Not every piece written or season coached will resonate. That’s what good teachers hope for — connection. Connection changes and molds people, to help them become better versions of themselves.
Coaching Is Teaching
Teaching is hard; coaching is hard. The difference? Everyone wants to be in the coach’s class.
Both are acts of service — guiding others toward awareness and growth. Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell said the coach’s biggest responsibility is to help players see the game. It’s not just about running a drill, but understanding why it matters.
The Curriculum of Coaching
At Melrose Volleyball, the lessons extend beyond serves and sets. Coaches teach on multiple levels:
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The Micro: Footwork, platform skills, serve consistency — the daily habits that separate the good from the great.
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The Macro: Systems of play — defensive positioning, offensive spacing, coverage. Everyone has a role; everyone matters.
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The Intangibles: Toughness, competing, resilience — learning how to win, and how to handle disappointing defeat.
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Teamwork: The Popovich Principle — Get over yourself. No one succeeds alone.
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Emotional Intelligence: Staying in the moment, managing nerves, finding joy in the fight.
Nothing about coaching — or teaching — is easy. It’s supposed to be hard. That’s what makes it meaningful.
The Philosophies That Shape Us
Each great coach leaves a fingerprint:
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Pete Newell: Awareness — See the game.
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Pete Carroll: Joyful competition — Always compete.
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Mike Krzyzewski: Leadership as purpose — What an interesting life it is to be a leader.
Those lessons echo in your gym. They shape how coaches talk to players, build practices, and form team culture. We coach not just to teach sport, but to teach people — to help young women discover who they are and who they might become.
The Best Practice
At Melrose, The Standard is real. Be accountable. Be a great teammate. Get better.
Great coaching doesn’t end when practice does. It extends into life — into how we respond to challenges, celebrate others, and rise together.
The best coaches don’t just build teams. They build people who see, compete, and lead — on the court and far beyond it.
Celebrate Senior Night, remembering that, like Commencement, Senior Night is a beginning not the end.
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