Chantal Rivera is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover South Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com

An assertive and motherly coaching style is what makes coach Paula Spratlen-Mitchell more than just a coach for her players at South Mountain High School.

She started her career at South Mountain more than 25 years ago. Her coaching style has been able to change the lives of hundreds of Lady Jags. She sees the sport of volleyball as something more meaningful than just a sport and this has helped her to define her coaching style throughout the years.

“I coach with my heart. I haven’t always done that but in recent years it has just made more sense because I’m not only coaching the sport, I’m coaching the entire person and not even just the player,” Spratlen-Mitchell said.

Coaching the girls not only physically but mentally as well as a job coach Spratlen-Mitchell takes very seriously. Teaching the girls to be aware of the way they talk to themselves during practice, before and after a game, and even outside the court, has been key to the Lady Jags’ personal and athletic development.

Jordan Dansby, the star player of the Varsity team believes that the coaching style of coach Spratlen-Mitchell has helped her gain more confidence inside and outside the court.

“We don’t call practices, practices we call them preparations,” Dansby said. “When we played Central at their house and we lost I ended up tearing up since that game was very important for me. She came and told me it’s all about mental and keep your chin up because you gave it all you got. It really made a difference in how she talked to me and how I ended up feeling about losing.”

Yasmine Cannon who attends High School but plays at South since her school does not have a sports program decided to follow coach Paula, who has been her club coach since she was 9-years-old, for the energy she reflects on the team.

“She has definitely evolved with the game. It’s always hard to feel negative around coach Paula,” Cannon said. “When you feel down, she goes out of her way to make you feel good and it’s hard to feel melancholy around her. For example, when I was about 10-years-old I kept missing and missing my passes. She told me to sit down, drink water, clear my mind, relax and then she added, get back on the court and remember to square your hips and shoulders to the setter and you will get that pass. I just remembered I went on the court and got my next fifteen passes. It was amazing!”

At the beginning of each match coach Spratlen makes sure each player takes a card with one of their teammates’ names. They have to write three positive things about them which they’ll read before each game.

“It helps us a lot with feeling more confident before each game,” Cannon said. It’s a very positive way to start each match.”

Her positiveness and humbleness have not only touched her players but the fans who attend game after game to cheer up for the Lady Jags. Coach Spratlen along with the girls, gives thanks to their fans at the end of each match, losing or winning.

“So much about volleyball is also about life and you have to work together, you have to believe you are capable of doing it and you have to be able to work with others,” the coach said. “I’m still learning from them and we are learning as a collective. I can see the change in the girls.”