Disclaimer: All opinions in the blog are solely mine. The blog is not an official publication of MVB or any Melrose institution.
Coaches wear many hats - teacher, mentor, psychologist, judge, advocate, and more.
Experienced coaches like Scott Celli understand that multiple ingredients go into the competitive cauldron.
A couple of quotes illustrate this:
1) "Never be a child's last coach." Not playing a lot or at all in early games doesn't make you an afterthought. Think back to the Red Sox and the trading deadline. "They need to trade an outfielder for more pitching." Then two starting outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony go down with injuries. Others have to step up.
As a player, get ready and stay ready.
Coaches don't always play the six "best" players, they play the six who play best together. Be ready to seize opportunity when it arises. Practice hard with a good attitude. Joy matters.
2) "How does it feel to be coached by me?" It's human nature to want to be respected and valued. I greeted players by name every day and thanked them at the end of each practice. Coaches work to keep our teams "humble and hungry." We also know that every player and family sacrifices to earn the opportunity to compete for "minutes, role, and recognition."
Once there was an "orderly progression" in sport from freshman, to JV, and varsity. That never applied as much to girls' sports because girls mature physically and emotionally faster than boys. We played a 7th grade basketball team from Windham, NH that had three girls six-feet tall. I said, "it's cute that the mothers are wearing the uniforms."
3) "Do or do not, there is no try." Star Wars informed many coaching metaphors. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to success." Ellen disagrees with me. I avoid the word "try." Do your best, listening and being coachable.
The Two Dogs Story
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. He says:
“A fight is going on inside me. It is between two dogs.
One is evil—anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, lies, and fear.
The other is good—joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thinks for a minute and then asks:
“Which dog will win?”
The old Cherokee replies simply:
“The one you feed.”
The Shoulder Voices Version
This lesson is sometimes explained with the image of a voice on each shoulder.
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On one shoulder is the negative voice, whispering doubts, fears, and criticism.
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On the other shoulder is the positive voice, encouraging, hopeful, and constructive.
Every day, we decide which one to listen to—and by doing so, we “feed” that dog.
Why It Resonates
The power of the story is in its simplicity:
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Focus – attention is food. The more time and energy we give to negative thoughts, the stronger they grow.
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Choice – we can’t silence the negative voice, but we can choose to strengthen the positive one.
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Growth – consistently feeding positivity builds resilience, confidence, and peace.
It’s a reminder that our mindset isn’t fixed; it’s cultivated by the daily choices of where we place our energy.
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