In our efforts to improve and compete to win, we can often become our own worst critics. I think that we could all share in some frustrations from this weekend, but first and foremost, I want to acknowledge the positive.
The highlight of the day was probably our match vs. Mt. Hood. I played some girls in positions they weren’t used to playing, and I was impressed with the teams’ collective response to this. I am continually amazed by these girls’ selfliness and the way they consistently put the team before themselves. I think that our serving went well inthis game along with our passing. We have improved on our third ball attack (down balls vs. free balls) and out of system sets. We are becoming much more aggressive on offense.
Now for what I think we can and WILL do better on. We definitely felt the absence of Kendal and Erin this weekend. I do not think we responded well to this, nor did we show up to the gym ready to play. We need to realize that when we put the CCJV jersey on, that means we are ready to go, ready to compete, no matter how early it is, no matter who is on the other side of the net. When we step on to the court, it is time to focus on the match ahead of us. What disappointed me most this weekend was not the win-loss record, it never is, it is the lack of focus. It was the balls the continued to drop between two people, not calling the ball, not being on base, going for the ball with one hand-those are things I refuse to tolerate because it is simply a lack of focus, not a lack of skill.
There is a drastic difference between the way we practice and the way we compete that I’m sure everyone can see. I do not get the same sense of conidence in competition that I feel from practice. We MUST be able to translate successes in practices into competition.
I asked the girls what they are afraid of-is it loosing? Me? Disappointing me? The answer was unanymously-disappointing me. My response to this was-let’s define what disappoints me: lack of effort, lack of heart, lack of teamwork. If we don’t win a single game the rest of the season, yet have all three of these things…I will be a happy camper. But I truly believe that if these things are present for every game…we won’t be loosing the way we have been.
I want everyone to know how unbelievably blessed I feel with this team (players and parents). I could not ask for a harder working, more fun group of girls. I care about every single one of those girls a great deal. That being said, I told the girls that I am just done being nice. From now on, I have to put the girls on the court that are going to get the job done, and that might mean some girls just don’t play..until they can prove to me in practice that they can beat that other person out..or that they can be a better leader.
That’s all I have for now. I’m looking forward to a good practice!
Thank you all SO MUCH for the blanket! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
With love,
April
