Confident

"You can only be as good as you believe you are." Confidence ties work to performance. 

Dan Campbell said …”belief comes from the work that you put in.”

There are no other secrets to success.

- Success is about Grit.
- Success is about Work Ethic.
- Success is about Consistency.

“No Deposit - No Return.”

🎥 The Winning Differencepic.twitter.com/Grh3sLflp3

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) August 3, 2024

Confidence comes in different flavors. That includes unearned, illusory, arrogant, social, professional, and self-confidence.

Teams need more than confidence to navigate deep postseason runs. Coach Scott Celli understands that and acts accordingly.

• Talent. In addition to tough defense, MVB always has skilled setting and coordination of play. Work to develop three dynamic hitters never stops. 
• Mental toughness. MVB's strength has often been high performance against the best opponents. That creates confidence-building signature wins. 
• Scheduling. "Iron sharpens iron." Teams with soft schedules don't have a puncher's chance in title fights. 
• Experience. MVB, like other top teams, has been to this rodeo before. The "next player up" mentality isn't just the Patriots. 
• Development. "Every day is player development day." While tradition never graduates, seniors do. Recruiting from within, MVB always has young players in the pipeline. 

When you have done the work, developed the skill, game understanding, physical and mental fitness, you earned authentic confidence. 

What motivates young athletes today? I asked ChatGPT:

Young athletes today are often motivated by a combination of factors that can include:

1. Passion for the Sport: Many young athletes are driven by a genuine love for their sport. They find joy and fulfillment in playing and competing.

2. Desire for Success: Achieving success in their sport, whether that's winning competitions, setting records, or earning recognition, is a powerful motivator for young athletes.

3. Personal Goals: Setting and achieving personal goals, such as improving skills, reaching specific milestones, or earning scholarships, can be highly motivating.

4. Social and Peer Influence: The influence of peers and teammates can motivate young athletes to perform well, as they seek approval and acceptance from their social circle.

5. Family Support: Support and encouragement from family members, including parents and siblings, can play a crucial role in motivating young athletes.

6. Coach Influence: A supportive and inspiring coach can have a significant impact on motivating young athletes, providing guidance, encouragement, and expertise.

7. Financial Incentives: In some cases, the potential for financial rewards, such as scholarships, sponsorships, or future career opportunities, can be a strong motivator.

8. Health and Fitness: Many young athletes are motivated by the desire to stay fit, healthy, and active, which contributes to their overall well-being.

9. Competitive Spirit: The natural desire to compete and compare oneself against others can drive young athletes to push themselves to excel.

10. Long-term Aspirations: Some young athletes are motivated by the prospect of pursuing their sport at higher levels, such as college athletics or even professional leagues.

Understanding these motivations helps coaches, parents, and mentors provide the right support and encouragement to help young athletes thrive and achieve their goals.

Find your muse in pursuit of excellence.  

Lagniappe. Something extra... via Quora AI 

"Lagniappe" is a term that originated in Louisiana, particularly in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The word is derived from the Spanish phrase "la yapa" or "la ñapa," which means "the gift" or "something extra."

In Louisiana and other parts of the Gulf Coast, "lagniappe" refers to a small gift or bonus that a customer receives from a merchant, typically given as a token of goodwill or to thank the customer for their business. It is something given in addition to what was originally purchased, often as a gesture of generosity.

The concept of "lagniappe" has become a part of the culture in Louisiana and other areas influenced by French and Spanish colonial history, where it is seen as a way to foster good relationships and show appreciation to customers. The term has also been adopted more broadly to refer to any unexpected bonus or extra, not just in a commercial context.

Excel at Decision Making

Life is not about perfection. It's about getting good at the skill of making good decisions, and that's one of the most important things I wanna teach my children. pic.twitter.com/LZRpgbHHw2

— Alan Stein, Jr. (@AlanSteinJr) August 31, 2024

Make better decisions. How? 

• Be curious. Ask, "is that true?" 
• Verify the information with reliable sources and research. 
• As Adam Grant suggests, keep a "rethinking scorecard." 
• Study video to assess your in-game choices and decisions.
• Get feedback from coaches and mentors. 
• Study the game to understand alternatives better. 

Lagniappe. "Fleen" serves. 

 

Uncommon Familiarity

Twenty-two plus years of close observation of MVB provides corporate memory of remote and recent players and teams. Nothing comes down on stone tablets.

It far too soon to make far-reaching observations of the team, after watching the two scrimmages and three PlayDay games today. 

The word that arises is balance. There is strength up the middle, a pair of libero equivalents in Gigi and Maggie, dynamic setting, and improvement in serve and serve receive. Those are observations not exaggerations.

Alex Homan has the edge at the third defender spot now, with both defense and setting skills. With her in the back, "out of system" balls no longer are. She's also a consistent server. As a backup setter, she is more than capable as well.

Outside, Caroline Higonenq has improved steadily during the preseason as she gets farther out from injury. She's also a good defender and server. 

Melrose played well as a team, going 5 and 0 during the PlayDay. 

The hay is almost in the regular season barn. 

Lagniappe. Repost. 

Expectations and 'History'

"Do not set expectations that you're not sure of." - Alone, Season 11

Alone is a reality survival show on the History Channel. "The red button is a dream-crushing killer..." that allows contestants to "tap out" and return home, suffering losers, enduring freezing cold, mind-numbing loneliness, and withering hunger. 

Athletes face the reality of challenge every day, every week, every year. They decide minute by minute, hour by hour whether to pay the physical and mental price. Stay focused and engaged 100 percent or "check out." 

But your day at home or school provides the same opportunity. Be "all in" or something less. "All in" might mean helping to cook dinner, shovel the driveway, or care for a younger sibling. 

On the court, keep communicating, encouraging teammates, showing up with effort, even though tired, sore, or a little bit sick.

Your sacrifice rewards those who believed in you from Day 1 through today - your family. Your effort pays your teammates who trust and care about you.

You gotta believe as much as others around you. Don't push that button. 

Lagniappe. The back row has your back. 

T Minus

According to Brave AI:

T-Minus Origins: Countdown to Discovery

T-minus is a term coined by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) to denote the countdown to a rocket launch or a specific event. The “T” in T-minus stands for “time,” indicating the precise moment when the launch is expected to occur.

According to NASA, the term T-minus was created to simplify the countdown process and provide a clear understanding of the time remaining before liftoff. It was first used in the early 1960s, during the height of the space race, and has since become an integral part of NASA’s launch procedures and public communications.

Life has a lot of "T Minus" situations. Countdown to tryouts, to the beginning of school, to starting a new job, to exiting one. 

In the Navy, someone would have a month to discharge and say, "I can stand on my head that long." Anticipation.

Today is a big day for competitors, battling to add value for MVB and  themselves on the PlayDay at the Middle School. 

Have fun. Play with joy. Bring your best self. 

If you're reading this on Saturday, it's T minus four days to opening day of the 2024 campaign.   

Champions don’t focus on competing with an opponent.
Champions compete to be better today than they were yesterday.
There is a need to improve in defeat or victory-even in the smallest way.
Nothing to prove-a-lot to accomplish. pic.twitter.com/1TrMT47Smc

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) August 30, 2024

Predictions

"Predictions are always difficult, especially about the future."

New beginnings have infinite possibilities. And making predictions about a season needs clear eyes on both MVB and opponents. Nobody has clarity on either now.

During the early 1960s, the Boston Red Sox were terrible, winning sixty plus games a season, finishing at or near the bottom of the American League. They hired manager Dick Williams in 1967, who boldly predicted, "we'll win more than we lose." 

The Red Sox won the American League pennant on the final day of the season and took the mighty St. Louis Cardinals to seven games in the World Series, losing to the otherworldly Bob Gibson in the finale.

Winning is hard; that's what makes people treasure it.

Melrose has a tough schedule this season playing four teams in the Boston Globe preseason top 20: Newton North, Winchester, Burlington (twice) and Duxbury. That omits Westborough (the Globe considers them out of area I guess), Belmont (whom I project to be top 20), and Wakefield (twice), whom I also think will be top 20. That means nine of twenty games are possible top 20 ranked. 

According to Coach Scott Celli, winning big takes three things:

• A good team
• Luck along the way
• Health

MVB hosts a jamboree/play day today which allows the coaching staff to get a great look at players against five separate clubs. Jobs are available to be won. 

Lagniappe.  

You never know. 

Media Musings

Boston Globe players to watch. Melrose has five players who could compete for All-Conference status. Obviously, that won't happen as it's a numbers game. 

Latest Boston Globe poll. Melrose at 6. Three ML12 teams listed in the top 20. Belmont and Wakefield could easily be as well. 

Nobody ever won a title with a preseason poll. 

"Go Give It to Her"

Life imitates art. The best teams deliver relentlessly.  

What's Your Dream?

Dream big. Work bigger.

Do pep talks work? They do, if your team has more skill, more will, and more toughness than your opponent.

Bring your best self every play, every day. That doesn't mean perfection. When you chase perfection, you get excellence.

Work for daily gains which offer exponential progress. Years ago a candidate's platform was "elegant but diffuse." A key aide simplified it to, "it the economy, stupid."

If you're an attacker, "it's the attack." It won't be perfect because that's impossible. Growth IS possible. Commit to excellence. 

How Do You Need to Play?

This story is old. A former MVB player told me that she walked into the gym tall, head up, chest out. "Everyone in the gym needs to know the best player in the gym just walked in." It doesn't matter if it's true; it's true that it matters.

Be this guy.  

via GIPHY

By Memory or By Heart?

The Zanders finish The Art of Possibility discussing the difference between an orchestra playing 'by memory' or 'by heart'.

Players need to 'play freely', avoiding robotic tendencies. Something similar happens when playing with fear of mistakes versus intent of making plays. 

Confidence crafts plays while doubt drafts mistakes. 

Often, you need a short memory to prevent errors from snowballing. 

You can only be as good as you believe you are. If a player lacks self-belief, it's hard for them to excel. That explains why practice is vital, because it allows players to "stack good days" to boost confidence. Execution lifts belief and belief lifts execution.

Scrimmage 2: Sunrise on a New Season?

Rumor has it that seniors were up early on the knoll to witness the sunrise. Melrose proved an inhospitable host to visiting Marblehead as more lineup clarity emerges.

In the sets I watched, Melrose controlled the Magicians 25-16, 25-17, and 25-18. 

Volleyball runs off core skills:

1. Serve
2. Receive/pass
3. Attack
4. Block
5. Dig
6. Set

Melrose has shown more consistency and strategic placement in service this preseason. Their big three in serve - Leah, Gigi, Maggie - has raised their game. 

Gigi Albuja and Maggie Turner have been the "Gold Dust Twins" in the back, possibly the best back row duo since the 2012 season. Coach Scott Celli can feature either at libero with no dropoff. The third defender spot still looks as though it's highly competitive among several names with Alex Homan showing well early. Both Alex and soph Anna Burns are both capable defenders and consistent servers, adding value. Newcomer Adele Akland looks to pick up experience in her first varsity season. 

As of now the attack is "by committee." In the early 2000's the lion's share of kills came from the middle. The game evolved to favor attacks by pin hitters and it's likely a blend emerges in 2024. 

A number of returners compete at the pins - Caroline Higonenq, Emme Boyer, Abby Dennison, Ava Perrotti, and Milana Noessel. Newcomer Maggie Shoemaker has size and athleticism and reminds me of her sister who became a key part of a sectional championship team. 

It's the "Old Kids on the Block" with returners Sofia Papatsoris and Sabine Wenzel looking solid and at times dominant in the middle. 

Setter Leah Fowke is one of the best in the Commonwealth with size, athleticism, and skill. She has the size to hit and the chance to earn a handful of kills per match attacking the second ball. 

Following Saturday's PlayDay, Coach Celli will set the season-opening lineup. 

Lagniappe. In basketball, we have "emergency shots." Here are a couple of VB emergency moves. 

Becoming More Effective as a Captain

You want to lead, communicate, and collaborate but not seem 'bossy'. That's hard for some.

Learn to use AI to become more creative and collaborative. Look at AI as tool to make us more productive and effective. 

I asked ChatGPT for five ideas on how to become more effective as a captain giving it certain parameters. The more specific we are, the more AI can share. 

Absolutely, here are five ideas to help your team captains lead effectively while avoiding a “bossy” demeanor:

1. Lead by Example

Encourage captains to model the behavior and work ethic they expect from their team. When captains demonstrate dedication, respect, and integrity, it naturally inspires others to follow suit without the need for overt directives. This approach fosters a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.

2. Foster Open Dialogue

Train captains to prioritize open communication by actively listening to their team members' ideas, concerns, and feedback. This can be achieved through regular one-on-one check-ins or team meetings. By valuing and incorporating team input, captains can lead more collaboratively and avoid coming across as authoritative.

3. Empower and Delegate

Encourage captains to delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively, allowing team members to take ownership of their roles. This not only distributes the workload but also empowers team members, giving them a sense of purpose and ownership, and positioning the captain as a supportive guide rather than a commanding figure.

4. Use Positive Reinforcement

Teach captains to focus on recognizing and celebrating team achievements and individual contributions. Positive reinforcement helps to build morale and encourages a supportive atmosphere. When captains acknowledge efforts and successes, they reinforce a culture of appreciation and motivation rather than authority.

5. Adopt a Coaching Mindset

Encourage captains to view their role as that of a coach rather than a boss. This involves guiding and mentoring team members rather than dictating orders. Captains can use questions to facilitate problem-solving and growth, and provide constructive feedback in a way that supports development and collaboration.

By incorporating these strategies, captains can lead with empathy, respect, and inspiration, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment. 

PlayDay Schedule and "Less Is More"

Distinguish between times when "more is more" and "less is more." Part of maturation is knowing the difference. 

Diet. "You are what you eat." Athletes need an adequate amount of protein, hydration, and calories but avoid being "junk food junkies." 

Chemical health. Aside from the "rules" and legality of intoxicants, alcohol impairs memory, learning, and recovery from competition. Here are some details, "But why should student-athletes particularly care? A single night’s alcohol use impairs hydration (alcohol is a diuretic), muscle recovery, healing, and can cause memory deficits for three days. Alcohol damages sleep. It limits absorption of key vitamins. It decreases endurance.

Teen girls are at even higher risk.  Sports require both coordination and complex spatial processing. Studies showed decreased brain activity in relevant areas (by neuroimaging with functional MRI)."

Social media. Social media opens a world of possibilities from the Internet. It also corrupts via bullying and other more subtle effects. One author advised no cellphone use on game day, believing it reduced player 'vision' during the games. 

Add your own ideas about moderation. 

Lagniappe. PlayDay schedule

 

Second Scrimmage Today

Melrose hosts a second scrimmage today at 5:00. 

Coaches use a "body of work" to make decisions - player size, athleticism, skill, VB IQ, and performance. Scrimmages help confirm or refute impressions as players in the "competitive cauldron" go full Missouri - the "Show Me" state. 

Melrose has abundant strength up the middle - Sabine, Sofia - and either Gigi or Maggie at libero. They're interchangeable. Leah is an elite setter, so the only question there is identifying a backup. 

There's healthy competition at 'the pins' among a host of competitors. Ideally the scrimmages reveal attackers creating more points via higher attack efficiency.* And today and Saturday's "PlayDay" help sort that. 

*Attack efficiency: (Kills - Errors)/Attacks

Speculating who leads as the third primary defender adds nothing. We'll know in six days. 

Most advances in the world and sport derive from statistical metrics. If something is true, show me. 

Lagniappe. Using blockers - 

Broad Shoulders

Top players graduate. Younger players step up to assume their roles and responsibilities. This happens because the players mature physically and emotionally, building skills offseason.

2021 graduated Elena Soukos...followed up by Gia Vlajkovic...and succeeded by Sadie Jaggers. MVB 2024 has its own leaders with broad shoulders. 

It's good to have variety and versatility among attackers, think "thunder and lightning." Melrose has a pair of potentially elite middles in Sabine Wenzel and Sofia Papatsoris. The outside hitter spots are competitive among a host of returners. 

Review attack mechanics: you don't need a gym to practice footwork - 

Hit harder: 

Three Reasons Why You Can

Post by @simonsinek

View on Threads 

Someone tells you why you can't win a championship or make the honor roll or carve out a contributing role. Have three answers why you will.

Team Success:

• MVB has talent - skill and will.
• MVB has exceptional coaching that makes adjustments. 
• MVB improves over the season, every season. 

Honor Roll: 

• I have a growth mindset; improvement is a given. 
• Grind; I do the work. 
• "I can learn." 

 Contributing: 

• Identity statement. I am a role player who matters.
• Performance statement. I will outwork everyone and contribute during practice by making teammates better and during games by excelling in my role, however large or small.
• I control what I can control - attitude, choices, and effort. I choose to believe and belief is powerful. 

Fast Five - Biggest Challenges in Modern Coaching

Some questions have imperfect and disputable answers. What big challenges confront coaches? 

Meet unreasonable expectations. Many expect coaches to win, teach their sport, develop character, and make players, families, and fans happy. Winning depends on many factors - talent, experience, schedule, coaching, luck. 

Part of winning depends on roster and game management...shorter rosters and uneven minutes and roles boost winning AND dissatisfaction. Some players and their families care about team but less than their situation. Understandable. For coaches, that means "dancing between the raindrops" of minutes and management.

Do more with less. Economics is the allocation of scarce resources. The amount and use of practice time challenges everyone. If we have twelve players and three hours a week and an opponent keeps eight players for eight hours of weekly practice, leveling the playing field is impossible. The most uneven situations involve talent and coaching.  

Player development. For young players, player development takes priority. Our record matters less than success of players at the next level. Unlike Bill Russell's, ego doesn't depend on the success of our team. 

Sport-specific athletes invest time in offseason practice that carries over to the season. 

Character not Characters. Coaches can model excellence and set examples of communication, effort, and sportsmanship. When players know how much coaches care, they are more likely to listen, buy in, and work hard. Getting buy-in with so many distractions in players' world gets harder. 

The Disease of Me. The dreaded S's - selfishness, sloth, and softness - undermine team play. ChatGPT summarizes:

Riley, a renowned basketball coach known for his success with the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and other teams, coined this term to describe a situation where individual players become more focused on their own personal interests and achievements rather than on the success and goals of the team as a whole.

Here’s a breakdown of what the "Disease of Me" entails:

1. Ego Over Team Goals: Players or team members prioritize their personal accolades, stats, and recognition over the collective success of the team. This self-centered approach can undermine team cohesion and performance.

2. Conflict and Division: When players are more concerned with their individual roles and standings, it can lead to conflicts, jealousy, and a lack of unity within the team. This division can disrupt teamwork and collaboration.

3. Lack of Selflessness: The disease of me manifests as a lack of willingness to make sacrifices for the team, such as passing the ball, playing a less glamorous role, or accepting a reduced role for the greater good.

4. Impact on Performance: The focus on personal achievement can lead to poor team dynamics and reduced overall performance. When players are not aligned with team goals, it can result in less effective play and missed opportunities for success.

5. Leadership and Coaching Challenge: Addressing the disease of me requires strong leadership and effective coaching. Leaders need to foster a team-first mentality, manage egos, and ensure that everyone understands and embraces their role within the team.

Navigating all the challenges every season is impossible because everyone's goals are never fully aligned. 

Job Fair - Melrose with Solid Initial Outing

"Every day is showtime." 

Melrose kicked off the preseason scrimmage season against the three-time defending State Champion Ipswich Tigers.

Expecting midseason form during the first scrimmage is fool's gold but overall the quality of play didn't disappoint. 

Both teams substituted liberally, yet matched up 1s and 2s to a degree.

Melrose used a variety of liberos during the match, Maggie Turner, Gigi Albuja and Adele Akland. 

 

Melrose lines up in serve receive - clockwise from bottom left - Maggie Turner, Gigi Albuja, Alex Homan, Caroline Higonenq, Sabine Wenzel, and Leah Fowke. 

It's open competition and too soon to declare positions settled re: outside hitters, third defender, designated server, or opposite. 

Mostly 1s vs 1s, Melrose won 25-22, 24-26, 25-21. Mostly 2s vs 2s, Melrose took a set 25-14. 

Overall the defense was ahead of offense. The combination of back row defense, setting, and blocking was strong in the first set, with the exception of some net violations. The few "out of system" plays run through back row defenders (e.g. Maggie and Gigi) gave the offense manageable offensive opportunities. 

With substitutions, the second set was sloppier with some inconsistent passing. 

Melrose showed some potentially formidable blocking pairs, notably 6'1" Emme Boyer with 6'5" Sabine Wenzel and Sofia Papatsoris and Leah Fowke. 

Offensively, Melrose will clear up some 'over the net' attack calls and raise attack efficiency. A lot relates to early season timing issues. 

Melrose resumes practice tomorrow and has another 5 PM scrimmage at home on Thursday. 

Melrose Notes: Former MVBer Ava Burns was in the crowd watching sister Anna, a sophomore defender in the mix for back row defense. 

The Sports Parenting Roller Coaster - It's Hard. Here's Why.

All opinions expressed in the blog are mine, including the big picture ideas and the fine details. 

Being a sports parent is hard, as is coaching. Whenever there's an imbalance between expectations and results, combined with lack of control, a volatile mix exists.

Every parent wants our children to do well. It's thrilling when it happens, disappointing when it doesn't, and frustrating when our kids don't play at all or as much as we'd like. 

Historically, boys' sports tended to have more orderly progression, partly because of slower physical and emotional maturity. Not so many freshman boys were prepared to play varsity or even JV ball. Patience was expected and required. 

Girls' sports differ for several reasons. Girls mature physically far sooner, so many freshman have reached most of their adult height. Because of the proliferation of youth sports, players start young. One group we coached played 80 (you read that right) games as eighth graders. The "paying your dues" happened, sight unseen by parents of older girls.

That sets up major conflict. Physically mature, experienced youth can be seen as "carpetbaggers" displacing older players with expectations of 'their turn'. Sometimes the young players objectively have more size, athleticism, and skill than their 'seniors'. 

Coaches get caught in the middle between the desire and need to win versus the angst and sometime wrath of parents whose ambitions for their children go unfulfilled.  

Over fifty years ago in a neighboring town, one parent-politician tried to have the coach removed after his son was cut during tryouts. Few are around to remember the fury surrounding the case. 

I strongly recommend the late Carl Pierson's book, The Politics of Coaching for all coaches and sports parents. Carl put the many complex political conflicts into perspective. 

We've been fortunate to meet so many Melrose parents over the past thirty years of youth sports in many different capacities. We want every person and team to succeed. We've seen joy and sadness, triumphs and defeats and hope everyone can cheer together riding the roller coaster. 

Study and Writing Secrets

"There is no ability without eligibility."

School starts tomorrow, a blend of anticipation and frustration at the end of summer. Be excited for learning, the foundation for your future success.

Learn better.

1) Pomodoro technique - 25 minutes on, 5 minute break

2) Spaced repetition - don't cram, study over time

3) Self-testing - what did I learn from this? What was the author's point?

4) Analogy - what does this resemble? Short-term projects are sprints, long-term ones are marathons. 

5) Persistence - training bodies and brains takes time and grind. 

Write better. 

1) Know you audience.

2) Outline 

3) Message - tell them what you intend to say, say it, and summarize it. 

4) Benefit from storytelling - SUCCESS - simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, stories ("Made to Stick"...it's worth your effort)

5) Understand the structure - plot, characters, dialogue 

Study writers. 

Whom do you like to read? Why? 

Hemingway informs a great example of clarity, simplicity, and beauty as in The Old Man and the Sea. “But, he thought, I keep them with precision. Only I have no luck anymore. But who knows? Maybe today. Every day is a new day. It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when luck comes you are ready.” 

Copy a writer's style. "She ran the hill, again and again, gaining speed, strength and will. Would anyone notice? That did not matter. She knew, and knew that those who decided her future would know."

Get a how-to book.

I recommend 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing by Gary Provost

The Five Big Ideas

1. A writer’s most important vocabulary is the one he or she already has. 
2. A lead should have energy, excitement, an implicit promise that something is going to happen or that some interesting information will be revealed.
3. When writing a beginning, remove every sentence until you come to one you cannot do without. 
4. Style is form, not content.
5. To write is to create music.

Become your own coach, your personal trainer, your teacher. That will pay you for life.

Lagniappe. Find what works for you. 

Fast Five - Core Concepts

Violating my own rules.

1) Navy SEAL Team Leader Jocko Willink heard from one of his troops, "give me three things to know because that's the most I can remember." Sometimes less is more.

2) Be hard to play against with a high volleyball IQ. Have an executable plan on attacking, on defense, when serving. Exceptional players succeed with their skill and their minds. 

3) Read the defense. Don't 'telegraph' your intent consistently. 

4) Stay basic. A pass well-executed is better than seeking perfect passes leading to overpasses or passes tight against the net. "Great is the enemy of good."

5) Just as on offense you can attack seams and weaker defenders, on defense take away what the opposition wants to do most. 

Simplify. Keep the ball up. Put the ball down. 

Lagniappe. Slow the video down (e.g. 0.25) to see "thumbs up" straight attacks and "thumbs down" cut shots. 

Scrimmage Home Today at 5 P.M.

"Iron sharpens iron." Melrose hosts Ipswich, a three-time defending state champion tonight at 5 PM at the Middle School. Last season the Tigers went 23-0 and were undefeated in the Cape Ann League. 

Ipswich has a roster scattered among all four classes as they produce sustainable competitive advantage. 

They return a pair of hitters with over 200 kills and three of their top four attackers. 

They also return three of their top defenders. 

While nobody should expect either team to be in mid-season form, MVB should expect an ultra-competitive match as both teams look to prepare for the regular season. 

Scrimmages offer chances to learn about strengths, areas for improvement, lineups, and how players respond under game conditions. Nobody should overreact to the small sample size of a single scrimmage. 

When Israeli pilots were studied, after extreme positive results, the subsequent flight tended to be 'mean-reverting'. 

Lagniappe. Multiplayer warmup. 

"Read. Read. Read. Read. Read."

"How you do anything is how you do everything." 

Director Werner Herzog shares simple advice for his students. "Read. Read. Read. Read. Read."

He assigns The Peregrine to them. 

Gary Fowke recently shared an MVB team picture. Like the peregrine on a page, that picture won't be seen again. 

In The Checklist Manifesto, Atul Gawande informs that a building is a living thing. The framing is the skeleton, plumbing is circulation, ventilation is respiration, electrical is the nervous system.

Teams likewise are living beings with infinite complexity among the coach-player, coach-coach, and player-player interactions. You may know the expression, "it takes a village to raise a child." Do you know the corollary, "and one child can destroy a village?" 

Anna Karenina tells the story of an incredibly gifted but horrifically needy woman and her impact on everyone around her. Tolstoy's first sentence is telling, "Every happy family is alike and every unhappy family is unhappy in a different way."

Team sports teaches lessons in collaboration, growth, excellence, negotiation, justice, and more. Make the experience a great one by realizing that every happy family is alike. 

Lagniappe. Take up space in the server's head. 

"Position yourself to handle the most likely serves."

"She Came to Win"

Show up every day. "Every day is showtime" with challenges, rewards, and assessment.

The lineups aren't carved on stone tablets. "Substantial" players anchor key positions:

Middles - Sabine and Sofia

Setter - Leah

Defenders - Maggie and Gigi

"It is what it is." There are 'dogfights' for other key positions - outside hitters, opposite, and designated server/defender. Remember that after serving, the server becomes a critical defender.

What do your coaches want? Every coach looks for performance, but also effort, commitment to improve, desire to play, and especially hunger to be great.

"She came to win."  

Criticism

Criticism is inevitable. It comes from multiple agendas, including love. Friends and family want what's best for their child as the top priority. 

Coaches have a different responsibility - the best interest of the team.

There's an old Bob Knight quote, "If you listen to the fans in the stands, soon you'll be up there sitting with them."

Jerod Mayo posted this in the Patriots' locker room, "Don't worry about criticism from those you would never seek advice from." 

This Brad Stevens quote fits, "what does our team need today?" Coach Scott Celli has never feared making changes for the good of the team. 

• Change in strategy - when a 6-2 strategy failed, he immediately switched to a 5-1 approach (single setter). 
• Change in position - Alyssa DiRaffaele moved from the front row to libero and helped the 2011 team to the State Finals. 
• Substitutions - a near defeat at Reading twenty plus years ago impacted Coach Celli's thoughts on bringing reserves in early. 
• Personnel promotion. Freshmen (Paula Sen, Hannah Brickley, Victoria Crovo, Emily Hudson, Chloe Gentile and others) have often impacted the MVB success. 

Coaches use multiple survival methods. 

1. The best has always been winning; even that's imperfect.
2. Lead by example - mindset, preparation, and performance is best. 
3. Never discuss a player's performance with other parents. 
4. The 24-hour rule matters - wait until the next day to discuss performance. 
5. Many coaches choose to never discuss strategy. Few parents are well-informed re: strategy. 

Decades ago Coach John Wooden wrote a letter to his players. He said that although they would not always agree with his decisions, they would always reflect his beliefs in what was best for the team. 

A lot of knowledge, experience, and reflection goes into successful coaching. It's hard. Coach Celli has been among the best, evidenced by his inclusion in the MAVCA Hall of Fame. 

Lagniappe. Grit... 

"Touch the Sky"

Volleyball actions often reward your ability to "touch the sky." Primary scoring efforts - attacking, blocking, and jump serves - all benefit from athletic explosion. Note that the US Women's National Volleyball Team does not rely on jump serving for scoring. 

Make the experience special. 

1) Know where your offensive points arise and from whom.

2) Know what must be contained (OH forces) and controlled (serve receive)

3) Know what's working well and less well. Do more of the former and less of the latter. 

Lagniappe. Block tips 

MVB 24

Hat tip: Gary Fowke

Volleyball IQ

"Play smart." Part of playing smart includes being able to execute a variety of skills.

In the 2005 clip recently shared, note how all the front row players could set each other, including cross court. That team which lost in the state finals, is the only one with three players with 200 kills. Part of that occurred because of skill versatility. 

This is the 'lead video' in the Volleyball IQ YouTube series 

Remember the four legs of the stool concept:

1) Skill

2) Strategy

3) Physicality (why many players worked out together)

4) Psychology (mental toughness and resilience). 

"Lighten Up"

Players seldom play their best when tense. Think about funny moments that happened at practice. There must be some.

We once did this two-ball passing drill with a regular ball and a 'medicine ball' that weighed about 25 pounds. Two balls were in play being passed rapidly between a player and 'the line' of five other players. One player got clocked in the head by the medicine ball and knocked down. Coach Lane had not seen it, only the downed player. He said, "Roger, there's no sleeping at practice." We all lost it.

In The Art of Possibility, the author shares a joke to the orchestra which was playing 'tight'. He said, "any mistakes and a 500 pound cow will fall on you." Realizing the absurdity, everyone relaxed and played better. 

If you're lost in the woods, start talking loudly about politics.

Someone will come to argue with you.

— Dad Jokes (@Dadsaysjokes) August 22, 2024

Volleyball jokes and puns are hard to find. Good ones even harder.

What do blockers and waiters have in common?… If they do a good job, there will be a big fat tip coming.

What is a girl standing mid-court named? Annette. 

Why are policemen great at volleyball?… They serve and protect.

Find ways to lighten up. 

Lagniappe. What's the catch/carry rule? 

Advice for Players on Becoming Your Best

Life is a roller coaster not a merry-go-round. Volleyball rewards skill, aggression, consistency, and mental toughness.

Bring your best to the metaphorical battle every day. How?

1) Be positive. "You can't have a positive life with a negative attitude." Setbacks are out teachers. Edison said that he learned 999 ways NOT to make a lightbulb before succeeding.

2) Find a mentor. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to success." Your parents, coaches, and teachers are all mentors.

3) Focus on improving. When you wake, ask "how can I get better today?" That includes at home, school, and on the court. 

4) Be a great teammate. Teamwork is attitude, choice, and effort. 

5) Be coachable. As a 'volleyball scientist' be curious, open, and humble, knowing that there is always more to be learned. 

6) Engage. "How can I help?" Leave yourself better after each practice. Leave the gym better than you found it. Leave a teammate in a better place after each practice and game. 

7) Lead. Lead by example. Be the hardest worker. Communicate. Energize teammates. Never be a distraction. Everyone can lead. 

8) Represent. Know it or not, you are MVB. Represent at school, in the community, and on social media. Reputation is what others think you are and character is who you are. 

9) Mentor. Just as players like Elena, Gia, and Sadie taught you, you have a responsibility to share with your teammates. 

10) Persist. Everyone has off days. Everyone. Push through. Keep going. 

Lagniappe. Absorbing power hits. 

Success

John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won 9 titles in 10 seasons and 10 in 12, although it wasn't until his sixteenth season that he won his first. He's in the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (Purdue) and coach.

He didn't preach winning. He preached doing your best, which he considered success. 

What do coaches tell our players before a game? One season I shared this line with middle school girls before each game. 

Bring your best effort every day as a worthy competitor. Everyone wants to win every day. Coach Wooden preached success over winning and won a lot, 88 consecutive games, ten championships. Bring the fight. 

Let the Games Begin

The "preseason" schedule comes upon us rapidly with scrimmages Tuesday and Thursday and the PlayDay Saturday. Put your game faces on. 

Mass High School volleyball shared its preseason rankings on Insta. 

Polls don't win games any more than blog posts do. TEAM FIRST commitment to excellence succeeds. "Every disadvantage has its advantage."  

The Boston Globe shared its preseason paragraphs. Don't feel left out because it's slim pickings. 

Localheadlinenews previews Wakefield. 

Don't Worry About Everyone Else

Champions don't focus on competing with an opponent or each other.
Champions compete to be better today than they were yesterday.

"Everybody is in competition.
Nobody is entitled to a position.
Everybody has to go out and compete every day.
The more guys we get to do that-the… pic.twitter.com/Kr9zkx70iR

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) August 16, 2024

Focus on your responsibilities. Be prepared, energized, and detailed.  

The Leadership Ideas of Nick Saban

Outline your plan for success.

Nick Saban, former Alabama football coach, preached work above all else. But he had goals and a plan.

His strategy was MINDSET, PREPARATION, and PERFORMANCE. Here are quotes from The Management Ideas of Nick Saban. 

I absolutely don't square with everything Saban did. He is charming and sometimes horrible. He is generous and selfish. But he's never boring.

Mindset 

Saban is a worker. He believes that hard work, consistency, and talent will beat most opponents. He was also the best recruiter in America. 

 

The ill-prepared usually lose out. MVB has a culture of teamwork, off-season work, and learning. Invest your time don't spend it. 

Preparation. 

Your process reflects your attitude, choices, and effort. It also reflects your behavior. "Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior." Some people have a great eye for talent, character, and potential. Coach Celli is one of them. 

In The Undoing Project, Michael Lewis drills down on the theories and discoveries of behavioral economists Danny Kahneman and Amos Tversky. Part is prospect theory, which partly analyzes loss. People hate losing twice as much as we like winning. That explains some bad decisions like selling winners (taking profits) and holding losers (avoiding losses). 

A losing strategy or ineffective player that coaches keep running out there, generate more losses. 

Performance

Performance means doing what you're trained to do, the way you're trained, when it will produce results. It's doing it RIGHT, RIGHT NOW. 

Model excellence. Strive to be your best daily. Strive to make those around you better because they help the collective excellence. 

MVB 2005 wasn't ready to win a title. A state title loss in 2011 prepared the 2012 team to 'get over the hump' with both mindset and a critical mass of talent. 

Nobody knows what MVB 2024 is yet. There are a lot of excellent pieces, experience, and a blend of veterans (nine seniors) and youth. How those all fit together will define potential and performance. 

Lagniappe. Be accountable. 

“You have got to be accountable.
You can have all the talent in the world, but if you’re not gonna listen and be accountable to do your job properly, you ain’t gonna play.” @juliojones_11

Your physical ability means very little without your accountability. pic.twitter.com/rO58pgVYfB

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) August 21, 2024