Leading with Lasso Lines

Ted Lasso was an irreverent three-season sitcom, more about life than soccer.

Lasso, an expat American football coach, assumes the manager's job at AFC Richmond in the English Premier League. This horrifies both players and fans. 

Gradually, Lasso's relentless positivity wins people over. Here are some of Lasso's best lines, courtesy of legendary Minnesota high school basketball coach Larry McKenzie.

Help your coaches and teammates by bringing the best version of yourself every day. 

There's timeless truth about coaching, "players don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." 

Lagniappe. "This is volleyball."

 

Making Friends with the Dead - Collis, Roosevelt, and Summitt

Making friends with the dead extends our reach for 'personal advisors' or 'Personal Board of Directors'. If we 'know' Abraham Lincoln, then ask, "what would Lincoln say?" As a reminder, he observed, "I learn something from everyone I meet. From most people I learn what not to do."

They don't have to be volleyball experts. Don't abandon family, mentors, or the living. Without plunging into culture wars, I have a few suggestions:

Richard 'Dick' Collis. Dick was a longtime member of "the Back Row Boys" supporting Melrose sports. He helped found the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted as a contributor. Remember how he lived, "THINK." 

T - make it true

H - be helpful

I - inspire

N - ask is it necessary?

K - be kind

In his later years, he talked about getting a tattoo. I don't think he did. How much of his wisdom came from working at MIT? When someone asked the Dalai Lama the source of his wisdom, he answered that he enjoyed access to leaders around the world. 

Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady. I profiled Eleanor Roosevelt here. Two points to reiterate:

• "Reach out and try to help those who are less fortunate."
• "Every political woman should develop a skin as thick as a rhinoceros hide."

Find role models. Celebrities can be role models, but many non-celebrity women deserve your attention. The "Lessons in Herstory" app profiles renowned women. 

How could we know when women have real equality? When they routinely get selected for jobs and leadership positions not solely on qualifications but on patronage, friendship, and connections - the way many men are. 

Pat Summitt, former Tennessee women's basketball coach. What characterized Summitt? Toughness. Competitiveness. 

If John Wooden is known for his "Pyramid of Success," then Summitt is known for her 'Definite Dozen'. She believed foremost in outworking competitors. Her rivalry both in recruiting and in coaching against Geno Auriemma was legendary. She recruited and developed numerous great players. 

She tolerated no nonsense. When she learned players were out partying late, she called a 6 A.M. practice for "Four Corners." She set up trash barrels at each court corner and had players, many hungover, run until they puked into the barrels. That stopped the partying. 

Her list of accomplishments was legendary, including eight national championships. Her best known book was Reach for the Summitt. 

Develop lists of values, stories, mentors, and 'dead friends' throughout life. Be eclectic and choose their best qualities. 

Lagniappe. Repost? Ralph Labella talked about "nicey, nicey" at practice. Fuggedaboutit. Regardless of whether you're a starter, reserve, or JV player seeking advancement, go hard, go 'full tilt, full time'. Make your teammate better and challenge them to make you better.  

Lagniappe 2. The interest in Melrose volleyball is high. The first day of volleyball camp had 67 girls. 

Brand Better, Lead Better

What's your brand? Branding matters. Branding defines how others see us and how we see ourselves.

Branding includes both identity and performance. Saying you have a championship-driven program and not winning championships or beating competitive teams is just wishful thinking. 

Be specific. What's your WHY, your WHO, and your WHAT? 

Meaning. Define your reasons. Play for the girl next to you. If you need another reason, "Go for the Three-peat." 

Identity. "This is who we are." That is not who we are. Be high character, high skill, high effort players. You don't have to be the next Hannah Brickley. Be your best you. 

Performance. "This is how we play." Play hard, play smart, and play together. Play to win not to avoid losing. 

Don’t rebrand the product when you can rebrand the problem. Melrose volleyball carries a brand of excellence, "banner after banner." Shaping a new brand, what would you recommend? 

How about, "Hit the floor with us" or "Become your best by being with us." 

Lagniappe. Lead like Ted. Start earning your dreams today. 

Outstanding leadership concepts video... (language)

"Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or do you want to come with me and change the world?"

Lagniappe 2. "Make yourself available" to attack.

 

Learn from Disagreement

All opinions expressed are solely mine. Don't blame the City of Melrose, School Department, Melrose High School or the Athletic Department. 

Disagree agreeably. 6-2 or 6-1? Serve hard or float? Experienced upperclassman or uber-talented freshman?

You won't always agree with a coach's decision on team selection, your role, or strategy but work to get "the best version of the truth." 

Do more of what works and less of what doesn't, while building skill to expand options. 

Work to understand "both sides of the trade" and how conversations take place in different industries. 

Metallica has been together for forty years. Their overaching principle on riffs or lyrics is, "do what's in the best interest of the group."

Groupthink produces inferior decisions. Former GM CEO Alfred Sloan knew this:

NASA leader Werner Von Braun's process included "Monday Notes" where engineers had a forum for discussing complex problems. 

"Every week, as von Braun oversaw the development of the Saturn V moon rocket, he got a set of short reports from the engineers and administrators under him.

He would read them, write in the margins, sign a "B" and the date, then send them back. They came to be known as the "Monday notes," Wright said, and have been hailed as a model of effective communication and management for big projects like Apollo."

The US State Department has its 'Dissent Channel' allowing diplomats worldwide to comment on policy. Even when we share core values and principles, we may disagree on policy. It also allows for discussion and reporting of activities not reflecting those values.

The creative process benefits from collaborative conflict. 

What are the enduring lessons? 

• Conflicts occur across a variety of domains/disciplines.
• Decisions benefit from candid, open discussions.
• Polarization compromises those discussion.
• Respect colleagues regardless of agreement.
• When easy consensus arises, think again. 

Lagniappe. 

You Be the Ref

One-handed set with massive spike

Legal set? 

Fingerprints not fingertips...and stiff wrist 

Double contact rules

Do These and Succeed, "Sweat the Small Stuff"

Work to behave at a level 'above' your age. Adults notice exceptional maturity. Specifics matter. 

"Be professional." 

• Be on time. 
• Listen to your coaches. 
• Make collaboration your brand. 
• Show energy and bring energy to teammates. 
• Take care of business off the court (academics!). 

Develop 'Atomic Habits'. Keystone habits like punctuality, preparation, and reading propel you forward. "You make your habits and your habits make you."

"Be aware of non-verbal communication." Strong eye conduct, a firm handshake, and sprinting on and off the court stand out. 

"Separate yourself with effort." Become the person that others point to and say, "that's how it's done." Be that one. 

"Character is job one." You become the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time. Conversely, "if you lie down with dogs, you get fleas." 

"Lead." 

• Model excellence. 
• Speak greatness. 
• Raise the dialogue. 
• Never be a distraction.
• Seek understanding not validation. 

"Be excited to be here." Two minutes before a sixth grade tryout, a young girl approached saying, "Coach, I am really excited to be here." 

"Make the big time where you are." Prepare and practice for the next game as though it were the biggest game of your life.

Lagniappe. Players share their tips.   

Scut Work: No Job Is Too Small

Chris was a great intern. His wife sewed extra pockets into his white coat. A walking closet with IV equipment, tape, scissors, and more, he was effective and timely. But he never asked questions. I asked, "Chris, you're doing a great job but you never ask 'why?'." He answered, "You know why you want stuff done. I know I have to do it. Questions slow us both down." 

Do what has to be done. Do it right and without complaint.

• Shagging balls.
• Equipment set up, take down, and storage. 
• Cleaning the bench area. Leave the gym better than you found it. "Sweep the sheds." 
• Policing the locker room. 
• Mentoring. Upperclassmen, take care of the younger players. They are part of your legacy. "Leave the jersey in a better place," like the All-Blacks rugby team. 

Bring a positive attitude to the small stuff. No job is too small. Show leadership by participating, being on time, cheerful, and living a positive culture.

Lagniappe. The question. 

Lagniappe 2. The answer. 

Your Mentor's Mentors

Become the person you want to be. Not sure who that is? Find a mentor and learn from their influencers.

The entertainer Usher explained that two of his mentor's mentors were Gene Kelly and James Brown.

One of my medical mentors was Dr. Bill Baker, Chief of Cardiology and a former Associate Editor of a major heart journal. A 30-something patient was admitted overnight with chest pain and Captain Baker presided over "Morning Report" a Socratic teach session. He asked the presenter, "what diagnosis do you think is most likely?" The resident replied, "coronary artery disease." Dr. Baker answered, "you fellas fish those waters pretty hard." 

What he implied was consider 'base rates'. In a younger population, other types of heart disease - cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and pericarditis, and non-cardiac causes including chest wall pain, esophageal spasm, and acid reflux would be more likely. 

You might ask Coach Celli who his volleyball 'influencers' were and study their methods and teaching. My primary basketball mentor was former Melrose AD Sonny Lane, whose local basketball mentors included John Killilea and Sam Jones. But he also took major influence from legendary coaches John Wooden and Dean Smith. 

We had a framed poster of Coach Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" in our team room. Note the cornerstones were industriousness (hard work) and enthusiasm. The core included conditioning, skill, and team spirit. And flanking the top were "faith" and "patience" meaning belief and time. 

Learn all you can from every coach you have, including what not to do. 

Lagniappe. Every action you do should 'advance the story'. Create great habits. 

Lagniappe 2. Coaching is teaching. Be thankful for your coaching.

Two teachers can teach the exact same lesson and get completely different results. The variable? The teachers’ passion and creativity.

The power is not in the program. The power is in the magic the teacher brings. #multiplyexcellence

— Emily Paschall (@EmilyAPaschall) July 6, 2023

 

Beliefs That Work in Sport and Life

No sport beliefs arrived on stone tablets. Some 'takes' won't work for everyone.

1. Be a lifelong learner. Celebrating ignorance is the dog that won't hunt. 

2. Emotion seldom overcomes talent and preparation. Therefore, "every day is player development day." 

3. Continually work to teach more and better. 

4. Outwork the competition. Work smarter, more efficiently. Nick Saban asks, "are you investing your time or spending it?" A few years ago, I took the free Coursera Course, "Learning How to Learn." 

5. Reflect. Why did that work or not work and how did it impact the outcome? Never believe in our infallibility.

6. Study psychology and influence across domains. 

• Dan Pink - author of "Drive" 
• Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein - Advertising mavens
• Robert Cialdini "Influence" author
• Chris Voss (former FBI hostage negotiator)

7. Be open to new ideas. There is always someone or something (artificial intelligence) with ideas that can help us improve. 

8. Think again. What's on our 'rethinking' scoreboard? Can a pair of All-NBA wings lead you to a title or do you need more positional diversity?

9. Think in terms of probabilities. A range of possible outcomes exist. Books that address this include Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke, More Than You Know by Michael Mauboussin, and The Most Important Thing by Howard Marks. 

10. "Read. Read. Read. Read. Read." - Werner Herzog   Include fiction and 'disconfirming' material that asks us to question our beliefs. Better to reread a great book than read ten poor ones. 

11. Share. "Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson   Share the ball. Share the sacrifice. Share knowledge. Share lessons learned from failure. Share credit. 

12. Seek balance.  

13. Find mentors; be a mentor. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." 

14. Build better habits. "We make our habits and our habits make us." Pick a habit, stick to it, and check your progress. Process and systems enhance outcomes. 

15. Study leaders. Become a storyteller with tales of great leadership. Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Leadership in Turbulent Times excels with profiles of Lincoln, the Roosevelt's and Lyndon Johnson. 

Lagniappe. 

Your Total Game Package Is on Display Every Day

Scouted a lot of big names players today. Some of whom played poorly. That is part of growth. It is going to happen. But don’t let these two mistake happen:

1. When you are not making shots or scoring-can you give your team something else at a high level?

2. Never let your… pic.twitter.com/tu9wKurtUV

— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) July 4, 2023

Friends, family, fans, and scouts come to watch you play. The latter come to assess the total player:

• Size
• Athleticism 
• Skill
• Sport-specific IQ
• Effort 
• Toughness/resilience
• Communication - verbal and nonverbal
• Interaction with coaches and teammates
• Treatment of officials

"Control what you can control." College coaches have enough headaches without acquiring yours. Aloofness, low energy, bigfooting teammates, poor body language, or abusing officials erase your opportunity. "Your actions speak so loudly I cannot hear a word you say." 

Work on athleticism and skill while showing high character, sportsmanship and teamwork at all times. Intangibles matter.  

Lagniappe. Wipe the overpass. 

Three Points, Plus Lagniappe - Independence Day Bonus

It's never perfect, coaching, playing, or writing. Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than information." That doesn't mean information doesn't matter. 

"Read. Read. Read. Read. Read." - Werner Herzog

"Find one item to rethink this week." 

• Do we need to scrimmage more or less? 
• What drills do we need to add or subtract? 
• How do we most improve our defense? Is it serve receive, blocking, coverage, communication, all of the above? 

Lagniappe. I finish pieces with 'something extra'. What does AI say? 

Lagniappe is a term commonly used in the southern United States, particularly in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region, to refer to a small gift or bonus that is given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase or as an extra token of appreciation. The term originates from the Louisiana Creole and New Orleans French dialects, derived from the Spanish word "la ñapa," which means "the gift" or "something extra."

Lagniappe is often used to describe a little something extra that is added to a purchase or provided as a complimentary item. For example, a baker might throw in an extra pastry when you buy a dozen, or a store might give you a free sample of a new product when you make a purchase. It is a way for businesses to show goodwill, build customer loyalty, and enhance the overall customer experience.

Lagniappe has become deeply ingrained in the culture of the region, and the term has extended beyond commerce. It can also refer to an unexpected or additional benefit or advantage in various contexts, such as receiving extra time, assistance, or a favor. 

Lagniappe 2. What he says and what he does are not exactly the same. 

The Food Chain

The food chain operates along a continuum. Analogies include organizational structure, hierarchies, and the 'pecking order'. 

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra reminds us, "there is always a pecking order" and that most players in every sport are complementary players. 

How do you respond? Excel at attitude, choices, effort. 

• Control what you can control. 
• Work on your skills, game understanding, athleticism, resilience.
• Be coachable. 
• Be ready when your opportunity comes. 
• Be a great teammate with gratitude not grievance. 

Lagniappe. Let it be theirs not ours. My daughters liked the fact that I had minimal understanding of volleyball when they started. I couldn't coach them or question officiating. They appreciated the best fan of all, Ellen, who always cheers for both sides. 

Vision, Process, Discipline

Please invest a few minutes on the video.  

What's your why? Do you want to make the team, to contribute to success, or become a force? 

Coach Saban emphasizes mindset. What's your vision, process, and discipline? 

Maybe you don't feel like strength and conditioning today, even though you know that's a 'success pillar'. You might want to do something else. "Get to" don't "have to." 

You want to become an ACE? Find the right attitude, choices, and effort. You will never regret doing your best. 

Lagniappe. Defensive specialist tips

Lagniappe 2. USWNT Coach Karch Kiraly on finding receive solutions off the midline. 

Does the Rubber Meet the Road?

"The opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine."

 

What do Parents want in a Coach?

▪️Be a Positive ROLE MODEL
▪️Show that you CARE
▪️Build their child’s CONFIDENCE
▪️Give POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
▪️Teach LIFE LESSONS

Credit to @EcsellSports for the research and graphic. pic.twitter.com/lBVTMK0lAb

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) June 28, 2023

Measuring coaching effectiveness challenges anyone. Coaches wear many hats - evaluator, organizer, selector, teacher, strategist, psychologist, disciplinarian, and more.

Here are truisms and truths:

"Most parents would rather have their child be All-State than have their team win States." - Coach Don Meyer

"NBA players want 48 - 48 minutes, 48 shots, and $48 million." - Chuck Daly   The triad of minutes, role, and recognition often define player and parent satisfaction.

"She got the perfect job, head coach in an orphanage." - Old Joke

"If you listen to the fans in the stands, soon you'll be up there sitting with them." - Coach Bob Knight 

Star Trek had the 'Prime Directive', no interference in the development of another society. Parenting has the Prime Directive, too, "what is good for my child takes priority over what is good for the team." Advocating for your child makes total sense. Yet the coach must advocate for the team first. 

I know of one private school where a parent made it his purpose to oust the coach. A $25,000 'donation' was Judas's 'thirty pieces of silver' that finished the coach. 

A pair of quotes from Carl Pierson's outstanding, "The Politics of Coaching" apply. I think it should be required reading for parents. 

During our high school senior basketball season, a war raged. A local politician whose son was cut during tryouts waged a campaign to fire the coach. A thirteen game winning streak and Division I sectional title saved the coach's job. An editorial helped. Late in the season, The Wakefield Daily Item editor Robert Dolbeare postulated, "If victory is not the goal, then why put forth the effort?" 

No universal metric measures coaching effectiveness, because the goals differ depending on the level. In developmental ball, the player experience, teaching the game, and player development take priority. At higher levels, winning assumes more emphasis. 

Lagniappe. Sweat the details. Coordinate your arm and leg attack movements. 

 

 

Sport and Life, Evert and Navratilova

 The rivalry

Friendship and rivalry can travel together. 

Conditioning Considerations - Sunday Double

As a young player, learn to 'be professional'. Professionals come in on time, in shape, and mentally prepared. Come to tryouts in condition. Be prepared for summer heat and for five set matches. 

This piece provokes thought. 

1. Do some high intensity, short-distance training (e.g. sprints, jumping rope). 

2. Do some longer-distance timed running. 

3. Play volleyball. 

4. Make it fun and competitive. 

As college baseball players, we had the "pitcher's mile" run, indoors on an elevated track. I think there were 18 laps to a mile. We had to beat 6:30 but the competition was on. As a junior, I ran a 5:07 mile. One year the best time was 4:54. 

Lagniappe. Melrose has always covered hitters well.

 

Top Volleyball Sites

Find more tips and suggestions. Where?

Volleyballmag.com

Volleycountry.com

Elevate Yourself

Coachingvb.com

USA Volleyball

Prepvolleyball.com

https://jvavolleyball.org/

Marklebedew.com with 50 Coaching Tips

Jump Volleyball 

Volleyball1on1.com (see the index at bottom)

I am NOT a volleyball expert. Play the way your current coaches want you to play. Fill the roles they want.

Here are a few opinions from decades of coaching experience:

1. Good teams don't give points/games away. The ultimate resource on this is Coach Bob Knight's "The Power of Negative Thinking." What makes me crazy? Don't hit a "get me over" shot into the net. Live to fight another play. 

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: “The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.” And “The opportunity to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself” (p. 73). 

2. "The bigger the star, the bigger the insecurity." Don't be needy, constantly seeking validation. Good coaches, "water the flowers" but too much water isn't good. 

3. Recognize Don Meyer's stages of coaching - blind enthusiasm, sophisticated complexity, mature simplicity. Fundamental excellence works. You can't 'trick' excellent teams. Some have called Melrose volleyball, "vanilla." Vanilla works. 

4. "Chop wood, carry water." Learn every day. Cultivate great habits. Strive to improve. Be a tracker. "Trackers are winners." - Darren Hardy

5. "Look for the helpers." - Mr. Rogers   "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Find a mentor. Mentor younger players. Some young players and young coaches think they know it all and don't want help. Seeking help is NOT weakness. It signals understanding. You won't forfeit credit.

 

The best coaches never stop looking for edges and aren't "know-it-alls" but "learn-it-alls." As players, never stop learning. 

 

Lagniappe. Study your mechanics. 

Your Commencement Address

Coach, imagine you're under consideration to deliver the commencement address at your local high school. The committee asks you to prepare a speech for them to judge. What's your strategy? 

• Why are they asking me? 
• Who's my audience?
• What do I want to say? 
• Add "nots". Not too long, not stuffy, not boring. 

"Congratulations. You made it. Graduates. 

The selection committee asked me to create an argument why they should pick me. My first thought was, "with a straight face?"

Brevity is the soul of wit. Don't be too long and don't be too boring. Picasso said, "good artists borrow; great artists steal." Here are lessons that I've stolen that you can use every day.  

1. Thank you Principal Dumas for that spectacular introduction. And the best part was that you delivered it just as I wrote it. 

2. At Celtics' practice, Brad Stevens said, "basketball, it's not rocket science." The best part about science, whether you believe it or not, is that it's true. They don't call The Law of Gravity "The Theory of Gravity." 

3. Bring your best self every day. Stand tall. Make eye contact. Have a firm handshake. 

4. Be a good teammate. Not everyone can be a great player. But everyone can be a great teammate, but everyone can choose to be a great teammate. Being happy for another's success is a skill. Life is a team sport. 

5. "Look for the helpers." That's Mr. Rogers. Don't go it alone. The Navy SEALs say, "two is one and one is none." Not for nothing.

6. For interviews, dress for success. Sure, it's 90 degrees but cover those sleeve tattoos. And always remember, "flip flops are not shoes."   

7. Appreciate irony. My first day of school, a six year-old was banging on the door saying, "Mommy, don't leave me." I never did that again. No, seriously, decades later I asked that kid's mother what he's doing. "He's a principal in New Hampshire." School got better for him from there. That's called 'overcompensating'.

8. Think again. Do you know how long English has been America's official language. <I see wheels turning.> It's not. Don't believe everything you here. Ask yourself, "can that be true" or "is that even possible?" Some will try to take advantage of your kindness and trust. "Would you like some candy, Little One?" Don't fall for that stuff. As Adam Grant, author of Think Again advises, "Keep a rethinking scorecard." 

9. Read, read, read, read, read. Reread a great book. It's better to reread something great than to read ten bad books. Abandon bad reads. 

10. Share. Eleven-time NBA championship coach Phil Jackson says, "basketball is sharing." Share something great - a book, a quote, a recipe, a movie. 

11. Give and get feedback. Be "performance-focused, feedback-rich." You can't know if others are on the same page without asking, "what is your understanding of the message?" 

12. Avoid dumacity. You're asking, "what is dumacity?" It's the act or condition of being a dumb*ss. Don't take selfies hanging off cliffs. Don't drink and drive or ride with a drunk driver. If that someone special says he doesn't want to be with you, don't jump off a bridge. There's someone more special out there.

13. Have a plan. Nature finds a way. Greatness has to make its way. Do something every day for your craft and something for your business. 

14. Ask better questions. "Why am I wrong?" or "what could go wrong?" Players might consider how can we win. Coaches ask what puts us in the best position to win and what can we do to avoid losing. 

15. Hard work is a skill. It's not for everyone. "There's never a crowd on the extra mile." Kobe Bryant took a thousand shots a day in the summer. Larry Bird took 500 free throws before school. Isiah Thomas played for up to eight hours a day at the playground. Bill Bradley worked out for three hours a day and all day Saturday starting at age twelve. 

16. Obsess the product. Sara Blakely took an idea of better undergarments and turned it into a five billion dollar business. She never raised money with stock or bond capital. She lived the concept of "make it, sell it, build brand awareness." What's your brand going to become? 

17. Become a storyteller. We are storytelling animals. I knew a physician's assistant who asked people for their best advice. The Dalai Lama explained much of his wisdom occurred by listening to the many leaders with whom he had met. Learn to craft stories of SUCCESS - simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, stories. 

18. Study greatness. Study leaders. Character is job one. Leaders have different approaches that work for them. For example, Nelson Mandela learned from his father to speak last. You can give a more thoughtful and nuanced opinion and response when you've heard what others say. 

19. Make friends with the dead. Some of my heroes, my role models have long departed - Bill Russell, Dean Smith, John Wooden. Were they perfect? Of course not. But they shared memorable lessons.

• "My ego demands the success of my team." - Russell
• "A lion never roars after the kill." - Smith
• "Make every day your masterpiece." - Wooden

20. Dream big. Work bigger. You graduated. You can do anything.

Lagniappe. Directional attack from the middle. 

Post 2700: "Success Leaves Fingerprints"

The opinions expressed on the blog are solely mine. They do not reflect those of the City of Melrose, Melrose School Department, Melrose High School, or the Athletic Department.  

Since 2003, during twenty seasons, Melrose has won ten sectional titles and a State Championship. How?

1. Players. Melrose developed terrific players that know how to win and have extensive playoff experience. Seventeen have earned All-State status. 

2. Coaching. "Every day is player development day." I've heard people say, "Any idiot with a whistle can coach." Little could be further from the truth. Coaches help players write their narrative. They take them where they could not go alone. Coach Scott Celli achieved Hall of Fame honors. 

3. Culture. Everyone understands what is best for the team comes first. "This is not a union job."

4. Collaboration. The best players make everyone around them better. It reflects the sign in the UNC Women's Soccer room: 

Excellence Is Our Only Agenda 

5. Commitment. Offseason play is widespread with more players at higher levels.

6. Meritocracy. If your play gives Melrose the best chance to win, you play. It doesn't matter whether you're a freshman or senior captain.

7. Consistency. The style of play, offensively and defensively, doesn't change. Coach Celli doesn't chase fads or change strategy easily. 

8. Scheduling. "Iron sharpens iron." Top competition (champions and finalists in multiple divisions) prepares the team for tough playoff competitors. The Middlesex League improves every year. 

9. Depth. Melrose has reserve players who could get more playing time at many teams in the Middlesex League. Their 'practice toughness' prepares the team for top league and non-league games.

10.Urgency. The team 'shows up' and competes at a high level, especially against better competition. 

Ask yourself, "what fingerprints am I leaving as precursors to success?"

Lagniappe. Work on enhancing concentration. 

Lagniappe 2. Impact the game. 

Post 2699: Lead Across Levels

Malcolm Gladwell shared a different interpretation of David and Goliath in the Valley of Elah. David served his people as a deadly accurate marksman firing 60 mph projectiles. Goliath was a giant with acromegaly, blinded by a pituitary tumor impinging on his optic nerve pathway. Goliath had no shot. 

Leaders arise at any age. Cal rugby coach Jack Clark emphasizes that he expects leadership from freshmen. They lead by knowing their job, not being a distraction, and being ready for opportunities. 

Young leaders don't 'steal' leadership or roles. They supply and/or supplement leadership. One of the great leaders in Melrose volleyball history was Victoria Crovo. As a freshman, 'the V-Rex' was the best player on her club in a sectional defeat. She earned captaincy as a sophomore as the extension of her excellence.

 Lolly Daskal informs why leadership at all levels benefits an organization. 

• "It fosters a culture of growth and development. When employees feel that they have opportunities to grow and develop as leaders, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their work.
• It helps to build a strong leadership pipeline. 
• It promotes collaboration and teamwork. When everyone is a leader, there is less emphasis on hierarchy and more focus on teamwork and collaboration. 
• It helps to build resilience and adaptability. 
• It leads to better decision-making and problem-solving. When there are leaders at every level, there are more perspectives and ideas." 

The best teams are often "player-led." More leaders add perspective and nuance to solve problems. The words, "what if" and "have you thought about" sometimes separate success and failure. 

On a basketball site, I asked coaches what disrupts team chemistry, the opposite of leadership. The answers included responses from elite coaches and a former player from a UCLA National Championship team. Here's a sample:

"A selfish player who truly thinks he is better than he is. He's greedy, berates his teammates and thinks he knows more than coaches. When he's benched for abhorrent behavior and play detrimental to the team, he degrades the staff to other players."

"self-absorption by coaches and players"

"Me-guys.. worried about their own situation & not much regard for the team, then complaining quietly on the bench trying to get teammates on their side.. “yeah, you should be playing over that guy...”"

"Agendas."

"Conversations at the dinner table and after games"

Ego can block young leadership. Some upperclassmen with big egos won't accept "team first" behaviors. Experienced coaches see this and give players the choice to embrace team or leave. 

Return to core values from Coach Don Meyer - passion, unity, servant leadership, humility, and thankfulness. Excellent leaders commit, put the team first, serve, respect the game, and appreciate the opportunity at hand. Leaders serve. 

Lagniappe. Passing the ball high instead of over the net.