Focusing on What's Important

 

"Dream Team" coach Chuck Daly reminded his assistants to focus on what's important - preparation, teamwork, and execution. Sideshows surrounding the most famous athletes in the world (Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc.) were just that, sideshows. Never let sideshows become distractions. 

What matters to coaches is focus, preparation, effort, execution, and accountability. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick distills that to "do your job." 

As a sports parent (former) and long-time basketball coach, I use a term, "The Prime Directive." The Prime Directive is that every parent wants what is best for his or her child above those of other players or what is best for the team. If one won't advocate for their child, who will? 

I'll share an example. When my daughters were sophomores playing high school basketball, one got extra playing time because of an illness/injury to a senior teammate. In a key game against their principal rival, she scored sixteen points including eight for eight on free throws in a few point win. The next game, she played two minutes. Sometimes, that's the way it goes. We won't always agree with coaching decisions. 

Among the thousands of basketball coaches on a private basketball site, one reminds coaches, "although you are A coach, you are not THE coach" of your child's team. 

But the coach has accountability for the team above the individual players. In Coach John Wooden's annual letter to players, he emphasized that players would not always agree with his decisions but that he would always do what he believed was in the best interest of the team. 

At volleyball games, I sometimes get asked, "which player are you here to see?" I honestly answer, "all of them." 

The 2021 version of Melrose volleyball has one of the most talented rosters since the state championship team of 2012. But talent alone doesn't assure success. Their ability to play hard, play smart, and play together with resilience during adversity will define their legacy. 

ML Roundup: 

• Winchester escaped Lexington.
• Arlington shutout Reading
• Wakefield nipped Burlington
• Woburn held off Belmont 

The most recent MIAA rankings suggest that the only ML team that will not qualify for the postseason is Watertown. For example, Stoneham is 17th in D4, Wilmington is 21st in D3, and Lexington is 23 in D1. Watertown is 34 in D3. The overall strength of the Middlesex League is raising team rankings through opponents' value.