Now

"Jon Gordon’s book One Word is all about choosing one word as your word for the year." - Kevin Eastman in "Why the Best Are the Best"

What's your word? It has to come from you as a group. Kevin Eastman chose "Now" for his. 

MVB has its first scrimmage today, an opportunity for the team to "get its feet wet" before the regular season. 

Eastman chose "urgency" as one of his 25 words. Urgency emphasizes the power of now. For most seniors, MVB 25 is their "last rodeo," the last shot at achieving volleyball dreams. 

Life is full of "what ifs." Dan Marino went to the Super Bowl in his second season and never returned. Eric Lindros went to the Stanley Cup Finals young in 1997 and never had a second chance. 

Urgency helps nullify regret. "We did everything we could." 

Here are a few quotes from Eastman: 

"The best of the best understand the importance of the now—this possession, this repetition, this drill, this report, this action, this phone call."

"Winning urgency is an attitude of now. Being prepared now. Getting things done now."

"...creating a culture where passion thrives and translates into people wanting to get the work done when it needs to be done.”

Coaches can't place the next serve in the seam or the sideline alley. They can't sprint to cover or call the ball. Coaches work to instill the sports character that translates into success. 

The preseason presents the chance for each player to plant her flag and make a statement. "This is who I am. That is how I play." Making the team is great. Making an impact is better. 

As a player, ask yourself, "if not now, when?"

Lagniappe. Via ChatGPT Plus, "The idiom “get your feet wet” comes from a very literal image: stepping into water for the first time, before you’re fully swimming or wading in. It dates back to at least the 17th century in English, where it described taking the first cautious step into something new—like actually dipping your toes or feet in a stream before committing further."

Lagniappe 2. Maximize your attack with proper footwork and "negative armswing" to launch yourself into the attack. Most young players rely on athleticism with limited technique. "Form begets function." Watch Coach Donny. You don't need a gym to practice footwork.