PROActive - Additional Inputs for Scholar-Athlete Excellence

What more can I do? 

Lieutenant General Hal Moore's Principle #2: 

There’s always one more thing you can do to influence any situation in your favor. And after that, there’s one more thing. And after that, there’s one more thing. And after that, one more thing. The more ‘One More Things’ you do, the better your chances are for achieving success in any situation. A leader must create time to detach himself mentally and ask:

 “What am I doing that I should not be doing? And what am I not doing that I should be doing to influence the situation in my favor?”  

Extend that to volleyball. Combine Dr. Fergus Connolly's "Game Changers" with principles:

1. Skill development

• Practice serving with intent. Hit your desired shot to your desired spot. Be purposeful at practice. 
• Read the game. When you're scrimmaging daily, read the server, read the setter, read the attacker. Make it a habit. 

2. Strategy. Study the game.

• Study excellent players. 
• Study integrated play. 

This 2011 road match was a "Chekhov's Gun" illustration of what was possible. Melrose went to the Finals that season and dismantling a strong team on the road foreshadowed more.

 

If you do nothing else, study Alyssa DiRaffaele's serve, how Melrose served to spots, and how attackers used angles. Watch Alyssa's serve at 0.25 speed (wrench tool at the bottom). 

3. Physicality

• Melrose had athleticism but not elite size. Sport rewards athleticism. 
• Take advantage of "recovery principles" to take care of yourself. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, post game muscle rehab (e.g. thermal contrast). #OneMoreThing

4. Psychology

• Maximize attention with mindfulness, which has other benefits, too.
• Develop your personal "highlight reel" - a half dozen memorable plays that reinforce positivity and capability. You could think about it as a mental video 'scrapbook'. The highlight reel can be "imagined" (in your head) or you can compile it using YouTube video and programs like YouTubeTrimmer.

Lagniappe. Senior Night 2010...many of the key players were sophomores that season. Note that they used precision far more than power to score. 

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