An Eye for Talent

Nobody wins without talent. Spotting, recruiting, developing, retaining, and blending talent gives you a chance to succeed.

Legacy programs include all of the above. Coach Scott Celli and his staff have done a remarkable job over decades. 

Identifying Talent

I asked Coach Celli years ago how long it took him to know that one player would become impactful. He said, "Five minutes." 

Through the years, he's shared observations. He saw that Rachel Johnson had the size, athleticism, and timing to become an elite blocker. He forecast the electric setter play of Leah Fowke. 

Last season during the MVB summer camp, two players especially stood out to me. Both freshmen became impactful MVB 25 rotation players. 

Recruiting

Few high school coaches have the opportunity to 'recruit' talent away from neighbors and competitors. There's no doubt that some schools actively seek established stars. Recruiting starts within your community. The vast majority of MVB players arise in Melrose. Many have now gone through the excellent middle school program and camps. Dr. Victoria Crovo started in the soccer program and moved to volleyball. Many players had older siblings whose success attracted younger girls to volleyball.

Retention

The volleyball 'experience' keeps players. A successful and positive culture is the best available tool to keep Melrose home. 

Player Development

Almost all of the offseason development occurs through the club circuit. In some states, club programs become college feeders. My daughters' friend had a younger sister who didn't make her San Diego high school team. Her performance in her California club earned her an east coast D1 scholarship.

Team Development  

How you play individually and with others defines your ultimate role. Players add value through all four classes. Some players find roles early and others later in their high school career. Alyssa DiRaffaele relocated from the front row to libero and reached a State Final. Gia Vlajkovic helped win a pair of Sectionals, one as setter and another as an outside hitter. 

There's no 'cookie cutter' pathway to success on MVB. The best approach remains to play smart, play hard, play together, and have fun. 

Lagniappe. Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry said, "A man has to know his limitations." Nobody can see the future. Economist "John Kenneth Galbraith famously observed, “There are two kinds of forecasters: those who don’t know, and those who don’t know they don’t know.”