"Simple Isn't Easy"

Which is easier, doing one thing well or doing five? Students learn the alphabet before studying Shakespeare. There's a progression.

Coach Don Meyer said that coaching had three phases - blind enthusiasm, sophisticated complexity, and mature simplicity.

Years ago, Masslive.com had message boards including high school sports. A poster said that Melrose's style was simple but done well.

Do simple well.

1) Serve-receive the first pass high and to the middle of the court. That gives the setter options, avoids "overpasses" and "trapping her at the net." 

2) Good > Great. Sadie Jaggers said that a tip from Gia Vlajkovic helped a lot, "Make good passes instead of great ones." 

3) Do well what you do a lot. Three Melrose servers had over 300 serve attempts - Dani DiGiorgio, Anna Burns, and Alisa Dautovic. 

4) Grow your game. For example, Sadie Smith improved her "right side" setting a lot this season. Anna Burns did a solid job on "out of system" passes to create attacks. What one skill you can add?

5) What is your MVB skill? What gets you and keeps you on the court? Consult your coaches if you're not sure. Earning Coach Scott Celli's trust will earn more playing time. 

6) Study the game. "The WHY is everything." Study MVB video. Study volleyball teaching videos (e.g. Karch Kiraly, Volley Country, Elevate Yourself, AVCA). 

7) Connect. Some of you have played together and gone to school together for years. Strengthen those ties. Share. 

8) Keep a notebook. Write down what you learn. The act of handwriting improves retention. If you learn three new volleyball concepts a day, that's over a thousand a year. 

9) Work out together. Shared experience builds skill, competitiveness, and  connection. Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had the 10-80-10 concept, that players sort into the top 10%, middle 80%, and bottom 10%. He insisted that top 10%ers bring someone to training to "drag them" up into the top 10%. 

10) Want to be great. What makes exceptional coaches? Exceptional players. Do not fear greatness. 

One of my favorite basketball teammates played on the freshman "B" team. He asked Coach how he could improve. Coach said, "Play a lot." John became an ML All-Star, outplayed a future Celtics draft choice in Boston Garden, played at Tufts, and had a wonderful career in the petroleum industry.  

11) Never tire of the little things. Footwork, armswing, platform. You can't be "too good" at fundamental skills. 

12) Believe. Ted Lasso's "fourth thing" was BELIEVE. Belief helps you make a play "in the moment." The 2005 team lost the third set in the State semis and won the fourth something like 25-8. The 2012 State Champions won the fourth and final set 25-10. Excellence has no doubt and leaves none. 

Lagniappe. What book are you reading now? I read one fiction and one nonfiction - now it's "Savage Son" and "Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect," a sports psychology book.