When people think of sports teams, they often think of game days, practices, pasta dinners, crazy shenanigans, teamwork, cheers, memories, teammates, and that unifying feeling that brings people together as members of the team. One critically important part of a team that is often overlooked is the coach. In my life, I have had three particular coaches that have stood out to me for their passion and heart for the games I've played. They have inspired me to play my best and bring my all to every game to make them proud and so I could leave everything on the field with no regrets.

In high school I played field hockey. During my first two years on the JV team, my JV coach helped to shape me into a confident player, one better than I imagined I could be. She gave me responsibilities to help younger players with their positions as we played as defenders in our games and it felt amazing to know she thought I could help them on the field while she was on the sideline watching everyone. She was always there to encourage me on my off days because she saw what I could become if I really tried my hardest. Because of her I feel I have become the person I am now, one who knows that hard work pays off and that nothing feels better than that gratification after accomplishing a goal I've been working hard towards. Coach Antunes,I can't imagine having anyone but you as my coach those two years. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me for it has stayed with me all these years later.

Also during my four years of field hockey, both of my coaches, the JV coach and the Varsity coach both saw that I could improve to be a better player and taught me lessons that have stayed with me. I read a book that stated that if someone stops critizing someone then they have given up. My varsity coach kept giving me constructive criticism throughout the entirety of preseason and that kept me going during the really hot and humid days we spent in double sessions running drills and getting ready for the Fall season. I learned that if she believed in me, then I could believe in me too, not just when it came to field hockey but in other parts of my life as well such as academics and just trusting my instincts. To my high school coaches, thank you for always believing in me and knowing that I had what it took to be stronger than I thought I could be. Bodi, thank you so much for teaching me the value of hard work and determination to reach my goals, and thank you for helping me realize that while I may not get everything I have been working for at first, I will get it eventually if I just don't give up. Thank you for holding me accountable for myself and for helping me grow as a person and player. Though I didn't realize it then, those lessons during practice and when you made us run for forgetting equipment or not picking up every ball from the field really did help me in the long run.

In college, I took the lessons I learned from high school sports and applied them to my newest love, rugby. My rugby coach is very different from the ones I had in high school because while she is our coach, she had been a player for the school as well and therefore many of my teammates see her as a friend and an authority figure. For me, she has always been there for me as a listening ear, a personal pep talk, and a steady source of inspiration to play to my highest level. On the days that I felt like even when I tried my hardest I still wasn't good enough compared to everyone else, she told me that I was better than I was yesterday, and the day before that. She has never stopped believing in me, and I cannot fully express how much that means when it feels like your best isn't good enough and there's no point in trying. Vik, thank you for always being there for me and always encouraging me to be more aggressive and to just believe in myself rather than get nervous after stepping on the field. I cannot fully express to you how much it means to hear you say how proud you are of me after I've played a good game and I hope I can always make you that proud for the rest of this season and for the rest of my time on the team.

A coach is the glue that holds a team together. Coaches bring leadership and structure where it is needed and create a feeling of togetherness. They can help rally a team during losses and will be proud of each member after a win. Coaches are so important as role models and mentors and I am so lucky to have had such amazing coaches in my life to help me become who I am.