Nick Saban and Bill Belichick talking about the lessons Kobe Bryant taught them 🥺 pic.twitter.com/8gnEer21Kj
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) January 8, 2025
The analogy might be to a boxer. At one point, you might be bigger, stronger, and more athletic. But sooner than later, you meet the opponent who has similar athletic profile but is more skilled.
Train to compete against the best, both physically and mentally.
Former Dodgers' manager Tommy LaSorda used to say, "there are three kinds of people - those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who wonder what's happening." Make it happen for you.
Leaders exert a measure of control of rules and standards. In your world, set high standards.
1. Wooden tells Walton, "We're gonna miss you."
2. "Do what you have to do." An underclassman was voted one of the captains. Several seniors threatened to quit. Coach Scott Celli told them, "do what you have to do." One quit, one stayed. The team won a sectional championship.
3. "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses," was another Coach Wooden mandate. This works for MVB, too. "Don't traffic in excuses." It's hard to be at your best without your best players. Excuses never make it better. The best players, teams, and coaches "move on" after disappointment.
Draw on information from anywhere. One of Leonardo da Vinci's inspirations was connessione, which relates to 'connectedness' and likely analogy.
Start with a ChatGPT take:
The phrase "Make friends with the dead" resonates deeply with the Renaissance spirit of drawing wisdom from those who came before us. Leonardo da Vinci exemplifies this approach, particularly through his concept of connessione, the recognition of the interconnectedness of all things. This principle profoundly shaped his thinking and can inspire us to adopt a more integrative and interdisciplinary mindset.
Connessione and Thinking Skills
Pattern Recognition and Systems Thinking Leonardo's ability to see relationships across disciplines—art, science, anatomy, engineering, and nature—was central to his genius. For example, his studies of water flow informed both his art (e.g., the depiction of the Virgin's drapery in "The Virgin of the Rocks") and his engineering designs for waterways. Connessione trains us to move beyond isolated facts and see the broader systems at play, enhancing creativity and problem-solving.
Synthesis Across Domains Leonardo blended diverse fields to create groundbreaking work. For instance, his anatomical studies weren't just for medical purposes but informed the lifelike quality of his paintings. By synthesizing knowledge, he anticipated modern interdisciplinary approaches. Connessione encourages us to bring seemingly unrelated ideas together, resulting in novel solutions.
Curiosity-Driven Learning Leonardo's curiosity was insatiable, fueled by his belief in interconnectedness. He asked questions like, "Why does the sky appear blue?" or "How do birds fly?" and sought answers through observation and experimentation. Adopting connessione pushes us to explore how different phenomena relate, driving lifelong learning and intellectual growth.
Holistic Problem-Solving Recognizing connections allows for holistic solutions. Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man is not just a study in proportion but a synthesis of art, mathematics, and human anatomy. In modern contexts, connessione helps us approach problems by considering all factors—scientific, emotional, ethical, and practical.
Empathy and Perspective By seeing connections, Leonardo also grasped the shared humanity of people and the unity of life. Connessione fosters empathy, as it requires understanding different perspectives and contexts. This skill is vital for collaboration and leadership today.
Learning from Leonardo
Making friends with the intellectual giants of history like da Vinci means not just admiring their achievements but adopting their principles. By practicing connessione, we develop a mindset that bridges gaps between disciplines, values interconnectedness, and embraces curiosity. This approach leads to richer thinking and deeper insights, much as it did for da Vinci.
How does this relate to volleyball and MVB? Consider a 'holistic' approach.
Interconnectedness includes people - your coaches and teammates and the MVB community. The word community triggers thoughts of "servant leadership" for a more dynamic and connected city.
Exceptional players use physics to improve play. How? The float serve without spin creates random movement of the volleyball. Topspin uses the Bernoulli Principle to alter air pressure on the ball, accelerating downward movement. The height of your toss changes the velocity and timing of your service contact. Get physics on your side.
Consider a baseball analogy, the phrase "hit 'em where they ain't." Attacking seams and sidelines, cut shots, and tips all use that principle.
Connessione also recognizes other da Vinci principles like curiosity and experience. Curiosity helps us study opponent strengths and weaknesses as well as self-scouting. Experience lies at the core of practice.
Urban Meyer's 10-80-10 principle recognized that within an organization there will be about ten percent of people at the top and the bottom and most in the middle. Meyer required top ten percenters to "drag" a teammate to workout. The goal was to lift them into the top ten percent.
Take a few moments to think about how connessione might impact your volleyball experience...like being a great teammate?
Lagniappe. Repost. Physics effects on serves.
Lagniappe 2. A few points about the 2010 team.
Athena Ziavras became an All-State attacker.
Note the 'craft' of players using angles and short attacks.
See how Athena's "simple" serve generated deceptive topspin.
"Too young..." consider the names you hear who grew into the 2012 state title team - Bell, McGowan, Johnson, Wyland...
Every day we tell ourselves a story. "Everyone is necessarily the hero of their own story."
Some are "if only" or "if I ruled the world" stories. Being firmly grounded isn't always helpful. 80 percent of people say they are better than average drivers. The 20 percent who do not have higher rates of depression.
Morgan Housel writes that pessimism is seductive. It's easier to believe the narrative that this or that will fail than the "Hakuna Matata" optimism story.
All the great coaches I know lived in the positivity space, even when they saw something else.
As a player, you can only be as good as your self-belief. Rick Pitino wrote a book, "Success is a choice." The most successful students leverage some ability with great process. The most successful players usually have a measure of athleticism and physical gifts (e.g. size) with acquired, hard-earned skill.
Coaches want motivated, ambitious players. The player who shows up for optional skill development, who commits to strength and conditioning, and studies the game is a magnet for coaches.
There's a saying about the 'curse of unlimited potential'. So many athletes without 'the golden arm' could only dream about having it. When you have a gift, find the motivation.
Lagniappe. Your story starts with belief. The future MVB athlete was twelve, leaving for a graduation ceremony. She said, "I promise that I will be the valedictorian someday." She kept the promise.
Growth requires leaving our comfort zone. Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, headlines the latest MasterClass. She gave her 15 Stanford student seminar an assignment. Write a paper about an outrageous task that you would never undertake.
One student was a recluse in his dorm room except for going to class and meals. He chose to run for dorm president. When the time came to give his campaign speech, he told himself, "I can stay seated, but then what would I write about." He gave the speech and won the election.
Leaving our comfort zone means doing hard things. It means "too many" repetitions of your platform, setting, and attack footwork. It means watching video and breaking it down to see what went well and what didn't. It means lifting weights, stretching, doing plyometrics to increase your strength, conditioning, and quickness. It means learning mindfulness, learning how to breathe all over again.
The above require multiple inputs. Time and resources go into training. Excellence requires choice, ambition, and work. That means sacrificing something else. If you asked Elena, Gia, Sadie, or Leah would they repeat the sacrifices for the success earned, "was it worth it?," what do you think they would say?
Excellence means seeking help. That's hard, especially for introverts. But asking also earns mentoring and "mentoring is the only shortcut to success."
How many of these exercises are you doing? Remember, a gallon plastic jar of water weighs about 9 pounds, so that's your dumbbell.
Why not ask some of the great MVB players about their process?
Screenshot from MasterClass
Ask better questions:
How can I be a communicator like Maggie Turner?
How can become a great setter-blocker like Leah Fowke?
How can I take myself to the next level to have the greatest frontcourt season in MVB history?
What styles do leaders adopt?
Enforcer - the hard guy
Protector - comforting
Mentor - providing the emotional or logistical resources
I expect Coach Scott Celli to be demanding of MVB 25? Why? Because I think he believes that many of the veteran and young MVB players can become elite. The mentor mindset means being both firm but kind. But he can't control how much players care.
How do you motivate yourself to be your best every day? Have the mindset of a winner.
"If you are going to be a leader, you’re not going to please everybody. You have to hold people accountable. Even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable." (Kobe Bryant)
Steve Young went to Brigham Young University and saw he was listed eighth on the quarterback depth chart. His first instinct was, "That isn't possible...this is alphabetical," until he saw Jim McMahon listed first. The depth chart fueled growth. He became the number one choice in the NFL Draft.
Dream big. Making the team isn't enough. Dream bigger. Contribute. Dream huge. Become a starter. Dream enormous. Become an All-League player.
Dreams aren't enough. "DREAMS ARE THE SEEDLINGS OF REALITY," Napoleon Hill, 1937.
Formulate a plan, starting today.
How? Follow three steps.
1) Believe that change is possible if you have the commitment and do the work. The brain has "neuroplasticity," even into advanced age. It changes under the influence of physical and mental training. Think Steve Young.
2) Be open to change. The teacher challenges us to learn. Work gives students "stronger brains." Ask for help, change strategies. Do the work. "Nothing works unless you do."
3) Become the snowball. Small steps start the snowball rolling downhill. "I realized that I was capable."
Here are the Maxpreps.com statistics of a former MVB All-State and All-Scholastic player. It didn't happen for her overnight. Between her junior and senior year, she committed to growing her athleticism, her vertical jump, and hitting power. Yes, she also changed position moving to outside hitter.
Here she beats the block.
With a long runup and big swing, she became a 'big hitter' among the tradition of many in Melrose history.
Statistics reflect many elements - position, role, 'utilization' and effectiveness. She took advantage of all. Sadie Jaggers translated a growth mindset into high performance.
The sooner you adopt the process the greater the achievement:
Regular readers know they get delicious "bonus recipes" from time to time.
Today, I share garlic parmesan broccoli fritters, easily prepared. I didn't apply any sauce and I used only one tablespoon of olive oil. I cooked each fritter about three minutes per side.
As we like to say in our family, "don't waste it." That means, "I'll eat that."
Teams are somewhat evenly matched and one team wins on the sum of making more plays, resilience (mental and physical toughness), and luck
One team is the underdog but in the moment summons their talent, togetherness, resilience, and luck.
The first 'prototype' means winning the games you're supposed to win.
The second is winning "tossup" or "pick 'em" games.
The third is having the grit to win games few people give you a chance to win.
"Signature wins" aren't borne of the first, sometimes the second, but especially arise from the latter.
The best coaches get the most from the players they have. Some coaches assemble all-star teams and earn praise by winning with overwhelming force. Meh. MVB will have a mixture of experience and youth and need a high level of grit. Be up for that.
Most players think they are playing hard when they are sweating. The sweat just means you’re warmed up, playing hard is a whole different level. Great take 👇 pic.twitter.com/9NYL6Ybur1
Sacrifice with the hard work of preparation and practice.
Remember the iceberg. What we see is a tiny fraction of the mass.
The volleyball season is the tip of the iceberg. The skill building, film study, strength and conditioning, resilience training, and everything else MVB happens below the waterline.
Athletes show remarkable commitment and resolve to "build the base of the iceberg" when so little shows.
Playing for Coach Scott Celli isn't that hard if you understand icebergs.
Lagniappe. Get more time by becoming an impact attacker.
Systems spawn success. Successful programs have training systems, offensive systems, defensive systems, and communication systems.
For example, group texts communicate important information such as practice time, uniform distribution/pickup, bus schedules.
The most important communication system is interpersonal. MVB '24 had the strongest on-court voice in Maggie Turner. Talk engages teammates and energizes them. Team leadership has loud voices and everyone has to participate.
Your culture and leadership help define you.
There's a difference between assume and presume. One definition of assume is to take on or have power or responsibility. Assuming leadership is not resume building. It's people and organization building.
"Have a system that promotes good habits..." - James Clear
What is your study system? (academics)
What is your strength and conditioning system?
What is your game learning system? (e.g. YouTube videos)
What is your skill development system? (e.g. out of season)
What is your team-building system? (workout with partners)
What is your resilience building? (e.g. mindfulness)
If we can't explain our system, is it too complicated or non-existent?
