"Who Is Your Champion?"

For most young people, their parents are their champion. If your parents won't stand up for you, who will? One problem that arises is that parents act as or get labeled as, "helicopter parents" or "snowplow parents." 

At times, regardless of good intention, 'our champion' won't have enough "juice" to overcome a barrier or navigate tough situations. That's when "networking" or "connection" comes in.

In "The Courage to Be Disliked," the authors discuss the importance of community. They encourage horizontal rather than hierarchical (vertical) relationships. Vertical relationships emphasize authority and can deprioritize responsibility (it wasn't my decision). Horizontal relationships can encourage respect, encouragement, and teamwork. 

Coaches by nature have authority, yet seek balance. The best teams have "player-led" leadership where everyone has accountability to the well-being of the team. 

There is parallel alignment. Your coaches, you, and your families want you to succeed. The old saying goes, "You can only put six on the court at a time." "Always do your best" and stay ready for your opportunity. 

Who is your champion? It starts with you. 

Lagniappe. Float options. 

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"Food for Thought"

Food for thought: if you could only include 3-5 drills in your practices for the rest of the entire season, what drills would you choose?

Do them more often.

— Hoops Companion 🏀 Resources for Coaches (@Hoops_Companion) August 1, 2026

Coaching excellence develops and prepares players and puts them in the best position to succeed. 

"Do more of what works and less of what doesn't."

I couldn't name the five most vital volleyball drills. In basketball, great drills have offense, defense, decision-making, and competition. 

Rely on Coach Scott Celli and staff to put you in position to succeed. It's not the roster with the most talent, but the roster that is the best team that ultimately succeeds.  

The Perils of Alcohol and the Student-Athlete*

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. Adapted from my basketball blog. 

Image adapted by ChatGPT Plus from an older blog post

What keeps coaches awake at night? Coaches don't control what happens when players leave the gym. Chemical health is an oxymoron like "jumbo shrimp." 

My mother "offered" me alcohol when I was thirteen. I didn't know much then, but I could already see how it was affecting her. I declined. 

First, there is no "stay in your lane." As a physician who practiced for 44 years, I've seen the acute, chronic, and mixed effects of alcohol. I've seen dual diagnosis patients (mental health plus alcoholism) and patients commit suicide related to alcohol. I've seen alcohol-related cancers. I trained with a Navy doctor who had to have his ship's Captain "relieved for cause" because the CO came back to the ship intoxicated on multiple occasions. 

Every story was tragic and preventable. 

• Patients who showed up in acute liver failure and died in days
• Alcohol withdrawal - "DTs" - "shakes, horrors, and fits"
• Patients who had organ-specific toxicity (heart failure, pancreatitis, cirrhosis, dementia - "wet brain"). None of them started to drink thinking they'd end up with the "glass holding them" instead of the other way around.
• Secondary effects like "aspiration pneumonia"
• Patients with DUIs or vehicular homicides

I've heard again and again, "there's nothing else to do here."

I've seen a teammate show up intoxicated for a game - and play poorly. The coach said, "What's the matter with you today?" 

The simple answer is "alcohol impairs every thing about you." It degrades memory, concentration, strength, endurance, recovery, and sleep. 

Here's a list of prominent NBA players (AI can make mistakes) whose alcohol issues impacted their careers. 

In addition to alcohol health impairment, alcohol use or being at gatherings with alcohol could result in a four game suspension - twenty percent of your season. There's no DATU (doesn't apply to us) do-over. 

If being your best is your brand, alcohol is one way to destroy it.

Lagniappe. School ball is not 'club ball'. 

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Make Excellence Your Brand

Be that person today! pic.twitter.com/AUy7L5AAnP

— Jon Gordon (@JonGordon11) August 1, 2026

Model excellence at home, in school, and in your extracurricular activities.

At home:

How can I help?

In school:

How can I bring the best version of myself?

In volleyball:

How can I serve my teammates?

How can I make everyone around me better?

How can I "give the game what it needs?"

 

Make excellence your brand. 

Lagniappe. Hard balls, one-armed, and the "Magic Circle"