FlagPlus Football Interview Series: Tara Mrakic (Part 1)

In the latest edition of the FlagPlus Football interview series, I had a chance to talk to Vanier College Women’s Flag Football Head Coach, FPF official, and trailblazer Tara Mrakic. This interview took place over two weeks, and she gave me a lot interesting answers and information, so I decided to break it up into two parts. In part one, we talked about her time as a touch football player, her coaching career, becoming a referee, and creating change within FPF.

In part two we will discuss her sexuality, family, her roles with both Football Canada and the Black Canadian Coaches Association, her time this year with the Montreal Alouettes, as well as what doors she is trying to open for others.

Q: As a former player, and now as a coach, referee, and Director at Football Canada, it’s fair to say that the game is a big part of your life. How did you get involved the sport?

A: “I was a volleyball player at Vanier College. The touch football (Rick Yuen) came up to me and said you look like an athlete. He invited me to try out for the team. I made the squad. I was hooked. I played Snapper my first season. In my second year I played Half-Back and Quarterback, and in my final year I played QB fulltime. I ended up winning team MVP two out of my three years. Back then I could launch a ball 70 yards. Now, I am lucky if I could throw it 20 yards.” Mrakic says with a laugh.

Q: After your three years as a player were done, you immediately jumped into coaching. What prompted that decision, and how was the transition like going from player to coach?

A: “I spent two years as an Assistant Coach at Brébeuf College (2009-2010) after I graduated from Vanier. The experience was great. I learned to see the game from a different lens, that I didn’t have when I was a player. Coaching also gave me a chance to work with certain players that I played with and against. I knew I could help them get better and strive towards a championship. I also did it because I didn’t want to let go of football, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”

Q: In 2011 you left Brébeuf to return to Vanier as the Head Coach. How did that opportunity come about?

A: “Even after I graduated, I was in constant communication with Rick and the Athletic Director (Mireille Beland). The minute Rick retired they asked me to take over. I told them I would love to come back. So, I did.”  

Q: You are about to embark on your 13^th season as Head Coach of the Cheetahs. Describe the culture that surrounds the program?

A: It’s a feeling of pride. We all still live with that Cheetah pride today. It is something that we teach the girls every year. Hold it in your heart when you leave. So many of them come back after they leave. Look at FPF players like Keiya Allen-Beckles and Marilyne Cesaire. They are former Vanier players who are now coaches on my staff, and they’re girls that understand what it meant. Look at Red Nation, they are all mostly Cheetah alumni. The bond they got at Vanier carries forward. I am always proud and grateful for the time we spent together, and to see the growth during and afterwards. I feel like a momma bear and they are my cubs when I see them.”

Q: Last season you had a young team with 14 rookies. What was that experience like?

A: “It’s all about building a structure and having them follow that structure. Last year our expectations were to make the playoffs. We did that. For the rookies, a lot of them got to see exactly what it is to compete at a high level and play against players that are better than them. They learned you can’t just step on the field and win. It takes time and commitment. There is training, playbook studying, watching film, catching balls, and learning concepts. It is the easiest sport to learn and become good at with practice, but you must put in the work. Talk is cheap, show us you’re working hard. It was a process.”

Q: What do you look for in a player?

“First, I ask them why they want to be a Cheetah. I explain to them what we’re all about, which is family, commitment, and accountability. For my staff and I, it is not just about ability. We can work on that. We look at the level of desire and commitment. We try to see if the person understands how to be a team player. I ask them where they work. I listen to kids who work at camps with young children. That is challenging, and those are the athletes who are going to understand when a coach is asking for something and what that means.”

Q: You hold tryouts on August 21 and 22nd. What are your expectations for this season?

A: “This year our expectations are to still make playoffs but to go further. We’re on the rise. We were a middle of the pack last year. This season we are aiming for the higher end of the pack, but it all depends on chemistry, the players buying in, and execution. As coaches we don’t stop. We have been recruiting since mid January. We are always grinding. We get a small break for the holidays, and then we are back at it.”

Q: When you look at FPF, you see a lot of your former players on various rosters, and especially with the team Red Nation. Who are some of the names that standout to you, and what does it mean to you?

A; “Allyson Sobol, Rachelle Vallieres, Lamees Aljoundi, Keiya, and Marilyne are just some of the names that come to mind. When I see my former players in FPF, I can’t help but be proud of them. Even off the field, a lot of my former players have found success. Keiya, Marilyne, and Allyson those three have come along way. They have dealt and overcome adversity and are now thriving. Keiya and Marilyne are Assistant Coaches on my staff, and Allyson is the Football Operations Manager/Co-ordinator for the Montreal Alouettes. I am proud of everyone that I’ve coached.”

Q: You are the longest tenured female referee in FPF. Why did you decide to become a ref?

A: “I blew out my knee when I was 23. I knew the process of returning to play was at least a year. I wanted to find a way to still be involved, and being a ref allowed me to stay in the game, while rehabbing. It was one of the best decisions I made because it gave me a better understanding of the game. I learned more about formations, plays, schemes, and it enhanced my love for the game.”

Q: Being a referee is never easy especially when you’re going from the women’s game to the male and co-ed format in FPF. How was the adjustment like for you?

“It was challenging for me because I came from flag and touch women’s leagues that were 7-on-7. With 6-on-6 like we have in FPF, it is a completely different rule book. The intricacies of the game weren’t the same, and they were hard for me to grasp at the beginning. It took me about three years to comfortable with the rules.”

Q: FFP has the luxury of being home to a lot of officials from various levels of football. How did you feel when you first walked in, and was there a moment where you realized you had arrived as a referee?

“It was intimidating. There are refs from the CFL, USPORTS, college, and high school. Luckily, I was fortunate to have good mentors who helped and showed me how to get better. Walter Berry was one of those people. He is the one who gave me my first opportunity to officiate a championship game. When I got that assignment, I knew that I was starting to make an impact, and that my perseverance and no quit attitude were paying off. In 2019 I was voted Leader of the Herd. That is the award given to the best ref in FPF. That was a proud moment for me.”  

Q: One of the challenging things that any official must deal with sometimes are players. How do you keep your cool during tense moments, and how does your experience as a player and coach help you?

“With players, I’ve learned that the expectation is for someone to listen to them. That usually deescalates the situation. I understand that adrenaline can get high, and in that moment, I can relate to them as a player and coach, but come at us respectfully. In the moment I might not have time to talk and explain a call but come talk to me at halftime or after the game. I can admit when I made a mistake on a call. We’re humans and we all make mistakes. I will go back and look at the rule book, and if I see that messed up, I will personally reach out to the player.”

Q: How do you deal with players who try to step over the line between not agreeing with you and being disrespectful?

With a smile on her Mrakic replies; “I can dish it out just as well as I can take it. When a player tries to blame us for a loss, I always say, we may have got that call wrong, but how many balls did you drop? Did we cause you to get beat in coverage?”

Q: FPF started the Co-Ed and Women’s divisions in 2017 and 2020 respectively. You played a big role in making that happen. Describe your vision.

A: “Girls and women deserve a place to play too. I was determined to be a thorn in Rob’s (FPF Founder and President Rob Campana) side until it happened. I told him build it, and they will come. We started with six university teams, then colleges and senior teams jumped on the bandwagon. Now we have grown to 10 teams per division if not more in FPF. Credit also goes to Alex Desjardins who helped build it as well.”

Q: FPF has made strides when it comes to diversity and inclusion, with more female players, officials like yourself, and employees joining the league each year. What more do you think could be done?

A: “FPF should have a showcase or a mini combine just for women. It doesn’t even have to be with players in the league, it could just be for players to come out and compete against each other. A lot of the girls know one another from playing in different tournaments. Having an event where they can display their skills against the best would be huge. I also think on Finals weekend, more prominence should be given to the Women’s Division. I am happy that this Monday night the Women’s Division 1 game takes place between the men’s Division A and B games, but Women’s Division 2 going on before men’s Division E should not be the case. Women’s Div. 2 is better football, they should get more respect.”

Q: When you look at FPF with Co-Ed, the Women’s divisions, and FPF Junior, as well as all the flag and touch tournaments that are taking place all over North America, how does that make you feel? 

A: “I love seeing the growth of the sport, but at the same time I wish that I had the opportunities to play like Sarah Parker and others do now. I am happy as coach, but my mind still wants to play the game. I would eat it up, I would dominate.”

Rapid Fire – Part 1 (Answer in about 10 words or less)

Leo Gervais– Mentor

Walter Berry – Grateful. 

Rob – Friend. I enjoy our conversations.

Onside kick – I like it. It gives a team an opportunity to change the game.

Adding a second onside play: Not a horrible idea.

Football teams: Pittsburgh Steelers and Montreal Alouettes

Food: Pasta or steak and mashed potatoes