Switches don't "turn on and off" during games. Prepared teams perform at a higher level than others.
Communication activates, energizes, and intimidates. There's a saying, "silent teams lose."
If a team doesn't communicate in practice they won't talk in games. In addition to Maggie Turner, another excellent communicator last season was Abby Dennison as fans could hear her calling the ball.
Communication can separate success and failure. "I thought it was your ball," reflects chaos. As Eric Kapitulik and Jake MacDonald write in The Program, "chaos breeds chaos. Calm breeds calm."
The authors recommend, "name, command, and volume." Assign the instruction directly and at the right volume to help maintain the line of communication, focus, and calm.
Remember the acronym CLAPP - clarity, loudness, authority, pauses, and posture (body language). The best communicators use more elements.
Lagniappe. A little goofy and it gets the point across.
Talent matters. You don't win 12 national women's titles without exceptional players and special coaching.
But that's not enough. Coach Geno Auriemma emphasizes that the intangibles confirm the decision.
Here are five key points from Timothy Koegel’s The Exceptional Presenter:
Present yourself before your content: Audiences judge a presenter’s confidence, energy, and presence before they absorb the message. How you stand, move, and make eye contact matters as much as what you say.
Be clear, concise, and confident: Great presenters speak with simplicity and purpose, avoiding rambling or overcomplication. Every word should drive the message forward.
Think in headlines: Structure your presentation around clear, memorable points — much like news headlines — to keep your audience oriented and engaged.
Eliminate verbal clutter: Fillers like “um,” “uh,” and “you know” undermine credibility. Koegel stresses the power of the pause instead of filler sounds.
Engage with authenticity: Connection beats performance. Authenticity — being genuinely interested in your audience and message — builds trust and makes your presentation far more compelling.
Perhaps the best team Melrose faced in the 2012 postseason was the Canton Bulldogs, a perennial contender. Watching a full match illustrates a myriad of principles.
How to Remember and Retain Knowledge: pic.twitter.com/SnuAd4IsYx
— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) April 17, 2025
Metacognition means "learning how to learn." Make your learning process active.
1) Focus. Computers don't "multitask," as they rapidly switch between individual processes. People don't have the same capability.
2) Removing distractions (e.g. your phone) is part of the solution.
3) Take breaks. The Pomodoro Technique is 25 minutes on and five off.
4) Space repetitions. Reviewing is better than single viewing.
5) Train analogical thinking. Learn how to relate ideas and solutions across disciplines.
6) Self-test. Ask yourself "what do I know about serving?" Go into as much detail as possible...types of serves, where to serve, and the details of serving mechanics. Review your serve with video.
7) Practice. If we want to improve at anything, use "deliberate practice."
That's not enough. Find volition, commitment to achieve what you want. Commitment means sacrifice - that means investing time to study, to train physically and mentally, and play enough to raise your skills. The sacrifice part means not having as much time for friends, texting, social media, and other pursuits teenagers enjoy.
There's never a guarantee that sacrifice and a sense of urgency fulfill your dreams. It's fair to say that the players and teams who achieved the most paid the price. You have to ask those players what it meant to them.
In 2022, Kaitlyn Chen scored 18 points for Princeton against UConn.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) April 6, 2025
It caught the eye of Geno Auriemma, who recruited her for her final year of eligibility.
After winning the national title with the Huskies, Chen celebrated with her Princeton teammates:pic.twitter.com/rv7iy6351b
Kaitlyn Chen, a 2024 graduate from Princeton with a degree in medical anthropology, transferred to UCONN for a postgraduate season as she had a COVID eligibility year. In the video above, she celebrates with former Princeton teammates. I don't think you have to ask her if it was worth it.
You have to ask yourself how much work is worth it.
Lagniappe. Often when watching a championship game, you hear the announcers say, "we'll find out which time wants it the most." Both teams couldn't care more. What matters is having done the physical and mental preparation favoring execution under championship pressure. The team that bests maintains it's poise for performance usually comes out ahead.
Are you checking the boxes for MVB excellence? You either choose to invest in yourself or you don't.
Not an all-inclusive list...
1) Skill-building
Everyone writes their story through the sum of daily habits, choices, effort.
What ONE thing could you do to elevate your volleyball profile? Stop, take a breath and discover the path. Then, follow it relentlessly.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire (1911) profoundly affected young Frances Perkins. 146 workers, mostly young women died in a sweatshop fire, locked into the workplace. Perkins became a workers' rights leader, the first woman cabinet member, under FDR. Witnessing an atrocity convinced Perkins to change history.
"After the fire, Perkins was the secretary for the Committee on Safety. This committee led the way to 36 new labor laws, which included restrictions on child labor and working hours, and also providing compensations to workers injured on the job."
Perkins chose to take action to prevent future tragedies through regulation.
Want to become an impactful attacker? What holds you back? Is it your attack footwork, your vertical jump, armswing, timing, swing decision-making? What's your ONE thing?
Need a good pre-game or practice speed session? Here ya go!
— Gerry DeFilippo (@Challenger_ST) April 18, 2025
1. Extensive pogo x30 sec
2. Extensive SL pogo x30 sec
3. Intensive pogo x8 sec
4. Intensive SL pogo x8 sec
5. Split squat jumps x4 each
6. Dynamic KB swings x4
7. Flying 10 sprint x4
8. Band release start x1 each side… pic.twitter.com/Sk4LqyxOcQ
What's possible?
Improvement in vertical jump from dedicated training varies, but here’s a realistic breakdown based on training age, current level, and program quality:
| Athlete Type | Timeframe | Expected Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner (never trained jump before) | 8–12 weeks | 4–8 inches |
| Intermediate (some strength/power training) | 8–12 weeks | 2–5 inches |
| Advanced (well-trained, near genetic ceiling) | 8–12 weeks | 1–3 inches |
Training Quality: Programs that combine strength, plyometrics, technique, and mobility deliver better gains. Think squat mechanics, approach jump sequencing, and reactive plyos.
Training Age: Athletes newer to structured training adapt faster. Those with high training ages need more refined programming to eke out small gains.
Body Composition: Losing excess body fat while maintaining strength can boost jump height even without added power.
Injury History and Flexibility: Limiting tightness in the ankles, hips, and thoracic spine opens the door to better force transfer and safer landings.
Strength Base First: Trap bar deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats, and Nordic hamstrings matter. Power comes from strength.
Plyometrics Second: Depth jumps, bounding, and single-leg hops improve rate of force development.
Jump Technique: Many athletes have 1–2 inches “hidden” in poor takeoff mechanics or inefficient arms.
Track and Recover: Overtraining = plateaus. Sleep, protein, and rest days matter.
If you're working with volleyball athletes, a well-built 8–10 week offseason cycle can bring impressive gains, especially in high school and early college players. Want help sketching out a sample jump training plan or assessing where a player might have the most growth potential?
If writing a better origin story matters, start today.
Lagniappe. The quality of passing is a major determinant of attack efficiency.
