19:50): She explains what separates good athletes from great athletes, including mindset, passion, and extra work outside practice.
(25:03): Bella reflects on one of her favorite athlete success stories and gives advice to younger players just starting field hockey.
Bella’s Field Hockey Journey
Bella Bonazinga’s journey in field hockey proves that athletes do not need to start early to succeed. From beginning the sport in eighth grade to becoming a standout player at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, Bella transformed her athletic career through hard work, mental resilience, and a passion for helping others grow. Today, she combines her playing experience with sports psychology training to mentor the next generation of field hockey athletes.
From Gymnastics to College Field Hockey
Before field hockey, Bella spent years in competitive gymnastics. She explained that gymnastics helped shape her discipline, motivation, and perfectionist mindset, even after injuries forced her to step away from the sport in middle school.
Everything changed when she picked up a field hockey stick for the first time in eighth grade.
Bella admitted she initially had “no clue” what she was doing at her first summer camp and did not even know how to hold the stick properly. But within a short period of time, she fell in love with the team environment, the friendships, and the energy surrounding the sport.
By the end of her freshman year of high school, Bella knew she wanted to play field hockey in college. Eventually, she committed to Gettysburg College, where she continued developing both as an athlete and as a leader.
Why Division III Athletics Can Be the Perfect Fit
One of the most important themes Bella discussed was the value of Division III athletics. While many young athletes focus heavily on Division I recruiting, Bella emphasized that Division III sports still provide elite competition, strong team culture, and meaningful college experiences.
At Gettysburg College, Bella balanced field hockey with academics, campus involvement, and even studying abroad in Australia, where she also continued playing field hockey internationally.
Bella explained that Division III athletics gave her the ability to fully enjoy college while still competing at a high level:
- Strong team support and culture
- Academic flexibility
- Leadership opportunities
- Competitive athletics without losing balance
Her experience reflects what many successful college athletes discover: the “best fit” school often matters more than the biggest athletic label.
Coaching Through Sports Psychology
After finishing her collegiate playing career, Bella knew she wanted to stay involved in sports and continue helping athletes grow. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports psychology, focusing on mental performance and athlete development.
This background heavily influences her coaching philosophy.
Rather than focusing only on stick skills and conditioning, Bella works to understand each athlete individually. During private lessons, she tailors sessions to the player’s confidence level, goals, personality, and mental approach to competition.
Her approach emphasizes:
- Building confidence
- Creating a safe learning environment
- Teaching athletes how to respond to mistakes
- Developing mental toughness
- Helping players enjoy the game again
Bella believes athletes improve most when they feel comfortable failing, learning, and trying again.
The Importance of Mental Performance in Youth Sports
A major focus of Bella’s coaching is helping young athletes manage pressure and expectations. With social media, highlight reels, and constant comparisons online, many athletes struggle with confidence and fear of failure.
Bella combats this by meeting athletes where they are emotionally and athletically. She regularly checks in during sessions to ensure players feel supported and not overwhelmed.
She also teaches athletes to view mistakes as part of the learning process rather than something embarrassing. During lessons, she encourages players to analyze what went wrong, reset mentally, and continue improving.
This mindset helps athletes become more resilient both on and off the field.
What Separates Good Athletes from Great Ones?
When asked what separates good players from great players, Bella pointed directly to mindset and passion.
She credited much of her own development to extra work she completed outside of team practices, including early morning individual workouts during college summers.
Bella explained that athletes ultimately get out of the sport what they put into it. Beyond talent, consistency and mental commitment often make the biggest difference in long-term development.
One of the most powerful moments in her journey came before her senior season at Gettysburg. After a conversation with her coach challenging her to “ball out” during her final year, Bella completely shifted her mentality and produced dramatically improved results offensively.
That experience reinforced how impactful confidence, coaching, and mental preparation can be for athletes at every level.
Helping Athletes Reach Their Goals
Bella shared one of her favorite coaching success stories involving a young athlete who hoped to earn a varsity starting position. Together, they focused on conditioning, goal scoring, confidence, and position-specific training throughout the summer.
Later that season, Bella watched the athlete start on varsity and successfully apply the exact skills they had practiced together.
For Bella, moments like that define why she coaches.
Advice for Young Field Hockey Players
If Bella could give advice to her younger self starting field hockey for the very first time, it would be simple:
Take a deep breath, have fun, and lean on your teammates.
That advice perfectly captures her philosophy as both an athlete and a coach. Success in sports is not only about performance. It is also about confidence, connection, growth, and enjoying the journey.
For athletes looking to improve their field hockey skills while developing stronger mental performance habits, Bella Bonazinga offers a coaching approach built around both athletic development and personal growth.
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