Don't Be a Magician with a Disappearing Act

Coach Jiri Popelka shares a plea for craft.

Velocity is a tool. Craft is a skill. MVP hitters master both and rely on judgment.

Popelka expounds:

MVP hitters play a different game 🏆

If you want to be MVP of the match, you need a different setting in your mind.

MVP hitters think:

• What information did the block just give me?

• What shot keeps pressure, even without full power?

• How do I stay useful on every ball?

I don't pay attention to pre-game warmups because I've seen hundreds of "warmup heroes" be non-impactful during games.

Why? Because KPH (kilometers per hour) don't automatically transfer to KPM (kills per match). Some of MVB's best hitters were "Slam Mastersons" and others balanced power and placement. Create pressure without maximum force. 

• Power-only hitters are predictable

• Craft hitters are stress multipliers

Every elite hitter carries a portfolio. Some days the fastball wins. Some days it’s placement and disguise. For example, as an outside hitter, what is you attack portfolio? 

• Full attack (line or crosscourt) 
• Cut shots 
• Tooling the outside blocker 
• Tips
• Roll shots 

Those who transform athleticism and game understanding into skill that wins points will have invested time to create opportunity for themselves.  

Lagniappe. "Form begets function." In addition to "live ball" training, you can do "shadow drills" without a gym or teammates. 

Have a Plan to Win Today

Coach John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won ten NCAA Men's basketball championships, including nine in ten years.

It wasn't overnight success. He won his first in his 16th season at UCLA. He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and a coach. 

In less than a minute, John Wooden explained how to conquer each day better than anyone I've ever heard‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/IYReRIGir0

— Leaders 𝕏 Junction (@LeadersJunction) January 15, 2026

Wooden earned a Bachelor's Degree in English from Purdue in 1928. He was a teacher, coach, and philosopher. His father Joshua had a profound influence on him including some of his sayings.

- "Make every day your masterpiece" was his father's adage. 

- Put yesterday in the rearview mirror, win or lose.

- "Win today" is the message. 

Lagniappe. Turn possible into excellence. 

Bill Belichick shares the 3 things he saw in Tom Brady that made him great.

"His talent was okay. But he was very smart, he loved football, and he worked extremely hard."

"Day after day after day after day, he just kept improving."

Brady came in as the 4th string quarterback -… https://t.co/TeeDOBYcbt pic.twitter.com/qSADdgbXFg

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) January 15, 2026

 

Higher Impact Service

"Life is about the management of risk."

Be a thinker - a volleyball machine that is a fighter. The one area that falls fully under team control is serving. And each serve comes with a balance between reward (the possibility of an ace or hard to return serve) and risk (service error or 'easy to return' serve).

The server chooses among:

• Pace (velocity)
• Spin (topspin, sidespin, no spin)
• Direction (zone, seams)
• Depth (e.g. short or deep)
• Receiver

What are viable options and why? Think first, then read on. 

Think about a Stable of S's. And remember that "setting is your first attack." 

Sideline

Mark Twain is credited with saying, "there are three kinds of lies - lies, damned lies, and statistics." Imagine that serving between the receiver and the sideline has the highest chance of scoring. It probably has the highest chance of going out of bounds, too. 

Seams (between zone 1-6 or 5-6)

Serving to seams can create confusion among receivers. Is it mine or is it hers? Better teams communicate (ELO - early, loud, often) and don't get confused. Under pressure or noise, receivers may make errors). 

Short

Short serves barely "clear the tape," seeking sanctuary near or inside the ten-foot line. This can happen with short serves (e.g. Brooke Bell) or high topspin (Karen Sen). This stresses the back row defender to make a play on the ball or a credible pass. The risk is service error failing to clear the net. I'll argue that in a "gotta have it" point, the risk dominates. 

Softee

Ms. Softee is the weakest receiver. 2500 year-old advice comes from General Sun Tzu, "Utilize strengths. Attack weaknesses. Attacking the "weak sister" defender is just smart. 

Setter

Attacking the setter creates "out of system" play...pass-set-hit...becomes setter-secondary-attacker. 

Lagniappe. Sport is symmetry. If we attack weaknesses, defenses seek to bolster them. 

Bonus video.

 

Bonus Recipe: Desperate Cinnamon Rolls - Memories from the early 1960s

Bonus recipe for regular readers - "Desperate" cinnamon rolls. Why desperate? Because they're ready fast when you need them! 

No yeast, no rise, and ready in a jiffy. This reminded me of pie crust leftovers from my grandmother when I was a boy...she rolled and filled the extra dough and baked.  

Recipe from ChatGPT Plus (could probably use 1/3 cup of brown sugar instead of a half) 

Why this works

• No yeast

• No rise time

• Soft, biscuit-like texture

• Cinnamon-forward (your preference)

Ingredients

Dough

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

• ¾ cup milk

• ¼ cup melted butter

Filling

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp cinnamon (don’t be shy)

• 2 tbsp softened butter

Optional glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1–2 tbsp milk

• Splash of vanilla

Steps (15 minutes prep)

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Mix dry dough ingredients, stir in milk + butter.

3. Roll into a rectangle.

4. Spread butter, sprinkle brown sugar + cinnamon.

5. Roll tight, slice.

6. Bake 20–25 min.

7. Glaze warm.

Enjoy! 

Checking In with Yourself

https://t.co/zMjrmuBssf

— Thad Wells (@ThadWells) January 14, 2026

Bringing your best version takes work. Your best is the mix of your condition and rest, your soreness, your mental state, and checking in publicly.

If all your teammates were getting eight hours of sleep nightly and you were getting six, you are not competing on a level playing field.

Robust training and recovery are needed for high performance. Make it a priority. 

Lagniappe. There's work to do before you make plays. 

Seven Words

Simplify your story. What MVB narrative are you writing? Only you can provide that answer.

Key Point 1. You define your destiny.

You start with a blank slate. 

• What are your goals? 
• What advances your goals? 
• How do you track progress? 

Key Point 2. You are not alone. 

• "Everyone benefits from coaching." - Sean McVay
• "The only shortcut to excellence is mentoring." 
• "Look for the helpers." - Mr. Rogers

Key Point 3. Make your story great.

• Be memorable. Winning is memorable. 
• Your light reflects off your teammates. 
• To lead is to serve. 

The best players keep it simple. They see the game. They make good decisions. They execute the plays. They make others better.

Use no more than seven words. What are your seven words? Now write. 

Lagniappe. Form begets function. 

 

  

Playing Time

Gregg Popovich said, “It’s your job to make me play you.”

Playing time is earned.

A victim mindset says…I didn’t play because coach doesn’t like me.

A winning mindset says…I didn’t play because I haven’t earned it yet.

Don’t be a victim.pic.twitter.com/6iGZp3Xhe4

— Greg Berge (@GregBerge) January 14, 2026

Everyone wants more playing time. How do you get it? There are no secrets.

• Make the players around you better. 
• Earn Coach Scott Celli's trust. 
• Impact winning. 
• Trust the process - preparation, practice, execution.
• Be ready for every opportunity.

Without exception, everyone gets opportunities. The players able to take advantage of them earn more opportunities. Player performance sets the lineups. 

"Imitatsiya" - The Talent Code

An "elevator pitch" is a summary, distillation of an idea or process into a one-minute elevator trip. Here's the pitch. 

Where does greatness arise? In tennis, it began in a rundown, ancient facility with coaching from a 77 year-old woman with a bad hip. Some from "The Little Group" of 7U with backpacks, stuffies, and racquets became champions. 

If Preobrazhenskaya's approach reduced to one word (it frequently was), that word was tekhnika - technique.

Some of you want to be great - exceptional students, exceptional players, exceptional leaders. Coaches don't produce that fire. We add oxygen.

Special isn't born, it's aburrido...boring. It's perfecting your attack footwork, your platform skills, setting cheddar biscuits, and delivering serves that drive, dip, and dart.

Here's the Chat GPT Plus "top three summary" from "The Talent Code"

1. Deep Practice Builds Skill Faster Than Anything Else

Deep Practice means:

• Breaking skills into small chunks

• Operating at the edge of your ability—where mistakes occur

• Slowing down, correcting, refining

• Repetitive, mindful reps that strengthen myelin (the literal insulation around neural circuits)

Why it matters: Errors are not setbacks; they are the raw material of growth. The athlete who practices with attention, precision, and purpose accelerates faster than the one who simply “puts in time.”

For coaching: This is the foundation of game-speed drills, blocked-to-random progression, and high-quality feedback loops. It’s where volleyball, basketball, or any pursuit becomes craftsmanship.

2. Ignition: Motivation Is Sparked by Identity and Emotion

People do not work hard because they “should.” They work hard because something inside them is lit. Coyle calls this Ignition—an emotional spark, often triggered by:

• A role model (“someone like me did this… so maybe I can too”)

• A defining moment (“I want to be part of that”)

• A vision of future identity (“this is who I am becoming”)

Why it matters: Without ignition, practice stalls. With ignition, players self-drive improvement with remarkable intensity.

For coaching: This is the heart of culture building—role models, storytelling, reinforcing identity (“We are MVB; we train like champions”), and creating an environment where effort means something.

3. Master Coaching: Great Coaches Are Talent Whisperers

• They give clear, concise, actionable feedback

• They create a culture of safety and high expectations

• They model calm, patient, craftsperson energy

• They teach athletes how to practice, not just what to do

Why it matters: Coaching quality is multiplicative. Great coaches create great learners; great learners create great outcomes.

For coaching: This is Brad Stevens’ “be a truth-teller,” Wooden’s “be quick but don’t hurry,” and your own emphasis on clarity, decisiveness, and identity-building. The coach’s job is not just instruction. They shape the environment where deep practice and ignition thrive.

The Talent Code in One Sentence

Skill is built through deep, intentional practice, fueled by emotional ignition, and guided by master coaching.

Rhetoric*

*Adapted from my basketball blog. 

All opinions expressed within the blog are solely my own. The blog is not an official publication of any City of Melrose Organization

"No lines, no laps, no lectures..." - Brian McCormick

Coaches teach life, sport, and more - even language. Rhetorical devices are language tools of persuasion. Everyone uses them. Everyone can use them better. McCormick's quote stresses efficiency - getting more done in the time alloted. 

Coach Scott Celli asks players to give "shout outs" recognizing a teammate for extra effort or focus. During the Belmont game last year, a parent said that in their family, "there are only two seasons - volleyball season and offseason volleyball." 

Tricolon

McCormick's quote uses tricolon, three words or phrases used to grab attention and make an impression. You know Caesar's "I came, I saw, I conquered" or MacArthur's "duty, honor, country."

"Play hard, play smart, play together." I've heard that credited to Morgan Wootten 

"Vision, decision, execution." I've chosen that as another version of "see it, choose it, do it." 

"Teamwork. Improvement. Accountability."  Asking team members to remember laundry lists of values can be a "fool's errand." In his MasterClass, Navy SEAL team leader Jocko Willink tells the story of a team member who asks for three things to remember, "because I can't remember more than that." 

Metaphor

Metaphor compares two dissimilar things to highlight similarities. 

"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson   Jackson expresses a core value similar to "force multiplier" or a team can be greater "than the sum of its parts." 

"The ball has energy."  Willing passers create not only better angles and better shots but goodwill. Players have less incentive to pass or to move if they believe they won't get the ball back. 

"The ball is a camera."  If you want the ball, then you must get in a position where the ball (the passer) can see you. The camera metaphor emphasizes the value of playing without the ball. 

Chiasmus

Chiasmus mirrors words, phrases, or ideas in reverse order, often an A-B-B-A pattern. Kennedy's 1961 inauguration featured, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." 

"Do more to become more. Become more to do more." Encourage players to embrace their roles while working to grow them. 

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." - John Wooden   Better coaches and players have specific plans to create advantage when facing tough opponents. Belichick shared Sun Tzu's Art of War advice, "Utilize strengths; attack weaknesses." Trader Linda Bradford Raschke reminds investors to "Plan your trade and trade your plan." 

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson   This reminds all of us of the famous line, "the strength of the wolf is the pack." 

Some lines do heavy lifting.

Dean Smith said, “A lion never roars after a kill.” Smith's quote applies multiple metaphors - the lion is the winner, the kill is victory, and roaring symbolizes boasting or taunting. He messages his team to "Act like you've been there before."

Studying effective players, coaches, and their language helps us to become better communicators and influencers for our teams. 

Lagniappe. Adversity is our companion. We cannot wish it away.

Nick Saban said, "There can be no great victories in your life unless you overcome adversity."

"You can’t be a great competitor unless you overcome adversity. That's mental."

The best aren't fearless - they just keep showing up.

They choose toughness, persistence, and grit. pic.twitter.com/ybVBSwHbSv

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) December 28, 2025

Lagniappe 2. “There is seldom just one cockroach in the kitchen. You know, you turn on the light and, all of sudden, they all start scurrying around.” - Warren Buffett

Good teams have solid organization, training, and discipline. Less effective teams seldom have "one cockroach." There are usually correctable issues with preparation and training leading to execution problems. 

 

Convictions into Action*

*Inspired by On Character, by Stanley McChrystal

Hope is not a plan. 

"Convictions set the direction of our intentions, but discipline provides the impetus to move. Without the discipline to adhere to them, our best beliefs are just opinions—and everybody has some." - Stanley McChrystal in On Character: Choices That Define a Life

Like planting a tree, there's no doubt that the best time to do better was decades ago. The second best time is now.

As young people, first, what do you want? Second, if you know what you want, what will it take to access that? Then, are you willing to make the effort and sacrifices to get that? 

You have full ownership, mirrored by choice. You alone can make the commitment and exercise discipline. 

Character (Your Personal House)

Character Equation:

CHARACTER = CONVICTIONS x DISCIPLINE 

restated

CHARACTER - BELIEFS x ACTION

Your build your "house". 

CONVICTIONS (select your own)

• Learning creates a blueprint (for personal and group development)
• Share (be a good teammate not a selfish one) - starts with family
• Coaching drives performance ("Everyone benefits from coaching.")

DISCIPLINE 

• Set high standards, chased by daily actions.
• Show up every day. "Always do your best." 
• Do the right thing not the easy thing.

How do you "build your house?" 

Richie McCaw, created by ChatGPT Plus

1) Start with a blueprint. Think about what you want. 

2) Write it down. If you want to be the best libero in the state, write it. Writing is reality. When Richie McCaw was eight years old, his uncle had him sign a paper, Richie McCaw, G.A.B. (Greatest All-Black...New Zealand rugby team)

3) Track performance. "Winners are trackers."

Lagniappe. Attack better; monitor your performance. 

 

Bonus Post - The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ever

Regular readers pick up bonus recipes. Here's the best grilled cheese sandwich ever:

Ingredients: quantity depends on volume

Sliced sourdough bread (can substitute)

• Uncooked spinach
• Cream cheese
• Sliced tomato
• Mozzarella (shredded)
• Feta (crumbled)
• Mayonaisse 
• Dijon mustard
• Garlic

Create a mayo spread with about 2 tablespoons of mayo and tablespoon of Dijon

Wash and wilt the spinach in olive oil over medium heat about 2-3 minutes with salt, pepper, and minced garlic. Combine the wilted spinach with cream cheese. 

1. On one-side of bread put the mayo spread 

2. On the other side add the spinach/cream cheese spread

3. Fill the ungrilled sandwich with tomato, shredded mozzarella, and feta crumble

Grill the sandwich in butter for about three minutes on each side. Covering the pan may help melt the cheese better. 

The flavor profile is terrific...but it's a bit messy. 

Patriots Team Building - The 4 Hs

View on Threads

Team building is part of team culture. Many of you have played together for years. That doesn't mean that you've shared your 4 'H' experience. 

Here are the H's that Coach Mike Vrabel had players share: 

• History - most pro athletes don't grow up privileged. There's a saying in basketball about many growing up on 'the wrong side of the tracks'. 
• Heroes - Anybody could be your heroes. Women have been underrepresented in "Hero Culture." "Make friends with the dead," because only about seven percent of people ever born are alive today. Three women to consider are Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins (the first woman cabinet appointee), and Arlene Blum, an adventure who led the first all-woman team to climb Annapurna, one of 14 Himalayan peaks over 8,000 meters. There's an app - HERSTORY. "The Herstory app (often titled “Lessons in Herstory”) is a free educational augmented-reality (AR) app designed to bring women’s stories into history education by revealing important but often omitted women alongside traditional textbook content."
• Heartbreak - adversity is our companion in life. Sometimes we have to push through when things aren't working for us. "What is the lesson?"
• Hopes - your hopes and dreams are uniquely yours. Dream big and work even bigger. 

Control What You Can Control - Being a Great Teammate

A former player of mine told me about a friend and teammate. She said that the young woman was barely playing despite having won a state championship in high school, earning a scholarship.

The player told her that regardless of her minutes, her attitude wouldn't change. She would give her best effort at practice every day. 

Control what you can control. 

Control your attitude, choices, and effort. Being a great teammate impacts the team, your teammates, and you. Attitude, choices, and effort impact winning and demonstrate character. Reputation is what others think of us. Character is who we are. 

The overall "roster level" of volleyball skill has improved over time. The amount of playing time available has not.

Being a great teammate - punctual, prepared, studying the game plan and opponents, being in condition, practicing hard, supporting teammates - is a choice. Everyone cannot be a great player, but everyone can be a great teammate. 

Here's an AI take from the writings of Jeff Janssen, sports culture expert:

Jeff Janssen’s writing on team culture and “Most Valuable Teammates” boils down to a handful of repeatable behaviors—the stuff that shows up every day, not just in speeches. Here are five top attributes (with Janssen-style language and examples):

1. Team-first mentality
   Great teammates consistently put the group over ego—asking, “How can I best help us win?” rather than “How do I get mine?” janssensportsleadership.com

2. Role ownership and dependability
   They know, embrace, and execute their role with consistency—bringing reliable effort, readiness, and professionalism so coaches and teammates can trust them.

3. Positive energy and encouragement
   They build people up in concrete ways—compliment hard-working teammates, reinforce good habits, and keep the group emotionally steady.

4. Accountability with courage
   They’re willing to challenge unmotivated teammates and confront selfish behavior—peer-to-peer standards enforcement is a hallmark of “championship cultures.”

5. Care and connection (especially when someone struggles)
   They notice teammates who are struggling and respond like a leader—comforting them, staying respectful, and strengthening trust inside the locker room.

Lagniappe. Volleyball, like basketball, has offense, defense, and conversion from offense to defense. "Ball watching" instead of getting to spots, reading the play, slows down preparation and reaction.

 

Protecting Your Mental Toughness

Adversity is your companion. It challenges you. It changes you. It strengthens you or it beats you.

What "mental toughness qualities" have MVB standouts shown? 

• They rose up to meet challenges, even against boys (Burlington, 2005).
• They did not quit even when their backs were against the wall (too numerous to count).
• They won as underdogs on the road.
• They competed and won a sectional with young players (2010). 
• Top players competed under the weather and still put forth great effort. Sadie Jaggers played the "Jordan Game" in 2023. 

The key isn't more motivation - it's being aware of yourself, your mindset, and your actions.

Here are 6 traps that break mental toughness: pic.twitter.com/4jHfYQEiNW

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) November 11, 2025

1. Do hard well. 

2. Choose to succeed. Success is a choice.

3. Deserve to win. Age does not define you.

4. Set high standards.

5. See yourself as a champion before you are one.

6. Trust and believe in each other.  

Lagniappe. What separates the best from other players? It isn't what you might think. 

What the top 5% of tennis players all have in common pic.twitter.com/FnMBGaT8Lk

— Mindset Machine  (@Mindset_Machine) January 7, 2026

Plumbing the Depths of History

“Arnold’s effectiveness lay in (1) flexibility & tactical sense, (2) calm under fire, (3) ability to inspire loyalty & confidence in men through force of personal example.” - from “Once an Eagle” by Anton Myrer - did you know that Benedict Arnold, synonymous with traitor, was once an American military hero? 

"Once an Eagle" is a must read for aspiring military officers. The novel serves as a metaphorical manual for leadership.

As you matriculate through school, ask yourself what makes you effective as a leader and what makes you worthy of followers? 

Everyone can lead. You don't need a title to lead. Titles by themselves do not establish leadership. 

What words do you associate with leaders? Some examples:

• Character
• Competence
• Culture
• Communicator (organization, preparation, positivity)
• Connection

What's your "leadership growth" plan? 

In the Boston Sunday Globe, Nicole Yang reveals that Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel asked each player to share his 4Hs - history, hero, heartbreak, and  hopes. What are your 4Hs? 

Lagniappe: ChatGPT Plus extracts and shares leadership concepts from the MVB blog.

Here are six leadership lessons that show up repeatedly on the Melrose Volleyball (MVB) blog—written as actionable “do this” points for high school athletes.

1) Lead where you stand (distributed leadership)

MVB stresses that great teams aren’t just “captain-led.” They’re player-led: athletes hold standards, model habits, and own the process—every day, not only on game night.

Try this: Pick one “non-stat” leadership job per week (energy, communication, bring a teammate along, reset after errors) and own it.

2) Model excellence with consistency

The blog emphasizes that leadership is visible in the boring stuff: punctuality, effort, positivity, showing up daily, and “how excellence looks” (attention, listening, posture, communication).

Try this: Be the same person in warmups as you are in the fifth set.

3) Use a “North Star” to filter choices under stress

MVB frames a North Star as a behavior filter, especially when the scoreboard is ugly or emotions are loud: it keeps you aligned with values and prevents the “easy wrong” choices.

Try this: Write a 1–2 line North Star (team + personal). When you feel rattled, ask: “Is my next action on-brand?”

4) Culture is what you accept—so choose what you tolerate

One recurring theme: culture beats slogans. It’s built by what the group permits (effort, respect, gratitude, humility, unity). Leadership means protecting the culture daily, not occasionally.

Try this: If something is slipping (negativity, eye-rolls, loafing), address it early—calmly and specifically.

5) Make teammates better (mentoring + specifics)

The blog calls out leadership as mentoring and lifting others—upperclassmen teaching “this is how we do it,” and leaders focusing on specific ways to raise the group’s level.

Try this: Each practice, help one teammate with one concrete thing (a serve routine cue, footwork, a confidence reset).

6) Build antifragility: learn from stress, don’t fear it

MVB pushes “antifragility”: teams grow stronger by embracing process, adaptability, resilience, and “self-organizing” leadership—players solving problems, holding each other accountable, and learning from losses without blame.

Try this: After a loss or rough practice, write: (1) what happened, (2) what I controlled, (3) what I’ll do differently next time.

 

Apologies - Both Unoriginal and Original Thinking

All opinions expressed in this blog are solely mine. It is not an official publication of any City of Melrose organization. 

Writing daily during the season is easy. During the 'offseason' I take a cue from "Finding Forrester," and use other people's words to launch into a few of my own. "The blog" recently crossed the '5200' threshold, which is not to mistake quantity for quality. None of us can separate our values independently from our experience. 

Dr. Fergus Connolly, Human Performance expert, shares his expertise often on linked in, as well as in several exceptional books. 

What coaches seek is high performance. Dr. Connolly shares that efficiency is not the same as execution, although they can be linked. 

Visiting a team's practice can "unlock" ideas about efficiency. For example:

• Ralph Labella and I visited the UCONN women's practice which has high tempo, assisted by at least six managers. They track everything. I couldn't tell whether practice was taped. I expect it was. 
• Brad Stevens discussed the value of attending Patriots' practices during the Belichick era. Ellen and I attended a Celtics' practice and saw the importance of assistants as they led the practice as the team prepared for the Raptors. 
• I scripted practices according to what "need" areas I perceived for our young players. The practice was organized to be at least 50 percent fundamentals (ballhandling, shooting, player development) and lesser portions on team offense and defense, handling defensive pressure, scrimmages and "special situations" like out-of-bounds plays and after timeouts (ATOs)

As a player, think about potential need areas for the team, for you individually, and how your skills fit into that picture. 

MVB 26 will look 'different' than MVB 25 with challenging competition at virtually every position. The fiercest competition may arise from the "scoring" slots - service-generated points, pin hitters, and individual/combination blocking. If getting and staying on the court drive you, those roads need navigation. 

Lagniappe. Student-athletes learn leadership from those closest to them (family, peers, teachers/coaches) and from reading. Here's an AI (DeepSeek) post about leadership lessons from "Once an Eagle." Select as many as you feel resonate with you. 

Coach Ellis Lane shared enduring principles with us - family, school, basketball. 

Anton Myrer's epic military and leadership novel, Once an Eagle, is a foundational text for many military officers and business leaders, framed as a lifelong contrast between two archetypes: the selfless, strategic Sam Damon and the ambitious, political Courtney Massengale. (Note: to be labeled a Massengale is a career-crippler in the military.) 

The top ten leadership principles, drawn from the virtues of Sam Damon and the failings of Courtney Massengale, are:

1. The Mission and Your Men Come Before Yourself. This is the novel's core, captured in the famous quote: "There is only one rule, one immutable law: of the mission and the men... the men come first, and the mission must always be accomplished." A true leader serves both, sacrificing personal ambition for their fulfillment.

2. Lead from the Front. Sam Damon consistently shares the hardships and dangers of his troops. He believes you cannot understand the reality of a situation or earn genuine respect from a position of insulated comfort. Presence builds trust.

3. Master Your Craft. Be a technical and tactical expert. Damon studies logistics, terrain, history, and the minutiae of soldiering. Competence is the foundation of credibility. Massengale, by contrast, is a master of "the system" and theory, not the gritty reality.

4. Moral Courage Over Political Savvy. The book's central conflict. Doing the right thing is more important than doing the career-advancing thing. Damon repeatedly chooses integrity over promotion, even when it costs him. Massengale's political maneuvering ultimately leads to catastrophe.

5. Know the Terrain (Literally and Figuratively). Damon's legendary ability to read a map and the actual ground is a metaphor for understanding the true reality of any situation—the human terrain of your team, the market, the enemy. Don't rely on reports from afar.

6. Simplicity and Clarity in Orders. Damon's operations are built on clear, achievable objectives understood at all levels. Massengale's plans are often complex, aesthetically pleasing on paper, but brittle and incomprehensible to those who must execute them.

7. Take Care of Your People. This goes beyond basic needs. It means knowing their names, their families, their capacities, and fighting for their welfare. Damon's men follow him because they know he sees them as human beings, not tools.

8. The Power of Decisiveness in the Face of Uncertainty. "A tolerable plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." Damon understands that inaction in a crisis is often the greatest failure. He gathers what information he can, then acts.

9. Humility and Continuous Learning. The truly strong leader is never afraid to admit a mistake, learn from a subordinate, or adapt. Damon is a constant student. Massengale's fatal flaw is his arrogance and inability to accept criticism or blame.

10. The Long View: Build for the Future. True leadership is about stewardship—leaving your organization, your unit, or your people better than you found it. It's about developing the next generation of leaders (like Damon does with individuals like Bowdon), not just building a personal monument.

In Essence: The novel argues that authentic, enduring leadership (Damon-style) is rooted in character, competence, and selfless service, while the counterfeit (Massengale-style), though often successful in the short term, is built on ambition, politics, and personal aggrandizement and ultimately fails when tested. The title itself is the final lesson: in the long moral arc of history, the cunning of the serpent (Massengale's emblem) will always be subordinate to, and defeated by, the courageous heart of the eagle (Damon's emblem).

Developing Your Code, the Struggle for Virtue

"How do we preserve in peace the virtues necessary to win in war?" - General John Vessey, Jr., Introduction to Once an Eagle (by Anton Myrer)

Be a competitor worth following. 

Consider your personal goals. Summarize them in one sentence. What would that be?

It might be as simple as "to be a good person" or "to be the best version of myself every day."

“I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent.” - Dawn Staley (US Women's National Team Coach)

The people you meet (your family being primary) and the books you read inform 'models' that inspire, appall, and define all in-between.

Benjamin Franklin sought to understand virtue, even creating a "tablet" with thirteen virtues embossed. 

Image created by ChatGPT Plus

Franklin realized that he fell short of his aspirations. For example, he said of humility, "If I should achieve it, then I surely would be proud." 

Author David Brooks discussed resume virtues and eulogy virtues. One can compile a lengthy resume and fall horribly short during life's final accounting. Colleague Henry Haynes put it simply, "there are no U-Hauls behind hearses." Metaphorically speaking, our reputation might precede us but our character outlives us.

In his speech to graduates at West Point, General Douglas MacArthur advised a simple three-word code, "Duty. Honor. Country." 

In January 1974, sportswriter Heywood Hale Broun said, “Anybody who teaches a skill, which coaches do, is admirable. But sport doesn’t build character. Character is built pretty much by the time you’re six or seven. Sports reveals character."

Virtue sometimes exacts prices upon its models. “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” — Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize winner, education advocate, and a global symbol of moral courage.

The many great players in MVB history shared many examples worthy of your consideration - competition, discipline, sacrifice, sportsmanship, teamwork. Embracing virtue guarantees neither praise nor victory, only private satisfaction. 

Your virtues are not medals. They are your habits, loyalty, and grit. Carry them as shields. Protect them and use them in pressure. 

Be worthy competitors. Be worthy of following. 

Lagniappe. 

 

Addition or Subtraction?

Is less more? Sometimes teams derive benefits from subtracting mental and physical errors. Ask how that process occurs. Coaches can be transformational or transactional.

Human performance expert Alistair McCaw totals up how more can be better from his book, "Lead with Purpose." 

Differences between a POOR leader and a GREAT Leader:
Source: https://t.co/CNk2z076jO pic.twitter.com/1FLrppEx31

— Allistair McCaw (@AllistairMcCaw) January 7, 2026

• Practice and play with effort
• Be intentional (have goals to improve)
• Bring joy to the court 

Lagniappe. What's the starting frontcourt in September 2026? I don't know. You don't know. Coach Scott Celli doesn't know. Ideally, some of you "kick the door down" and establish the role. 

Blocking is incredibly important and the team has room to grow. If you become a dominant blocker, that can cement a "pin position." 

If you want to earn a front row spot, this video may have your name on it. Even with a good read, lateral quickness matters...meaning both footwork and athleticism. 

 

Win the Mental Game

Your sports ceiling depends on the intersection of multiple factors:

• Skill
• Strategy (volleyball IQ)
• Physicality (strength, quickness, conditioning)
• Psychology (resilience)

Professional and Olympic athletes recognize the power of the mental game. Embrace and grow it. 

Excellence crosses domains. Here's input from AI (ChatGPT Plus) that relate Dr. Rotella's "Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect" to competitive volleyball with MVB history when applicable. 

1) Play to a target, not away from trouble

Volleyball translation: Serve and attack with an intended zone/shape, not just “don’t miss.”
Looks like: “Deep seam to 1/6,” “high hands off the outside blocker,” “roll to line corner.” A clear picture beats vague caution.

MVB - the elite players had craft and athleticism

2) Your mind’s job is commitment; your body’s job is execution

Rotella’s core idea: the best swings happen when the brain gets out of the way.
Volleyball translation: Decide early, then let trained movement happen.
Looks like: Serve toss = no second-guessing. Setter location = choose the best option, then deliver without steering.

MVB - the analogy is a computer; your body is your hardware and your decision-making comes from your 'software'. Upgrade both. 

3) One swing / one serve: fully present

Volleyball translation: The last point is gone. The next point is a single rep.
Looks like: Your between-point routine resets attention: breathe → quick cue → go.

MVB - "Win this point" or "next play."

4) Trust is a skill you practice

Confidence isn’t a personality trait; it’s a habit built by repeated “I can do this” reps under stress.
Volleyball translation: Train “trust reps” intentionally (especially in serve/receive and late sets).
Looks like: Pressure servers still aim to a target; passers still call seams; hitters still choose a shot.

MVB - Your ability to get and stay on the court relates to 'trust'. 

5) Evaluate decisions, not just outcomes

A good swing can produce a bad bounce; a good volleyball play can still lose the rally.
Volleyball translation: Grade the choice and process first, then outcome.
Looks like: “That was the right serve to their weakest passer,” even if it clips the tape and goes long next time.

MVB - Become your own quarterback with better decisions leading to better outcomes. 

6) Stay in your “thinking box,” then switch to your “playing box”

Rotella’s classic: plan behind the ball, then shut the mind off when you step in.
Volleyball translation: Use time-outs, dead balls, and huddles to think; once the whistle blows, compete.
Looks like: Pre-serve: pick target + cue (“tall, smooth”). After whistle: no coaching yourself mid-motion.

MVB - "Plan your craft, then craft your plan."

7) Acceptance is performance fuel

Acceptance isn’t liking mistakes; it’s refusing to add a second mistake (anger, blame, panic).

Volleyball translation: Missed serve? Accept, then re-enter the rally mindset immediately.
Looks like: Neutral face, quick breath, “next ball” language, sprint to defensive base.

MVB - Don't chase perfection; chase excellence.

8) The score doesn’t change the job

Rotella hammers this: the swing is the same whether it’s practice or Sunday back-nine.
Volleyball translation: Your serve routine is identical at 23–23 as it is at 6–3.
Looks like: Same cadence, same target, same cue. You “borrow calm” from routine.

MVB - Process. Process. Process. Develop and trust the process.

9) Your self-talk must be an asset, not a heckler

Volleyball translation: Replace critique with cues.
Looks like: Instead of “don’t shank,” say “angle early.” Instead of “I can’t miss,” say “high and deep seam.”

MVB - Make your self-talk drive identity and performance. 

10) Compete with what you have today

Rotella’s players stop waiting for perfect feel and start playing smart with the day’s swing.
Volleyball translation: If your timing is off, win with margin, shot selection, and defense.
Looks like: “My jump serve is shaky—go to a tough float to zone 1.” “My kill isn’t there—tool, tip, recycle.”

MVB - Your job is to give what the game needs. 

Lagniappe. Remember the concept of marginal gains. A theoretical one percent daily gain yields over a 37-fold improvement. Make today matter. 

Your entire life can change in one year. Not ten. Not five. Not three. One. One year of focused, daily effort. You’re one year of focus away from people calling you lucky.

— Sahil Bloom (@SahilBloom) December 31, 2025