MARBLEHEAD — The Marblehead field hockey team is getting ready for tryouts and, this year, it will have a new face on the sideline in Mia Maccario. Last week, it was announced she will be replacing former Coach Linda Rice-Collins.
Maccario previously coached field hockey at Marblehead Middle School.
“I’ve always coached in the system. I have been coaching with Tawny Callaghan at [the] Marblehead Middle School level for six or seven years now,” Maccario said. “I love coaching. It’s been so much fun coaching with her and feeding the program down at that level and developing their skills.”
Actually, she’s been involved longer than that.
“My mom actually went into labor with me when she was a coach for Marblehead. So, I can say field hockey has always been in my blood,” Maccario said.
When asked what she loves about coaching, it’s simple. She enjoys watching her players have fun and enjoying the game.
“I love the sport and it allows future generations to enjoy the game as much as I have,” Maccario said.
Since being hired late last week, Maccario hasn’t had time to dissect the team’s offseason. That said, the Magicians are “starting fresh.”
“I have no idea what kind of team [we are] or what to expect when we get to tryouts,” Maccario said. “I do know that I want them to have fun and when they come to the field, everything else that is going on in their life can be left at the gates. I want to focus on the love of the sport and having that outlet for them. That’s what I want to bring with them.”
She wants everyone to give it their all, too.
“We want to make sure everyone is trying their best,” Maccario said. “I want to work with the team’s strengths and put them in the best position possible. I just want to bring my knowledge and the love for the sport to them, and set them up for success.”
In a new role, she knows she’s still learning.
“I’m still learning my coaching style, but my biggest thing is to make sure they’re having fun,” Maccario said. “I want them to show up for themselves and their teammates and I want to show up for them. That’s the important thing I’m looking for right now.”
Despite a lack of coaching experience, Maccario was a three-sport athlete in high school before an injury forced her to the sideline.
“I’ve played field hockey up until my senior year of high school,” Maccario said. “I was a three-sport athlete playing field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse before I suffered an injury that forced me to stop playing sports altogether.”
With practices starting up in a few weeks, Maccario said she’s “super excited” to get things underway.
“I’m really excited to see what the season has in store for us. I’m learning just as much as the team is going to be learning,” Maccario said. “We’re going to learn about each other and how we’re going to work as a team and how I’m going to coach. I’m going to learn a lot from them as well.”
