On the Road Again

Melrose travels to South Deerfield to face the (1-1) Frontier Red Hawks, who beat Nauset and lost to powerful Dennis-Yarmouth. 

After Barnstable, Frontier has probably been the most consistent and accomplished author of State Championships. From Brave AI, "Frontier Regional High School has won 11 MIAA DIII State Championships in girls’ volleyball, as mentioned in the article from Frontier Regional School: The girls’ volleyball team have won eleven MIAA DIII State Championships, in the 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 seasons.”

It's the first of the four non-league games on the docket this season including Duxbury and 2023 State Champions Westborough and Newton North. 

From Chat GPT, the "Cote of Armor"

The "COTE of Armor" framework, developed by Dr. Sian Beilock and Dr. Matthew Syed, and popularized by Dr. Robert Weisinger and Dr. Jon Pawliw-Frye, is a mental game strategy designed to help individuals perform at their best under pressure. The acronym "COTE" stands for Confidence, Optimism, Trust, and Emotional Control. Let’s break down each component:

1. Confidence: Believing in your abilities and skills is crucial. Confidence can be bolstered by preparation and past successes. It’s about having a strong belief in your ability to handle the task at hand, even under pressure. Confidence can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.

2. Optimism: Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on the potential for success rather than dwelling on possible failures is key. Optimism helps to keep you motivated and resilient in the face of challenges. It involves framing situations in a constructive light and expecting good outcomes.

3. Trust: This involves trusting your preparation, your training, and your teammates. It's about having faith in the processes and routines that have led you to this point. Trust also extends to relying on your own instincts and abilities when faced with high-pressure situations.

4. Emotional Control: Managing your emotions effectively allows you to stay calm and focused, even when stress levels rise. Emotional control involves techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and maintaining a balanced perspective. It’s about not letting anxiety or excitement disrupt your performance.

The "Armor" part of the framework represents the mental resilience that these elements provide. Just like armor protects a knight in battle, having a strong sense of confidence, optimism, trust, and emotional control shields you from the adverse effects of stress and pressure.

Incorporating the COTE of Armor into your mental game involves regular practice and self-awareness. It means setting up routines that build confidence, engaging in positive self-talk to foster optimism, preparing thoroughly to enhance trust, and developing emotional regulation strategies to maintain control.

In summary, the COTE of Armor is about creating a robust mental foundation that enables you to perform optimally in high-stress situations. By focusing on confidence, optimism, trust, and emotional control, you equip yourself with a psychological shield to handle challenges more effectively.