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Spike the Attitude
Coach E.
July 01, 2024
Quotes of the week
"Your attitude is a powerful force. It can light up a room or cast a shadow" - Coach E.
"A leader's heart fuels the team's spirit, while their mind navigates the path to success." Coach E.
Story of The Week
Emily was an amazing college volleyball player, captivating the crowd with her relentless pursuit of every dig, spike, and block as if her life depended on it. She practiced harder than anyone, a true powerhouse on the floor. However, her talent was overshadowed by a personality that left much to be desired. Known for blaming her teammates for failures and boasting about her abilities, Emily’s arrogance strained her relationships with the team.
The breaking point came after a crucial game, where her finger-pointing attitude cost them the win. The team’s second-best player, Amy, quit, declaring it wasn't worth enduring Emily’s behavior anymore. Coach Tony benched Emily, and her teammates gave her the silent treatment. Despite losing the next match, the team’s spirits were high, contrasting sharply with Emily's sulking at the end of the bench.
"You can keep pouting, but you're not seeing the floor until your attitude changes," Coach Tony said firmly. "It starts with supporting your team from the bench and making amends with Amy."
Emily realized the gravity of her situation. It hit Emily square in the face that people liked her only for her skills, not her character. Instead of criticizing, she began cheering hard for her teammates’ efforts and hustle from the sidelines. Taking a bold step, she invited Amy to lunch and apologized, admitting she needed Amy to push her in practice. Emily’s sincerity marked a turning point.
Determined to change, she worked tirelessly to make amends. Her newfound humility and support for her teammates transformed the team’s dynamic. Emily became a motivator, leading the team with a positive influence. As the season progressed, they rallied together, culminating in a championship win, with Emily still shining as the best player, but now also as the heart of the team.
Athletes
Are you an Emily? If you think you might be, change your ways. It's that simple. If you're unsure, set aside your ego and ask your coach and teammates for their honest opinions.
Do you know an Emily? You’re not the problem, but you can be part of the solution. Talk to your coach and request a meeting with all three of you. Tell the truth. Many times, people don't realize how their actions affect others. In the right setting, people are more likely to change because they want to be respected and liked.
Parents
If your child is an Emily, address it and don't enable it. If you don't know how, reach out to Coach E. for help. If you know an Emily, stay in your lane. Coaches and teammates don't need parents interfering. It usually makes things worse, not better.
Coaches
If you don't address the "Emily" on the team and deal with it properly, then you are part of the problem. You are hurting the team in the present and Emily in the long run. If you prioritize winning at all costs over correcting behavior and team building, you are not a good coach. News flash: Winning a game in 2024 in a city somewhere in North America on a Saturday afternoon is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Even less so when you look back in 2050. However, if you help people become leaders with great character, that will be significant in 2050 and beyond.
Stat of the week
How many push-ups can you do?
World Record for Non-Stop Push-Ups is 10,507
6,006 Charles Linster (USA) in 1965
7,026 Robert Knecht (USA) in 1976
7,650 Henry C. Marshal (USA) in 1977
10,507 Minoru Yoshida (JPN) in 1980
The push-ups had to be performed non-stop, once the front leaning rest position is no longer maintained, the exercise is over. Later the Guinness editors dropped this category from their book. They changed the standard from most consecutive push-ups to the most in 24 hours leaving it up to the athlete how many rest breaks he will use and how long those rest breaks will last. True push-up legends say the non-stop category will always remain the "true" record for push-ups.
FYI:
On April 25, 1993, Charles Servizio accomplished 46,001 push-ups in a span of 24 hours, and it has yet to be broken more than 30 years later. Maybe you need a goal? lol
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