By SAM DEBENHAM

MORE than 30 excited Bathurst junior hockey players were treated to a coaching clinic with an Olympic flavour yesterday as Hockeyroo Kate Hollywood turned coach for a day at the Cooke Hockey Complex.

The Beijing Olympian proved a huge hit with a group of youngsters, ranging from just seven years of age through to 16, as she imparted some of her wealth of knowledge on the sport.

In beautiful sunshine, Hollywood went through a range of skills with the eager participants, ranging from technical skills such as left-to-right drags, jinks and a plethora of basic control skills.

Things got a little more light-hearted in the afternoon with a range of games centred around the most basic pre-requisite in the sport ? scoring goals.

With 87 Test caps under her belt since debuting for the Hockeyroos in 2005, she was more than qualified to assess some of the talent on display in Bathurst.

"The skill level here is awesome," Hollywood said.

"One of the main reasons I wanted to come out here is because I know how hockey-orientated a lot of country towns are, and it is great to be able to come out and spread the word in places like Bathurst.

"It is good for us to get the game out to as many places as possible."

Hollywood began playing the game at the ripe old age of four in the minkey ranks, like so many other players who have gone on to greatness.

"I used to come to heaps of clinics and carnivals like this one, I absolutely loved it," she said.

"I was away for nearly every weekend of my childhood, being driven around by my parents to play or be coached, and I think it is great for kids to do these sorts of things."

Playing in the midfield for the NSW Arrows brought her to the attention of national selectors who have been rewarded since she began playing with the Hockeyroos. She has found the back of the net 16 times in her international career.

Noted for her vision and speed, she has had one misfortune in her career with the Australian side ? that she arrived a little late for the glory years where the side won three Olympic gold medals between 1988 and 2000.

Hollywood says that after finishing fifth at the Beijing Games, the sights are now firmly set on re-establishing the team as one of the premier forces in world hockey.

"The sport is definitely growing, and in an Olympic year we get more exposure and more publicity ? the kind of publicity the sport deserves," she said.

"We want it to be like that in non-Olympic years as well. A new Australian squad gets announced in April next year, and the four year process for London 2012 will begin as we look to get back on top again."