The Frog Problem*

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

In volleyball, the truth shows up faster. There’s no hiding and every possession is a point. Every touch matters.

Which translates: You don’t need a long evaluation period to see who helps you win.

The Illusion of Skill

In warm-ups, a lot of players look like “players.”

• clean arm swing

• good size

• smooth passing in partner drills

They pass the eye test. But volleyball is not a warm-up sport. It’s a decision and discipline sport under pressure.

The Real Game: Error Management

In basketball, I preach, “Turnovers kill dreams.”

In volleyball: Unforced errors kill sets.

The missed serve. The overpass. The late block read. Ball watching. They are patterns.

The Frog Problem

Every roster has them. Players who hit hard… but out of bounds. Who pass… but not when it matters. Who can block… but are late to the spot.

And volleyball rewards stability and consistency.

The First Filter: Can You Be Neutral?

Before a player can be great, she must be non-destructive. Can she serve in consistently, keep the ball in play under pressure, make the early and correct read?

Because in volleyball: A neutral touch is often a winning touch.

The Second Filter: Can You Be Repeated?

One good swing isn't enough. One great pass isn't. The question is: can you do it again, and again, and again? Consistency is not a trait. It’s a habit.

The Princess in Volleyball

The best players don’t always look like the best players.

They look like: the passer who delivers a good or better every time, the middle who closes the block on time, every time, and the setter who gives hitters predictable tempo.

They simplify the game and add value.

Blocking: The Ultimate Truth Teller

Blocking exposes everything: focus, discipline, reading the game.

A great athlete who doesn’t read hitters is a frog. A slightly less athletic player who sees the set early, closes hands over the net, and takes away the angle, she's the princess. 

Because: blocking is less about jumping than about timing and decision-making.

Creeping Commitment 

Trust is earned in layers. First time, can you execute your assignment? Next can you do it under pressure? Late set, can you do it when it matters?

Lineups should evolve the same way.

The Hidden Advantage

Teams that win consistently don’t just have talent.

They have fewer unforced errors, more predictable execution, players who make the right play.

Over time, that differentiates. Relentlessly.

Final Thought

You don’t need six stars. You need six you can trust. Because in volleyball: the team that makes the fewest mistakes, and repeats the right habits, wins.

Most players are frogs. That’s not an indictment. Evaluate honestly and reward consistency. Discover the ones who steady the game. And those are the ones who win it. The princesses leave a mark. 

Lagniappe. Hitting your target.