Every sport informs its peculiar lessons. As Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” Some things stay the same. Here are ten claims:
1. Win more points. You won’t beat top teams by waiting for their mistakes.
2. The best teams have “closers,” players that win points with the game on the line. A last season MVB review showed that about 30 percent of sets were decided by 2-3 points. Closers finish the job.
3. As a momentum game, volleyball demands that you stop runs. Find ways to maintain momentum on offense and defuse it on defense. Continual mistakes lead to "death by a thousand cuts."
4. Positive points accrue via serve, attacks, and block kills. That doesn’t negate defense; excellent defense limits opponent aces, attacks, and blocks.
5. Volleyball is a thinking person’s game. A lot happens in little time. Experience grows instinct.
6. You can become “solid” without being an exceptional athlete but you won’t become elite. Reward yourself more athleticism. Have a plan, follow it, and track it.
7. Because many teams have improved with the growth of the sport, winning takes more. All four legs of the stool need stability- skill, strategy, physicality, and resilience.
8. Infrastructure - starting young with the extraordinary commitment of families makes a world of difference. Chase perfection and catch excellence.
9. Top teams have no weak links. You can’t hide a core weakness - attacking, blocking, or serve receive. If you can’t control your side defensively, opponents capitalize on that weakness. Remember, a Sun Tzu message from The Art of War, "Utilize strengths; attack weaknesses."
10. To advance deep in the postseason in basketball or volleyball you need three “hitters,” the players who "put the ball down." Offensive balance guarantees nothing but it doesn’t hurt. There’s still only one MVB team with three attackers with 200 or more kills in the same season - the 2005 State Finals team.
This is the best example - the 2012 team had no weaknesses and three dynamic scorers - Sarah McGowan, Jen Cain, and Rachel Johnson.
Lagniappe. Develop your finish.
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