Melbourne, Oct 16 (IANS): Hockey Australia (HA) high performance director Tricia Heberle Thursday announced her decision to resign from the role.

"It is difficult to leave a sport and role that gives you so much enjoyment and satisfaction. But it is the right decision for me and something that allows me to get some life balance back, and when ready, to pursue some other interests," Tricia said, adding that she had informed HA chief executive Cam Vale of her decision Monday.

"I am proud to have worked with such a high integrity sport and with a range of people who have provided me with both mentorship and support across the years. I can never thank all those who have assisted me, though I will in time, but in particular I would like to acknowledge former HA chief executive Mark Anderson, Board member Clare Prideaux, long-standing hockey stalwart John Mowat and current chief executive Cam Vale."

The former Hockeyroo joined HA in 2009 as high performance network manager before becoming high performance director in 2012.

A World Cup bronze medallist, she was a member of the Hockeyroos’ side that competed in the 1983 and 1986 World Cups and the Australian team that narrowly missed out on a medal at the 1984 Olympics.

From 1990-96 Tricia was South Australia Sports Institute women’s hockey head coach before joining Ric Charlesworth’s backroom team as assistant coach for performance analysis for the Sydney Olympic campaign from 1997-2000.

In 2001 she was appointed head coach of the England and Great Britain women’s team, leading England to silver at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

After leaving England in 2004 she spent four years as a senior consultant in high performance with the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation before returning to hockey in 2009 with HA.

Heberle will leave her post at the end of November.