The Reality for Success

KIRK HERBSTREIT ON PARENTING

"I'm cool with my kids failing... It's part of the process. Every day there is adversity... They have to learn how to deal with junk... It's okay to make a mistake. Get back up and let's keep going forward."

~ @KirkHerbstreit @thewinningdiff1 pic.twitter.com/yngEUI2Ri6

— Jamy Bechler (@jamybechler) September 1, 2026

Return to the "four pillars" of development:

Technique (skill)

Tactics (strategy, volleyball IQ)

Physicality (athleticism)

Psychology (mental game, resilience)

Setbacks and disappointments are part of the game. The Japanese proverb "Fall down seven times, get up eight" is a cultural maxim emphasizing resilience, perseverance, and the refusal to surrender.

The ability to persist is a superpower. Another cultural message is "chop wood, carry water." Stick to the fundamentals. 

Study leaders, coaches, and exceptional players and you always find both skill and will.

The great John Wooden won his first championship at UCLA in his 16th season. Dean Smith, who coached Michael Jordan at UNC, won his first title in his 21st season. Students burned him in effigy in his first year.

Lagniappe. Coaches have a mental "depth" chart of players and roles. If you're dissatisfied with your status, keep working. Persist. 

Here's an approximation of positional distribution (alphabetical)

Today is a big day with the PlayDay at Winchester. There is no availability for spectators, so it's "Black Box Thinking" for MVB fans.