Weighing the Scales

Coaches constantly judge the relative measures of competing interests. 

Image created with ChatGPT Plus

Winning Today vs. Winning Tomorrow

• Lineup A vs. Lineup B

• Opposing strategies (e.g., more middle attacks vs. pin hitting)

• Size vs. athleticism

• Youth vs. experience

• Recent performance vs. long-term trajectory

• Practice results vs. game outcomes

In Making Decisions, Ed Smith—former selector for England cricket—describes the many inputs that shape choices. He distinguishes between the “inside view” of coaches and captains and the “outside view” of experts observing from a distance.

Veteran coaches such as Scott Celli and his staff lean on years of projecting and evaluating performance. They benefit from “volume assessment”—watching enough reps to spot patterns, trends, and reliability. That foundation drives decisions on personnel, tactics, and operations.

Melrose entered 2025 knowing its first five matches would be a gauntlet against top Freedom (small division) and Liberty Division opponents. After PlayDay, it was clear that “all bets were off.”

The best programs keep their eyes on the bottom line: prioritize process over quick wins. Daily habits and operational discipline build the sustainable improvement that endures beyond any single result.

Lagniappe. Back row defense - study the anticipation, one and two-handed plays, reverse arm, "dolphin dives" and the persistence in keeping the ball up.