Be Good at What We Do a Lot

How does a team excel? Execute fundamentals at a high level.

Never leave fundamentals:

• Serving
• Digging
• Passing
• Setting
• Attacking
• Blocking

Not all skills belong equally to each player. For example, in basketball, a short point guard shouldn't invest major minutes in post play. Full time defensive specialists won't be blockers. 

Tailor your training. If you don't see yourself in the serving rotation, then don't expend huge minutes in practicing serving. If you're a short defensive specialist, then don't invest time on front row attack or blocking. 

Every player benefits from platform skills, strength, agility, and conditioning. Choosing not to work on those means choosing to be less effective. It's your choice.

"I want to play all-around." Many top Melrose players played front and back row, served, attacked, blocked, set, and defended. In the past few years Elena Soukos and Gia Vlajkovic played all-around at high levels. In the remote past Karen and Paula Sen, Hannah Brickley, Jen Cain, Victoria Crovo, and others have. The disadvantage if you're an attacker is expending energy on defense. The best answer is develop multiple skills and let Coach Celli sort it out.  

Sarah McGowan had the skill to play all-around but teamed with great back row players like Jill MacInnes, Allie Nolan, Amanda Commito, and Jen Cain, Sarah got to expend more energy on attack and service. The coaching staff 'figures it out' to deploy players best. 

Lagniappe. Serving basics including simple footwork, toss, and contact tips.