Starr Struck Reality - "You Know It Ain't Easy"

Opinions expressed are solely mine. They do not represent the City of Melrose, Melrose High School, the Athletic Department, or Melrose High School. 

HS rosters always have turnover. One of the challenges is integrating young players. There's no sugar coating.

Returning players and parents don’t always see newcomers as part of winning tradition. Some see them as threats, carpetbaggers seeking to displace veterans from “their rightful spots.”

That shows up as bans on rising frosh from summer teams, workouts, and other exclusions. Carl Pierson shares that and other issues in his book, "The Politics of Coaching."

Reality is that girls mature at an earlier age and freshmen often have the size, athleticism, and skill to succeed young. By age fifteen, on average girls have 98 percent of their adult height. Mostly it's WYSIWYG, what you see is what you get.

I’ve heard stories of upperclassmen telling young players to “know your place” and “don’t make me look bad.” That dog does not hunt.

Melrose volleyball has less of that issue because of its culture. 1) everyone gets opportunity and 2) the best players, senior or freshmen, earn the spots. When you have the receipts, you play.

Coaching young players, I trained them to compete for contributing roles as freshmen. They know that other players will come along with the skills and determination to compete against them. Competition brings out the best, and the best enjoy success.

Competition is "the law of the jungle.”

Lagniappe. Long home volleyball workout.