10 Rules for playing ‘my’ game…

…kinda like 10 rules for dating my daughter, right? Anyways, please consider hitting the ‘FOLLOW’ button.  If you like things like this, you’re welcome to contribute to my retirement fund by purchasingmy book…and for under $5….

Also important–nothing below is really directly related to volleyball.  It’s advice for managing players and personalities–and helping young people become great adults.

1: Do it right every time. . Be dependable, be consistent. Don’t be afraid to do new things when asked—simply give 100% at everything you do. People not playing (coaches, fans, etc) notice when players are not giving 100% . As you grow older, it will become more and more obvious who is and isn’t giving 100%.

2: Speed brings victory.  Hustle on the court in games, in practice.  Hustle to shag balls and the other ‘grunt work’ and the hustle becomes automatic.  You’ll play quicker—more balls in play, more chances to hit.  More hits, more points—more victories.

3: You don’t have to think ‘outside the box’ (shh….I know my blog’s title).  Just be focused on what’s going on ‘in the box!’  During practice and matches, keep your mind on volleyball.  Don’t dwell on why you are mad at Betty and don’t wonder if Jane’s comment was an insult or not. You shouldn’t be worried about Tina talking to your boyfriend. You HAVE to focus on volleyball. Teams that focus win. Teams that bring in irrelevant stuff from ‘outside the box’ lose.

4: Respect your teammates and coaches.  Don’t talk behind a teammate’s back. If you have something to say—good or bad—make sure you are willing to say it to their face or remain silent.  Consider your words before saying something and consider going out of your way to say something if it is positive.

5:  Ask questions!  I will regularly ask you for opinions. It doesn’t mean that what you suggest is what we’ll do, but feedback is ABSOLUTELY important. The reverse is also true—if you have questions, ask. The cliché is true for the most part….there are no stupid questions.

6: Be mellow.  Communicate.  Listen.  Don’t allow for misunderstandings between you and someone else. Don’t turn someone away when they need to talk with you—listen and reflect on what they have to say. If this exists both ways, communication WILL be effective.  Your teammates are your friends.  Always remember that.

7: Keep in mind the big picture.  Remember that there is more going on than one day in practice, one match. No one on the team will play every point.  Starters may change, injuries can happen. The big picture is about growing up. It’s about commitment and work ethic and learning what leads to success.  This is important for the next four, five, or six decades. It’s about your education. Don’t get caught up in petty squabbles, you will be miserable, make others miserable, and you will miss out on everything that will make this season part of a wonderful portrait when you look back years from now.

8: If you saw a little old lady with a flat tire on the highway and no one around, you’d stop and help, or at least wait with them until the Highway Patrol arrived. You wouldn’t think twice about this. You don’t ignore them. You’d certainly stop if the person was your friend.  So why not do this in our gym.  If there is a problem, stop and help fix it. The three big parts of this are:

Empathize.  Can you understand the other person’s situation or are you caught up in ‘me, me, me’?

If you make a mistake, it’s okay to admit it.  Apologize, then strive not to repeat the mistake.

You MUST risk being taken advantage of by others for the sake of the team and the team’s goals.  Help someone get better even if they could be promoted over you, accept responsibility even if you risk temporarily being unpopular.

9: Do you appreciate your teammates? Have you told them that directly? Or are they left wondering what you are thinking as you whisper to someone else? Never, ever, discount the value of positive comments to teammates.  You may find your comment comes at the prefect moment to help a downcast teammate—you may never know you helped or that help was necessary

10: This is the tough one. Tattoo this somewhere on your body (not really):KNOW YOURSELF. On top of that, make sure others see the real you. If your teammates know you struggle with confidence on your hitting, they will be more likely to offer encouragement. If you are having relationship issues, if they know, they will be less likely to make jokes and avoid unintentional hurt, leading to drama and poisoned personal relationships.