"A Wrinkle in Time" and Metaphorical Lessons for Volleyball

Some see an abundance of youth as an "island of misfit toys." A more nuanced views sees it as ingredients for a great entree. Samin Nosrat's cookbook shares that great dishes share four elements - salt, fat, acid, and heat.  

With ChatGPT Plus, enjoy this application of A Wrinkle in Time to volleyball. 

The inspiration for the piece comes from "Ted Lasso," where Coach Ted gifts books to his players, a group not known for reading. Team Captain Roy Kent is a reluctant leader, a curmudgeon who wants nothing to do with Ted. Ted gifts Roy A Wrinkle in Time, which Roy then reads to his niece Phoebe,

""No," Meg said. "I have to do it."

"But how?" Calvin asked.

"I don't know! But I know it has to be me! Don't you see? I'm the only one who can!"

This moment defines Meg's entire journey. Awkward, stubborn, and un-special, she realizes that her unique love—flawed, angry, but utterly unconditional—is the one weapon IT cannot comprehend or defend against. Weakness becomes her ultimate strength.

It dawns upon Roy that he must become 'Meg Murry', the veteran who inspires teammates and builds a bridge with their new manager. 

Young players "don't know what they don't know." But they have a unique capacity for growth, earning the coach's trust, and learning how to win. Every day moves in that direction as flaws become strengths.  

Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time is often remembered as a children’s fantasy novel, but beneath the space travel and mysterious beings lies a message that resonates far beyond literature. It is a story about courage, individuality, and, above all, the power of love. Surprisingly, those same lessons apply to the gym floor and the volleyball court.

Love as the Ultimate Weapon → Trust as the Foundation

In the climax of the novel, Meg rescues her younger brother Charles Wallace not with logic, strength, or cleverness, but with love. That’s her secret weapon against the darkness.

On a volleyball team, love shows up as trust. Players who truly care for each other dive for loose balls, encourage after errors, and celebrate small victories together. Trust can’t be faked. It is built through consistency, empathy, and the shared joy of competing as one.

Individuality vs. Conformity → Strength in Diversity

Camazotz, the dark planet in the novel, demands absolute conformity. Everyone walks in step, plays the same rhythm, and obeys the same force. It’s a chilling metaphor for what happens when creativity is stamped out.

Volleyball thrives on the opposite. The best teams harness difference: the fiery competitor who raises the energy, the calm player who steadies the group, the inventive setter who sees angles no one else does. Success comes from blending those unique gifts, not suppressing them. A team of clones can’t adapt. A team of individuals working in harmony can.

Flaws as Strengths

Meg spends much of the novel frustrated with her faults—her stubbornness, her temper, her doubts. Yet those same qualities, reframed, become her greatest strength. Her fierce loyalty and refusal to quit save her brother.

Athletes often fall into the same trap of thinking their quirks are weaknesses. The “too emotional” player may be the one who lifts the team in key moments. The “too intense” competitor may set the standard of effort. Great coaches help players channel those so-called flaws into strengths that fuel the whole team.

Analytics and Intuition

L’Engle blends science and mystery: the tesseract is both a scientific concept and a symbol of faith in forces beyond comprehension.

Coaching requires a similar blend. Numbers matter—serve percentage, hitting efficiency, side-out rates. But intuition matters too. A coach sensing when to call timeout, a setter reading a block, or a libero positioning by instinct—all of these defy charts and statistics. The best teams respect both the measurable and the immeasurable.

Courage and Growth

Meg begins the story insecure and uncertain. By the end, she faces darkness with courage, not because she lost her fear, but because she chose to act despite it.

Volleyball players grow in the same way. Confidence doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes; it comes from surviving them, learning from them, and rising again. Every challenging match is a chance to become stronger, just as every character test was for Meg.

A Wrinkle in Time teaches that darkness is defeated not through conformity or control, but through individuality, courage, and love. Volleyball teaches the same truth in its own language: teams don’t need perfection—they need players willing to be authentic, resilient, and united.

In literature and in sport, the lesson is clear: what saves us is not flawless execution, but the power of trust, creativity, and heart.

Chase perfection and capture excellence.