Book Lessons with Coach Mia

Hi! My name is Coach Mia, and I started playing lacrosse my sophomore year of high school in Pennsylvania. I began as a varsity defender, then moved to Maryland for college at McDaniel College, where I transitioned to midfield. After getting a job with the Denver Broncos, I moved to Colorado and now attend University of Colorado Boulder. I currently play midfield for the CU Women’s Club Lacrosse team and served as travel coordinator last season before becoming president this year.

I’ve coached the 6th grade Team 91 team, coached my own club team this past season, and will be coaching with Foothills Pack this summer. I also have experience babysitting kids of all ages.

As a coach, I bring a lot of energy and positivity while still pushing athletes to improve and compete. I focus on strong fundamentals, lacrosse IQ, confidence, and creating a supportive environment where players can grow and enjoy the game. My goal is to help athletes build skills, work hard, and leave every session feeling more confident than when they started.

I help athletes improve their game by breaking down skills into simple, repeatable steps, building strong fundamentals, and creating game-like reps that translate directly to performance. My focus is on developing confidence, improving decision-making, and sharpening lacrosse IQ so players feel more prepared and effective in real game situations.

Dynamic Warm-Up (5–10 min)

Get the body moving and stick in hand right away.

Light jog + mobility (hips, shoulders, ankles)

Stick work while moving (cradling, quick direction changes)

Ground ball reps on the move

Skill Breakdown (10–15 min)

Focused teaching + reps of one core skill.

Examples:

Dodging mechanics (split, roll, face dodge)

Shooting form (hands, feet, follow-through)

Defensive footwork (angles, positioning)

Passing & catching under pressure

Game-Speed Reps (15–20 min)

Apply the skill at full speed.

1v1s (offense vs defense)

Dodge → shoot scenarios

Ground ball + immediate decision

Pressure passing drills

Situational / IQ Work (10–15 min)

Train decision-making, not just technique:

“When do I dodge vs pass?”

Reading slides / defensive help

Small-sided games (2v2, 3v3)

Transition scenarios

Wrap up with feedback!

I’m a motivated and hardworking business professional with experience in sports marketing, event operations, sales, coaching, and customer relations. I’ve worked with organizations like the Denver Broncos, the Colorado Golf Association, COACH, The Penn State University, and Team 91 Lacrosse where I’ve gained experience in leadership, event coordination, partnership building, and working in fast-paced team environments. Along with my professional experience, I’ve also worked as a Sports Entrepreneurship TA, which helped strengthen my communication, mentorship, and leadership skills. I enjoy building relationships, taking on new challenges, and creating positive experiences for both customers and teams. I’m passionate about sports, business, and entrepreneurship, and I’m always looking for opportunities to continue growing both personally and professionally.

My favorite coach was Tara Hohenshelt, my high school coach. She had the perfect balance of being patient and kind while also pushing us to work hard and hold ourselves accountable. She cared about us not only as athletes, but as people, and always made sure we gave our best effort both on and off the field. Coach Tara created an environment where everyone trusted and supported each other, which helped turn us into an incredible team. She taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, and leadership, and the impact she had on me as both a player and person is something I’ll always carry with me.

I care a lot about creating a positive and encouraging environment while still pushing players to work hard and improve. I want every athlete to feel confident, supported, and excited to learn each session. I focus on fundamentals, game awareness, effort, and helping players build confidence both on and off the field. I also understand how important communication, patience, and trust are, and I always aim to be someone athletes can look up to while making the game fun and competitive at the same time.