Make Better Decisions

A lesson I wish I had learned earlier: Fast decisions usually win. Most calls can be undone. More info rarely changes anything. But can't get back our time. Make a choice. Get data. Iterate. Cycle time is a competitive advantage. While you're debating, someone else has decided. pic.twitter.com/HyI6pEWf5W

— Dave Kline (@dklineii) August 7, 2025

Life rewards better decisions followed by better execution. So does sport. Great process improves results:

Process equals:

• Vision (what do you see?)
• Decision (what are your choices?)
• Execution (what happened)

Analogy: OODA Loops (Colonel John Boyd, dogfighting)

• Observe
• Orient 
• Decide
• Act 

Thinking sorts into strategic (tactical) and reflexive (read and react). The best way to play better is to play a lot. A variety of alternatives exist to increase decision-making and touches. 

From ChatGPT Plus:

In volleyball, the equivalent of "small-sided games" from soccer or basketball are small-court or reduced-player formats that keep rallies short, force more contacts per player, and increase decision-making opportunities.

Here are some volleyball analogues:

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1. 2v2 or 3v3 on a Shortened Court

• How it works: Reduce team size and/or court space (e.g., half court width, 2/3 length).

• Effect: Everyone is constantly involved — serve, receive, set, attack, block, defend.

• Decision-Making Focus: Reading hitter tendencies, quick transition decisions, adapting to smaller court angles.

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2. “Queen/King of the Court”

• How it works: One side is the “champion,” challengers rotate in quickly. Often 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4.

• Effect: High volume of short, intense points; competitive pressure builds decision speed.

• Decision-Making Focus: Quick adaptation to opponent strengths, serve targeting, point construction.

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3. Wash Games with Fewer Players

• How it works: Teams earn a point only by winning two balls in a row or a serve-receive/transition combo. Use 3v3 or 4v4 to keep touches high.

• Effect: Adds tactical sequencing — players must think about the next rally before the current one ends.

• Decision-Making Focus: Managing momentum, strategic risk-taking.

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4. “Chaos Ball” or “Continuous Play”

• How it works: Coach feeds unpredictable balls after every contact (or at random intervals). Teams play 3v3 or 4v4.

• Effect: Players get more out-of-system touches and must adapt on the fly.

• Decision-Making Focus: Reading the ball, adjusting coverage, improvising attack choices.

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5. Overload Games

• How it works: 3v2 or 4v3 — the smaller side gets more touches, must defend and transition faster.

• Effect: Increases reps under disadvantage or advantage conditions.

• Decision-Making Focus: Exploiting overloads offensively, defending outnumbered situations.

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Why these work:
In volleyball, just like in soccer’s small-sided games, the key drivers are:

• More ball contacts per player → more skill refinement.

• Reduced space & numbers → faster reads and decision-making.

• Repetition under realistic game pressure → stronger transfer to full 6v6 play.

Lagniappe. In Adam Grant's "Think Again," he recommends that everyone keep a "rethinking scorecard." Track "lessons learned" resulting in thinking differently. Restated, "win or learn."