Respect helps people prosper on multiple levels. People work harder and feel better about themselves when respected. Respect your parents, respect your coaches, respect your teammates, respect opponents and officials.
Relationships define coaching. Oversimplify coaching by defining coaches as relationship-oriented (players' coaches) or task-oriented (hard guys).
I worked to greet every player by name each practice. That reminds me of the Swahili greeting "sawubona" meaning "I see you."
Willink emphasizes listening. Mutual participation happens when players listen to coaches and vice versa.
In The Bear, Coach Mike Krzyzewski says, "Learn how to listen. You're not going to learn with you just talking."
Trust takes time. It builds when the coach adds value through skill, strategy, and athletic development. When players know and execute their roles, they earn coaching trust.
Lagniappe. Make practice hard so games are easier.
Reserve players have responsibilities. Some are "dos" and others are "don'ts." All have importance.
1. Be ready for your opportunity. You probably heard this story before. In 2005 at Andover, who lost in the State finals, setter Amanda Hallett broke a shoelace and had to come out. Taylor Pearson came off the bench and the team won 6 of 7 points. Melrose beat the D1 powerhouse 3 to 2.
2. Excel in your role. Everyone's job is to bring the best version of themselves to the team daily. Play every practice scrimmage, every "Queen of the Court" opportunity as though it's the Sectional Championship game.
3. Be in the game. Know the game plan, the strategy, and observe the ebb and flow. Maybe a back row opponent is weaker. If you were serving, could you 'attack' her? Have the courage to point that out to your teammates and perhaps to the coaches.
4. Support your teammates. Enthusiasm on the bench matters. In an earlier post, I highlight video of the bench during a late game victory. You were exemplary.
5. Impact winning. You impact winning by making everyone around you better. You change lives every day at home and at school. Take care of business.
6. Impact your world. When Kayla Wyland played, I spoke with her parents saying how impressed I was with her as a person. Her mother told me that she was every bit as pleasant and helpful at home, not needing to be asked to help with chores like shoveling the driveway. I will always be a Kayla fan.
7. "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses." Coaches coach, players play, officials officiate. Stay on task with your job.
8. Stay conditioned. If that means doing extra sprints or five minutes of jumping rope twice a day, then do it.
📢Every single athlete should listen to this.
🔥Geno Auriemma is talking about the difference between good players and great players. pic.twitter.com/Lri0KQXlF5
9. Be intentional. Have purpose in your warmup, your preparation, your study of the game, your study of video.
Watch on YouTube setting the playback speed to 0.25. Watch her "runway" and steps, attack preparation including back arm swing, and her arm swing, contact point (excellent), and follow through. There is a lot to like and a few points to fine tune.
Return to Coach Donny's "Elevate Yourself" attack footwork video.
Great players have the desire, maybe the obsession to excel technically and tactically (how and when).
10. "Always do your best." Take pride in sharing the experience of being on an excellent TEAM more than playing on a mediocre or weak one. We recently had our fiftieth high school reunion and almost all the living seniors from 1973 returned for a pre-reunion gathering and the reunion, including both managers, one from San Diego.
Commit and compete.
Lagniappe. It's not enough to be the best player on a TEAM.
Geno Auriemma on Leadership
💬 “If you make them feel like you will do anything for them, they will follow you”
At the quarter-season mark, it's good to check in on statistics...whatever one's opinion of them is.
Assists:
Leah Fowke clocks in at 34th with 114. However, there are only fourteen players with more assists/set. Long matches produce higher numbers.
Kills:
Sadie Jaggers stands at 42nd, with 55, 3.1 kills/set. She is tied for 19th in kills/set.
Digs:
Grace Gentile is also at 42nd, with 4.0 digs/set. Grace is 21st in digs/set among players with as many digs as she has.
As far as other team stats:
- Maggie Turner leads in service points, followed by Leah and Gigi Albuja
- Melrose has a service percentage of 86.5 % for the season
- Sabine Wenzel is second in kills with 43.
- Sadie is second in digs with 37.
- Grace has 69 serves received followed by Sadie with 46 and Maggie's 45.
I'm not a scorer but Maxpreps.com supplies scoring definitions. For example, "a kill is awarded to a player any time an attack is unreturnable by the opposing team and is a direct cause of the opposing team not returning the ball. A kill is also awarded to the attacker any time the opposing team commits a blocking error. Any time a kill is awarded, an attack attempt must also be awarded."
Penn Professor Adam Grant thinks critically. We should, too. Author of Give and Take, Think Again, and other works, Grant encourages us to keep a "rethinking scorecard."
From the link above: "People who fall for false information tend to be overconfident in how they think—not just what they think.
Data: those who overestimate their math & reasoning skills are more susceptible to conspiracy theories."It's more work to think about information received, even 'the blog'. Years ago I was at a barbecue, making small talk, noting I was reading "The Best and the Brightest" about the misinformation leading to the Vietnam War. The woman with whom I was talking said, "My uncle Mac is in that book." I said, "McGeorge Bundy" (a President Kennedy advisor)? She answered, "Yes, Uncle Mac." Her name? Laurie Glimcher, Dana Farber CEO!I thought she was another of my sister's 'retail' friends. Think again!Two attitudes prevailed during the late 60's and early 70's - "my country right or wrong" and paraphrasing "young men die in an old man's war." Whether sport or society, entitle ourselves to the right information not to have others entitled to our opinion. Video is "the truth machine." Not every team will use the longer backset as Burlington did here. Not exactly a 'quick set' or 'short set' but Burlington's middle was quick to the ball and brought force. Meet force with force as a blocker. Cut shots (short cross-court) can be hard to defend. Winchester gets the double block up and the left back defender can't get there.
Melrose has a big week ahead. The most important game on the schedule? The next one.
2023 has seen a lot of "upsets." For example, yesterday Needham, a strong team from the Bay State League, shutout Barnstable.
Coach Scott Celli opined that with the growth of volleyball and many players playing club volleyball, there are more upsets and fewer 3-0 matches. A couple of key inferences are the importance of CONDITIONING to survive longer matches and RESILIENCE to fight through adversity.
The best teams have 'player-led' leadership. The coach doesn't have to micromanage because players understand the mission and lead each other to accomplish it.
"Silent leadership" anticipates and teaches what can happen so players respond in real-time without continuous communication.
That doesn't mean the coach isn't leading. "Leaders make leaders." Melrose has enjoyed many elite leaders through the years. Some are vocal (Victoria Crovo, Elena Soukos) and others were quieter (e.g. Hannah Brickley). The youngest player on the team, like Victoria Crovo was, can be a dominant leader.
Yelling doesn't make leaders. Remember the proverb, "an empty barrel makes the most noise."
Coaching is about relationships. Relationships flourish with communication, respect, and trust. Coaches deliver messages that players don't always want to hear.
Adapt. Coach Celli moved Alyssa DiRaffaele from the front row to the back where she became a key defender and elite server. Become a star in your role, whether a rotation player or a practice player committed to challenging your teammates.
Great leaders listen. Nelson Mandela's father always spoke last after hearing everyone's opinion. Young Nelson attended those meeting and learned that processing others' voices allowed for nuanced comments.
Understand "Commander's intent" as in Belichick's "Attack weaknesses, utilize strengths." The lionesses don't attack the fastest strongest prey. They attack the most vulnerable when possible. Commander's Intent is how the leader intends to execute the mission.
Popularized by Mark Twain, the saying goes, "there are three kinds of lies - lies, damned lies, and statistics."
I confess ignorance as to what exactly gets tabbed as a kill. For example, in last night's piece, I would have guessed that Leah Fowke's brilliant joust would have been a kill.
In another noteworthy statistic, the team had an 87 percent service percentage, although Sadie Jaggers and Alex Homan combined for 35/36, just over 97 percent.
Statistics do not reveal everything. For example, Sabine Wenzel's net presence often alters shots. A player with a 10'4" 'touch' tends to do that.
Also, in addition to her serving and digging prowess, Junior Maggie Turner, the "Pocket Rocket" has unparalleled court presence. Talk energizes, engages, and alerts teammates. Pick up the action in the third set, trailing 8-12. Maggie Turner mixes in "jump float" and other serves.
Turner delivers a five point service run including a few aces. At the quarter pole, I see her as a top "unsung hero" candidate.
The Patriots championed the slogan, "Do your job." Do the right thing, the right way, at the right time. Your job extends beyond the minimum. Your job includes knowing other players' job.
"Excel in your role." Bring your best self to practice and games. Your best self doesn't whine, complain, or make excuses. Don't cheat the drill.
"Never be a distraction." Be punctual, be prepared.
"When you don't know, ask." Be prepared for games, understanding the game plan, the coverage, what you and your teammates work to finish.
"Always be ready." If you adopt the attitude, "I won't play anyway," you can't be ready when your moment comes. When the coaches call, be mentally and physically engaged.
"Be here now." Mental or physical mistakes 'snowball' if you let them. Be "in the moment" to make the next play. Never let one error become a second.
"Work on your platform skills." A lot of serve receive, passing, and digging centers on your platform.
Lagniappe. Stay body quiet during the serve receive. Tips and traps.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Melrose hosted Wakefield before a large crowd and outfought the resilient Warriors 25-21, 25-15, 24-26, and 25-19.
Kayla Wyland's Wakefield club came in 4-1 with a three game winning streak looking to upset her former club. The win lifts Melrose to 4-1.
Coach Celli continues to tinker with the lineup, with Alex Homan getting more time as a designated server and taking advantage of it.
Melrose largely had control of the first set with both consistent play and a number of service errors by the visitors.
Melrose continued a slight advantage in set two, leading 18-15 when a Gigi Albuja service run of seven point triggered a 25-15 win.
Wakefield battled back in set three despite Melrose's best effort. Level at three, Melrose's defense with Leah Fowke and Grace Gentile making athletic saves to keep the ball up.
Video from MHS-tv
Trailing 5-9, Coach Scott Celli took a timeout, propelling Melrose to a 13-12 edge before a Wakefield comeback.
Up and Comer Highlight: In set three, trailing 23-24, Sabine Wenzel shows her potential as an attacker.
Video from MHS-tv
Melrose largely controlled the final set with generally more consistent play. Leading 12-7, Melrose stretched their edge on a joust won by Leah Fowke and a smash by Sadie Jaggers.
Melrose closed it out from there.
Melrose notes: Former Melrose All-State players Marissa Cataldo and Elena Soukos were in the house.
At the quarter pole, the lineups and rotation are still in 'discovery phase'. Some less experienced players like Sabine Wenzel and Abby Dennison have shown growth and my quarter season MVP would be Leah Fowke.
Coaches can't make everyone happy. Only so many minutes go around. Edited excerpts from a letter show that parents appreciate the issues.
"There is no need to apologize about playingtime. You are the coach and you need to do what you have to in order to win. She gets that and we get that. She was disappointed in how she played yesterday but is motivated to do better.
I understand where parents are coming from with feeling bad for their child (we have been there many times with all 3 of our kids) but this is a part of life and kids need to learn to deal with disappointment sometimes.
Many children and adolescents have anxiety and depression because they don't have the coping skills to deal with these disappointments. They don't know how to persevere. We are not helping them by solving things for them and giving them what they want when it isn't earned. I can't imagine how difficult it is to be a coach.
My husband and I appreciate all the time, work, energy, and caring you have put into coaching this group of adolescent girls (not an easy age). We both believe playingtime is earned and 8th graders who are on the verge of playing high school sports are passed the point of equal playingtime."
Not all parents feel the same way and I understand that it is normal to advocate for your child.
I am not at practice so have no 'standing' to have opinions on individual player skill, strategy, athleticism, or resilience. Plus, I don't consider myself an expert, rather a learner.
"Trust the process." The better the process, the better the long-term results. Don't worry about polls or 'noise', including this. The coach's task is to find the pieces that fit best together.
Lagniappe. Say it and say it again. Keep it simple. "Drive for show and putt for dough." Hitters get the glory and defenders who keep the ball up will earn the dough.
Learn from coaches in different sports. Fergus Connolly introduces us to coach John Kavanagh in his book, 59 Lessons. Kavanagh is an Irish pioneer in Mixed Martial Arts and coached Conor McGregor.
What are the transferrable takeaways from Kavanagh/Connolly?
Find and exploit edges.
Practice must impact winning.
Time is our most precious and finite resource.
Practical applications:
Edges include size, speed, or skill (e.g. create mismatches)
Situational practice (BOB, SLOB, ATO) informs edges
Listen to what players share.
Improvement is part of our job.
Practical application:
Ask players what they feel more or less comfortable playing
Have a personal improvement plan (reading, writing, MasterClass, film study)
Kavanagh, like UNC Coach Anson Dorrance, creates a 'competitive cauldron'
Habits and "automatic play" free up "working memory" which is limited.
Practical applications:
Make drills competitive ("competitive standard")
Repetitions automate (developmental actions like box drills, wing series)
Play up (versus better competition, e.g. UCONN women vs men)
Summary:
Find and exploit edges (e.g. mismatches, team strengths).
Make more drills competitive, the "competitive cauldron."
"Get on the floor." Jay Bilas's Toughnesselaborates. "A tough player has a sense of urgency but has the discipline to do it the right
way."
"Whatever it takes." Discover your resilience under adversity as a part of great culture.
Lagniappe. Location. Location. Location. Hitters get the glamor but defense gets the ball into neighborhoods where attacks live. Most (not all, read Fairhaven) of the memorable losses Melrose suffered occurred because the other defense outperformed, especially on serve receive. Keep improving. Which of these can you fine tune?
Coaches and players share a common issue, problem solving. Finding solutions means asking the right questions and implementing answers to impact winning.
They fall into two broad categories:
1. Increasing offensive efficiency
2. Reducing points allowed
Chat GPT Take (AI)
Problem-solving in volleyball is a crucial aspect of the game that requires players and teams to analyze situations, adapt strategies, and make effective decisions to overcome challenges and achieve success. Here are some key points to discuss when it comes to problem-solving in volleyball:
Reading the game: Volleyball players must develop strong observational skills to assess the current state of the game. This involves analyzing the opponent's tactics, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as identifying patterns and tendencies. By understanding the game context, players can anticipate potential problems and devise appropriate solutions.
Decision-making: Quick decision-making is vital in volleyball. Players need to make split-second judgments on various aspects, such as setting options, defensive positioning, and attack strategies. Good decision-makers consider factors like the position of the ball, the position of teammates and opponents, and the game situation to make effective choices.
Communication and teamwork: Effective problem-solving in volleyball requires open and clear communication among teammates. Players should be able to convey information, share observations, and suggest adjustments to adapt to changing circumstances. Teammates need to collaborate and support each other in finding solutions to problems on the court.
Adaptability: Volleyball is a dynamic sport, and teams must be adaptable to different situations. They should be ready to adjust their strategies and game plans in response to the opponent's tactics or changing game dynamics. Adapting to different styles of play, modifying offensive or defensive formations, or making substitutions are all examples of how teams can solve problems during a match.
Analyzing and learning from mistakes: Problem-solving in volleyball also involves learning from mistakes and making improvements. Players and teams should have the ability to analyze their performance, identify areas of weakness, and make necessary adjustments. This could involve refining individual techniques, refining team coordination, or implementing new strategies based on previous errors.
Time management: In volleyball, time management is critical when problem-solving. Players must quickly assess the situation, make decisions, and execute them efficiently. This includes factors such as managing timeouts effectively, understanding when to slow down the pace of the game or speed it up, and efficiently utilizing breaks between sets.
Emotional intelligence: Volleyball is a highly competitive sport, and problem-solving can be influenced by emotions. Players must have the emotional intelligence to stay calm and composed in challenging situations. By managing emotions, players can think more clearly, communicate effectively, and make rational decisions.
Overall, problem-solving in volleyball is a multifaceted skill that encompasses various aspects such as reading the game, decision-making, communication, adaptability, analyzing mistakes, time management, and emotional intelligence. Developing these skills allows players and teams to effectively overcome challenges, make strategic adjustments, and ultimately enhance their performance on the court.
Coaches have different issues, choosing lineups and strategy. Red Auerbach taught coaches not to choose the lineup from the best players but among the players who play best together.
"Get off of my lawn." First made famous by Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, it references the OG, set in our ways, living in the past. Sometimes that can be good, specifically referring to "America's Greatest Generation" and other times it's pejorative.
Records are meant to be broken and teams meant to surpass historic achievements.
I've referenced three eras in Melrose Volleyball.
2003-2005, 'The First Dynasty', a three-peat of sectional titles
2009-2012, 'The Second Dynasty', a four-peat and State Title
2021-2022, 'The Third Dynasty', a repeat of sectional titles
The 2012 team was stacked, with four players destined to earn All-State honors and a pair (Brooke Bell and Sarah McGowan) named to the Boston Herald All-Decade Team.
So, the current team, always a work in progress, is in the company of some robust lawns.
I'll be writing more about habit formation, sharing more from James Clear. First, let's share again Clear's framework:
How can you improve your practice habits?
Obvious. Get off on the right foot. Urban Meyer speaks of "crossing the red line." The boundaries of the practice court are red. Be "fired up and ready to go” when you step over that line.
Attractive. Call attention to yourself. A former Melrose player shared that she walked onto the court standing tall, head up, chest out. Let everyone know that the best player on the court just arrived. There's the psychological benefit (self-efficacy) but also the physiologic benefit of the "power position." It increases testosterone and decreases stress hormones.
Easy. Pack your gym bag the night before. Have your water or sports drink, your healthy snack (e.g. an apple), and your favorite T-shirt with your gear. Keep your backpack or gym bag by the front door. You can add a 'sticky note' next to the door if you want.
Satisfying. Track your progress with whatever you're working on. Maybe your vertical jump has increased a few inches. Or your 'serving percentage' is rising. "Winners are trackers," writes Darren Hardy in The Compound Effect.
Lagniappe. Recently I watched a livestream between two excellent teams. The difference was serve receive consistency.
Practice receiving harder-hit balls. Listen to the expert.
All opinions expressed in the blog are my own. They do not represent any official position of the City of Melrose, School Department, Melrose High School, or the Athletic Department.
Take big ideas from leaders in other fields and make them ours. Here are a few from MasterClass, a continuing education program I enjoy daily.
1. "Do something for your craft and something for your business every day." - David Mamet
Mamet wrote and directed Redbelt.
2. "Aim high." - Sara Blakely Blakely turned a limited career as a copier/fax salesperson into a five billion dollar company helping women look better in her Spanx undergarments. She advises, "Obsess the product."
3. "Bring the best version of yourself." - Samuel L. Jackson Jackson is a ubiquitous screen presence who loves acting. Part of his 'secret' is not just acting but treating everyone on the set well.
4. "The movie is made in the editing room." - Ron Howard Howard divides the work into planning & preparation, shooting, and editing. The same applies to coaching. Revise what needs revision. Do more of what works and less of what doesn't.
5. "Look for the best version of the truth." - Bob Woodward, investigative journalist. Woodward knows that the whole truth is unavailable, so seeks to uncover what is. He relies on evidence, written or spoken (taped interviews). A Supreme Court clerk challenged him about the accuracy of a quote in The Brethren. Woodward invited him to his home. He showed him the quote in the clerk's handwriting.
6. Be relatable. Navy SEAL leadership expert Jocko Willink explains that team members must relate to actions. Actions done for the leader or shareholders won't be meaningful unless it helps team members have advancement and other benefits.
7. "Cooks cook to nurture people." - Thomas Keller Coaches coach to help others grow. Growth won't always translate into wins. Get the best results from the ingredients available with the right 'time and temperature'.
8 "Study your mentors' mentors." - Usher Usher studied James Brown, Gene Kelly. My first basketball mentor was Sonny Lane, who derived great influence from John Wooden and Dean Smith. We had a poster of the "Pyramid of Success" in our team room in 1972. I gave laminated copies to my players. One player carried hers in her gym bag daily. She wasn't an elite player but was a great student and a three-sport captain. She's a graduate of Annapolis.
9. "Always be on time. Never be an A*hole." - Helen Mirren Mirren was asked what it took to become a success. Her answer works in every field. Phil Ford talked about "Dean Smith Time." Ford sets his watch ten minutes ahead, so he's never late.
10."Kill your darlings." - David Mamet Everyone has our pet sayings, beliefs, and values. They don't always belong in a piece. Comedians spend a lifetime "shaving syllables." Edit our drill book, our playbook, and our teaching methods.
Bonus.
"Read. Read. Read. Read. Read." - Director Werner Herzog Herzog's first lesson to students is to read more. Read great prose, like J.A. Baker's The Peregrine.
