Sunday, May 31, 2026

History Is not a Plan

The Patriots hung color photographs from each current season and removed them afterwards. Super Bowl or slump, they exiled the past to history.

"Leave the jersey in a better place," wrote James Kerr in "Legacy." Smashes and shanks, excellence and errors, all disappear into history's dustbin.

Which is where players come in. To leave a mark, make a series of marks. 

Consistency, aggression, and tactics leave marks. In baseball, analysts track whiffs (swing and misses) by pitch type and batter characteristics. Imagine the following for a volleyball attacker:

  • 100 swings
  • 60 smashes, 25 kills, 15 errors
  • 15 tips, 6 kills, 2 errors
  • 10 cut shots 5 kills, 2 errors
  • 10 roll shots, 1 kill, 1 errors
  • 5 power tips, 2 kills 
Summary:
  • (39 kills - 20 errors)/ 100 attacks = 19% 
"In volleyball statistics, any aggressive contact made with the ball toward the opponent’s court designed to score a point counts as an attack attempt." For example, last season Wakefield aggressively attacked with designed roll shots. They may repeat successful strategy. 

"Raw data" doesn't judge whether an individual attack was the best choice. Study video to improve tactical acumen on both sides of the ball.  


Study and break down the clip (repeatedly) by clicking through to YouTube and reading the play. Does she have usual attack footwork (no), backswing (yes), and "archer position" (no). The tip is telegraphed. It still 'plays'. The zone 4 defender shows up late to the party defensively and her errant pass can't be played. 

In your offseason preparation, include video study to read plays sooner leading to earlier adjustment. "History doesn't repeat but it rhymes."

Lagniappe. Approach and arm action. Form begets function. 

Lagniappe 2. Write better. 
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