Distill the game to its essence.
Master the core concepts of volleyball.
1) Put the ball down on offense.
2) Keep the ball up on defense.
On offense
Bobby Hurley on shot selection 🗣 🗣
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 7, 2024
“This is basketball, not figure skating. You don’t get extra points for the degree of difficulty” pic.twitter.com/0mMH3laGrr
"Putting the ball down" comes in three flavors:
1) Attacks
2) Blocks
3) Service
Some players have the power or size to hit through or over double and triple blocks. Others (like Sarah McGowan) had both power and finesse to have a portfolio of shots - e.g. tips and cut shots to hit around blocks.
If you're a reserve or JV player with a dream, figure out how to put the ball down or keep the ball up.
Be effective and efficient.
“Basketball is a simple game…The best coaches are the simple coaches! The guys who screw it up the most are the ones trying to be the smartest guy in the room. Don’t try to be the smartest guy in the room, be the toughest guy in the room, the hardest working.”
— JIM BOONE 🏀 (@CoachJimBoone) October 9, 2024
~ Kelvin Sampson pic.twitter.com/T7mCWwgCVo
Simplicity means to be "good at what you do a lot." It also means to "do more of what's working and less of what's not." The game tells you what's working and you have to listen to it.
Listen to your coaches and "Beginner's Mind."
To quote zen master Shunryo Suzuki, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”
What does that mean? To compete against the top teams with high scoring attackers (generally outside hitters), you need to be on top of your blocking game. Not just offense propelled State Finalists to their destiny. 2012 had Rachel Johnson and Kayla Wyland. 2005 had Paula Sen and Jen Cohane. The top blocking pair for 2024 (in my opinion) is Sabine Wenzel and Leah Fowke. Each blocking pair (strong and opposite side) has to challenge itself to excel. If your blocks are getting tooled, why? Are you reading the play and getting there or are you 'ball watching'? Is your outside hand at the pins angled in to direct the ball back into the court?
Challenge yourself to be great. Don't obsess about slaying the White Whale; become the White Whale.
Summary:
- Master Core Concepts
- Be Effective and Efficient
- Learn "Beginner's Mind"
Lagniappe. Version 3, best imitation Jiffy cornbread recipe (best to date)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Dry ingredients: combine
- 1 1/4 cups flour
- 3/4 cups yellow corn meal
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 teasp salt
- 2 tablesp baking powder
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup oil
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