To Those Competing At The Resch This Weekend…
As we near the end of the high school season, a fraction of Wisconsin teams are still in the running for the elusive gold ball. The playoffs can be intense, and the unfortunate fact is that at the end of each match, one team’s season has come to an end. Some seniors have played their last points and some players start turning their focus to club season.
From little on, I spent many years on the bench watching and learning from my mother’s varsity players. I then spent 8 years as a varsity or collegiate player, and this is my first fall in 10 years that I have not been seated on the bench in a coaching role. I’ve enjoyed the role as media/fan.
Although I will admit, I missed my players and coaching staff a great deal. My point is, besides the fact that I’m apparently getting pretty old, I have experienced past seasons as a manager (youth), player, coach, and spectator. Here are a few tips for the playoffs:
Serving Is A Big Deal
This is one skill that requires no teammates to practice, a player has 100% control over, and can make or break a match. With that being said, if you miss a serve, it is not the end of the world, and you will live to play the next point, rotation, set, match, etc. So learn now how to let go and move on from an error because chances are pretty good that you will have to serve again in 6 rotations and you need to focus on making that serve, rather than not missing it.
Be Enthusiastic!
If you or your teammate gets a kill, get loud! Be excited and don’t worry about who is watching! I had a team once where the girls were nervous about celebrating or getting loud about a great play because they were afraid fans, spectators, boys, whoever would judge them.
Let me tell you, you probably will be judged more critcally if you don’t celebrate! And that goes double for those on the bench. I am so disappointed when I see players on a bench sulking or disengaged, rather than staying active in the game by talking to and cheering ontheir teammates.
Remember that you make a difference, no matter where you are on the court or bench. You get 4 shots IF you are lucky enough to be on varsity for 4 seasons. You are not guaranteed next season, so live in that moment and give your team all you’ve got!
Sportsmanship Is Huge
I purposefully followed up being enthusiastic with this note on sportsmanship because I love a great cheer, especially a block cheer, because there is just nothing else like it, BUT I cannot stand seeing a cheer being directed at the opposing side. Face your teammates and only your teammates (bench included). You should never turn around to direct a cheer at the opposing side or scream in their direction.
If you’re loud enough, they will hear you. There is no reason to do that, and if I were a referee, I would not tolerate it. And while I’m on the topic of referees, don’t argue with them! You won’t magically convince them to change their minds. You can ask for a call or ask for rule clarification, but do not pout, lie, or beg for a call. It doesn’t help and reflects poorly.
Get The Next One
Every player on the floor has made hundreds, if not thousands, of mistakes. You will make them, too. How you react to that mistake is SO MUCH more important than the mistake itself. Don’t turn away from your teammates.
You have been taught to meet in the middle and regroup. Don’t throw them off or change the vibe on the court by turning your back on your teammates. Suck it up, own it, and focus on getting the next point.
Embrace The Journey
One thing that I did 100% right when I was a senior was being able to move on after the last match, cherish the moment I was in at that point, and then turn my focus onto the next match. I did not allow myself to think, “What if we lose this match and we are done?” I focused on giving everything I had to my team and left it all out on the floor.
We made it to the Resch, but not to the Saturday Championship match. I was still smiling because I knew that I did everything I could. Sure, I made errors here and there, but I gave it all I had. I will admit that the finality of the season did catch up to me as we drove into town with a fire truck escort.
It wasn’t until then that I realized it was over. Then I cried, a lot, because the journey with my teammates was over, and while we had become family, the inevitable would happen as we all moved into our next sport seasons and re-formed teams and created more new memories. The next time you step on the court, take a deep breath, and take it all in. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.