Passing Highlights from the Web

The offense gets underway using great passes. In this video, you'll see a series of great passes to either the right front or to the middle, setting up powerful hitters.

 You have to admire the great control. Melrose has the potential for its best defensive team ever this season.

Of course, not every one will agree..

Serve Receive Drill

Putting serves where you want them can be critical. Here's an illustrative drill.

Muscles Have No Memory

You can't rely on muscles for memory. That's like asking a steak to show you how to hit a volleyball.



Nice review of coordination of steps into ready position and armswing.


Video 2...armspeed


Video 3...flexibility


...control (where do you hit the ball?)

"Required Reading" Cross Post

The mental aspect of sports is critical. Talent is overrated. Work is not.

Get in the game.

27 days until the journey continues.

Free Press on the Bay State Games

Melrose Free Press article on Northeast volleyball at Bay State Games.

Going the Distance

Positive self-talk. You should do more talking to yourself than listening.



Players (as a generic subject) who want to be the best have a great ally in sports psychology.

Borrowed Philosophy

As the Olympics approach, we decide where to focus our attention. Historically,  we have 'evolved' from small community athletics with local venues, traditions, and support to 'universal' sports.

Recognizing the popularity of iconic sports (e.g. large market professional teams) doesn't diminish the wonderful and particular tapestry woven by small town sports.

In local high school basketball, the 'tech tourney' with qualifying sectional semifinals and championships played at the Boston Garden, with legendary programs like Lexington, Somerville, and Catholic Memorial carried a different  cachet than today's tournament.

Volleyball flies somewhat under the radar in Massachusetts. Championship games don't yet attract thousands of fans, and the sport doesn't have movies like Hoosiers celebrating hometown heroes like Bobby Plump of Milan, Indiana. But we're waiting, patiently.

It's far better to celebrate what we have, rather than bemoan what we do not. Compare the local volleyball team to the dysfunctional Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have a team of overpriced prima donnas that has plunged toward the collective depth of anonymity. Melrose has a dedicated group of athletes working collaboratively and selflessly. It's easy to understand whom I'd rather watch.

Berra Bonds

"Sometimes you can learn a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra

In the above video, you can see different serve receive styles, and the common reliance on outside power hitting.  These high level college players still miss serves, have some mis-hits, and it's not perfect but still very entertaining.

The countdown continues.

Underutilized

Growth in sports (and life) depends on a multitude of factors, but MENTAL ones are equally or more important than physical. Mental factors encompass your attitudes, emotions, energy level, concentration, and even spiritual (teamwork).

You must control the factors that you can control. Achievement follows proper exercise, diet, sleep, and of course confidence.

Take a few minutes to read the Success Notebook from Coaching Toolbox today.

I like to remind young players that the cornerstones are industriousness (willingness AND eagerness) and enthusiasm, but also flanking competitive greatness at the top are patience and faith (time and trust). It may seem like it takes forever to scale the pyramid, but it's the journey not the destination that matters most.

Dig, set, spike

Slow motion video with a powerized spike at the net.


Some guys wearing out Mr. Tashikawa.


Cal-Stanford highlights

More Defense - Blocking

Great video showing both the offensive attack (from runup into arm swing) and timing and airspace penetration over the net. Superior defense isn't possible without contributions from blockers.


Block city


Technical (brief) presentation on blocking handwork and footwork.

Melrose has had a lot of terrific blockers through the years and we expect that tradition to continue.

So You Want to Be a Libero?

Training methods vary throughout the world.

She's paying it forward.



A high volume of reps is critical.



Sometimes some cross-training helps with both conditioning and hand-eye coordination.



Don't forget your 'core' to help prevent back problems.



Flexibility, strength, power, quickness, and balance matter, too. Greatness comes at a cost. 

Coach Koran Godwin's "Secrets" to Success

Success Secret #1 Dream Big Dreams

Success Secret #2 Develop a Clear Direction

Success Secret #3 Work as if you are working for yourself at all times

Success Secret #4 Do what you Love to do

Success Secret #5 Commit to Excellence

Success Secret #6 Stay on the Extra Mile (Hard Working Mentality)

Success Secret #7 Dedicate Yourself to Lifelong Learning

Success Secret #8 Readers are Leaders. Use books as mentors. Learn from the best.

Success Secret #9 Learn every detail of your Craft

Success Secret #10 Dedicate Yourself to serving others. Luke 6:38

Believing is Achieving

Jason Selk is one of my favorite sports psychology authors. His book "10 Minute Toughness" can benefit any serious athlete. The athletic outcomes we see on the field are anything but random. Great performances come in concert with great goal-setting - specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals.

Selk advocates for using mental imagery and self-talk (affirmations) to help individuals achieve at a high level. "Toughness" gives readers a specific routine to facilitate excellence. Positive self-talk can help athletes banish fear, anxiety, nervousness, tension, anger, selfishness, and yearning.

1. Centering breaths - proper breathing technique create a favorable mental outlook.
2. Identity statement - "who you are". Your statement is highly personal, echoing your internal belief system. For example, "I am an athletic, focused, and prepared player."
3. Personal highlight reel - your mental ESPN greatest moments video, of top performances/individual plays/team moments that you play in your head over several minutes daily. Initially you may want to write them down; later they become embedded in your self-consciousness. You become the player you believe yourself to be. 
4. Performance statement - different from the identity statement, this is the "what I do".  "I attack the ball, finding the open spot with either ferocity or gentleness as required." 
5. Centering breaths - close out your mental workout with the cool down and lock in your positivity. 

Manifest Destiny

The Art of Coaching Volleyball recommends a book, Checklist Manifesto. Successful organizations have a great process, leading to consistent excellence.

John Wooden described success as Piece of mind, attained only through self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable.

Camp Candids

The final day of volleyball camp, the introduction to the sport for some future Lady Raiders.

Always click photos to see the full picture.

Warm up or wake up?

Cassidy Barbaro shows 'em how to bump.

Photos courtesy of Jeff Mate'

Countdown Continues

Melrose will launch its defense of the D2 North title soon, with this season bringing the opportunity for the first class to win four consecutive sectional championships.

This season has an attractive preseason schedule as well, including North Andover, Andover, and the annual Medway play date.

With the graduation of Jill Slabacheski and Alyssa DiRaffaele, Coach Scott Celli will need to find another big outside hitter to complement Sarah McGowan, Rachel Johnson, and Jen Cain and a decision on how to fill the back row defensively.

Cross Post

The Melrose volleyball team has enjoyed spectacular success over the past decade. Why?

In this post from Melrosegirlsbasketball.com, we discuss the vitality of culture.

Second Session

Week 2 of Melrose Volleyball camp is in full swing.

Always click the picture to get the full view.

We have a saying, "you never know where your next player is coming from." In other words, there could be all-scholastic or all-state volleyball players coming out of these humble beginnings.

These players begin developing skills, playing, and enjoying volleyball many years ahead of Melrose's most recognized players. There's every reason to believe there are some 'diamonds' in this group.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Mate'.

Northeast