Scrimmage 2 in the Books

Bias creeps into evaluation in many ways and scrimmages define this.

Here are a few:

Sample size: Don't overgeneralize based on small data sets. Players and teams may overachieve or underperform on a given day. Small sample size can mislead us. 

Recency bias. "What have you done for me lately?" A player with an extensive track record can go on a hot or cold streak. They could be the next new thing or the next item on the scrap heap.

Anchoring. We falsely cling to an impression, whether accurate or not. We 'anchor' on the Belichick the Genius effect or Chaim Bloom the Ineffective GM without confirming evidence for our opinions. Circumstances change. 

Attribution bias. We have a tendency to blame outcomes on factors beyond our control such as officiating, weather or other conditions.

Confirmation bias. We selectively read or study what we believe to be true. 

On to scrimmage observations...from an observer of the ups and downs of twenty-one seasons of Melrose Volleyball. 

1. Chloe Gentile, one of Melrose's top players, was unavailable with illness. But as a team, never traffic in excuses. Melrose didn't with a 24-26, 25-13, 25-20, 25-23 win over a solid Marblehead squad. 

2. Melrose made lineup adjustments to capture more of the skillset of senior setter Gia Vlajkovic.

3. Volleyball's "Big Six" skills are serving, passing, digging, blocking, setting, and attacking. As a player and team, "figure out" how to impact results. Excel at as many as possible or dominate one, such as serving or blocking. Most seasons Melrose has a 'designated server'.  

4. Athleticism is the brand of the 2022 club. The team isn't big but is quick to the ball and has a lot of skilled players. 

5. Melrose has a lot of "young guns" competing for time outside, at opposite, and as the designated server. As coach Sean McDermott of the Bills says, young teams "earn the right to win."

6. A week into training, the communication on court was good but will improve. Make it ELO...early, loud, and often. 

7. Bill Parcells took a sheet of paper and divided it into three columns - MUST, NEED, WANT. To go deep into the post season, teams need three dynamite hitters, hitters who dominate and impact the game. In basketball, we call them "possession enders," player who end plays with scores and stops.

8. A magazine did an "interview" with Godzilla, the mythical Japanese monster, after a latest sequel. They asked him what he'd do if the movie got bad reviews. The creature answered, "I'll step on their necks." Figuratively speaking, that's what great teams do. 

9. One potential "possession ender" is Sadie Jaggers in the middle, one of Melrose's formidable blockers in the past two decades, relying on timing more than elite size. Amidst the "Big Six" skills, blocking skills are game changers.

Other seniors stepped up in Chloe's absence, playing at high levels yesterday. Gia Vlajkovic was exceptional and Emma Desmond impacted from the back row. 

10.The other players competing for roles need to believe. "Confidence comes from proven success" and they will develop confidence with more experience. Players earn roles through impact plays. They'll get a lot of opportunities Saturday. 

For those wishing to read more on bias and motivated reasoning in sport, I suggest this blog piece from Scientific American. "I’m making a simple point. When it comes to sports, data > intuition. Yet, coaches, managers, fans and commentators alike continue to go with their guts, especially when it comes to a team or player that is close to their hearts."