Coaches might be teachers of a sort, but it's also important they never lose the will to learn themselves. The opportunity that coaching provided Stephanie Tarafas to grow her knowledge of the game made it hard to resist when she finished her playing career as a goalkeeper at James Madison University.

"I enjoy the opportunity to continue growing my knowledge of the game, and being able to stay involved in sport that has given me so many great opportunities," she says. 

"Coaching is definitely very different to playing. It can be sometimes tough to translate the skills and different aspects of game play that I've learned through my career in a way that someone who learns differently will understand, but I love that challenge!"   

A coach who is just as comfortable one-on-one with a goalkeeper or taking the varsity team at James River High, Tarafas sees failure as part of learning for the players under her tutelage.

"The ability to effectively communicate mistakes as a positive learning experience helps make a great coach, as well as understanding that each player has their own style.

"I have been fortunate to work with a lot of great coaches, that shape the way I coach now. All have held me to a high standard as an athlete and as a person, instilled confidence, and really believed in my ability."

The Suffolk, VA native, who once made 11 saves in a single game for JMU against Wake Forest, gets her biggest kicks out of watching players stretch themselves, but admits it can be a challenge to take them to that place.

"The most rewarding things about coaching is watching your players step out of their comfort zones and really enjoy the game, and get excited about it," she begins.

"However, the most challenging about coaching is actually getting your players to step out of their comfort zones and try a different skill or a different style of play!"

To that end, she remembers competition days from her time at JMU the most fondly, as well as the times they did team bonding activities, which has led her to try and ensure her coaching sessions are fun for her players too.

"This past year with my the high school team I coach at, we practice tipping skills with a slip n' slide. It was a good way to relieve stress from the end of the season, and we had a lot of fun with it."

Whatever a player's goals in field hockey are, Tarafas' main ask is that they commit fully to the process:  "Make sure you give 100% to it. You don't want to short yourself. It's going to be tough, but it will be worth it and you will learn a lot about yourself in the process."