In many of our years as a program, CHS has aimed for a state championship. In some years, a state title was not enough and the team aimed higher. Maybe a regional championship or an Amherst Invite championship. That lofty goal can challenge us to aim high.
In some years, we have fallen short of that big goal, but then had the flexibility to switch gears and focus on another goal. Instead of the Northeastern’s championship, then maybe the state championship. If not the state title, then at least a win in the third place game. Flexibility to finish the season on a different but still strong note.
We have our big outcome goals. But we must also have our smaller process goals. Achieve the smaller goals along the way. Developing that backhand huck. Learning to lock down your guy on defense. Etc. #process
4. Have goals without bitterness attached to them.
Since letting the state championship streak fall in 2014, I had grown bitter and wanted to beat back our rival. But that can be a negative and self-defeating goal. Your goals should not be about the other team. Your goals should be about your team. Your goals should be about you. Be the best that you can be. The other team is there to help you become your best. Cherish your opponents.
I hate to lose. I hate to see CHS lose. But many of our losses together were also our biggest teachers. Our program will see more championships but we will continue to have losses. Let those losses still be your teachers. Learn from the mistakes. And don’t be afraid to keep making mistakes.
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Success wasn’t winning the Coconut Classic. Success were the things we did as a team along the way. Success was the Varsity team recovering in the quarterfinal after getting broken twice to start the game, rediscovering their confidence, and playing aggressively on a 15-1 run to complete that game.
If you think that I’m saying that bored cliche, “it’s about the journey, not the destination” cliche. Then you’re still not listening. This is it. “Success is THE journey; success is not the destination.”
If we are to think that success was achieved with a big fall tourney win and maybe later a state championship or national invite title in the spring, then we have already lost.
Success is in the doing. Success is doing that thing wholeheartedly and with sincerity. And if we are doing it in that way, then we are being successful.
Commit to getting stronger and more explosive in the offseason. Play indoor winter league and learn different styles and form new friendships.
Return in the spring and buy in again. Don’t cheat yourself or your teammates with any shortcuts. There aren’t any. Success is the long road.
Continue to have faith in your abilities and do not get clouded in negative self-talk.
If you love wholeheartedly and sincerely the thing you are doing, AND KEEP PRACTICING, then nothing can stop you.
Continue to work hard and the hard work will give you confidence.
Underclassmen – respect your seniors. 2018 is their year. Your time will come.
7. Purpose is the eternal condition of success. Goals are your purpose. Mistakes are learning moments. Success is the path. Success is in the doing.
For nearly ten years, our teams have owned the mantra “Never Enough”. That the countless hours of practice would not be enough. That the state championships would not be enough. That the many weekends of our parents driving overnight road trip tournaments would not be enough. That successive double digit wins over our local rivals at last week’s tournament are still not enough.As I move on from coaching, it’s now my turn to say “enough.”
For our current active players, it’s not yet enough.
Remember that success is in the doing. Success is THE way. Success is not at the end of the way.
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