My, my my. What a long strange trip it's been. I thought Burning Man was strange. Then I came back to the court...
Let me elucidate in full eriudite elder statesman fashion:
What is this Mickey Mouse shit about games and teams!?
Only the old ones realize that when AWVP invstigated Riata in 2005 that the rule was win and stay in, all day! No mix it up, no dry people, none of that stuff. One team to rule them all, and in the sunshine slaughter all comers. A thank you would be nice for efforts to change that, but I won't hold my breath : )
JRod and I were talking today about putting together a watervolleyball handbook.
Allow me to offer my suggestions:
Page 1. We keep score. Which means that the games will be competitive, and someone will win, and someone will lose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC1yHLp9bWA
There are only so many hugs that will fix that fact. Even those who are currently upset are less upset if they win I'd expect.
I've never been a fan of "fluffing" as a general practice. We came to get down. I feel uncomfortable doing anything less than my best for my team, no matter what the matchups look like, or what the score is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4fgGZEggxE
Page 2. Drinking. We do it. And set the bar pretty high as well in terms of how much. Go over that line, and you might just become "that guy" who is over the line, Drunky, and will be beat up by the other team accordingly. And let your team down, accordingly. Probably hardest lesson to learn.
Page 3. Skill level. This is a very hard game for new people to get into. I'm really trying to help with that. There is absolutely no other option I can think of than new people taking their lumps. Best plan is for them to shirt up to make sure they don't get excluded in captains situations. Then help them pick a team. If they want to opt with plahying with all their friends, they're likely to get a rude painful surprise. Letting people win is not in our repetoire, and I get mad when I'm on a team and I feel like I'm getting toyed with.
New people who do the right things and can play should be included and respected. Tall Kyle thanked me today for playing with him and said no one ever sets him. He's tall, and if he doesn't get set because we are "set" in our ways, he won't get to learn how to use those arms. See "Slim Jim"
Page 4 Trigger time. I'm still of the opinon it takes 5 years to develop a player who walks in with no experience. We now expect them to do it in a couple of games. More "Coach Ford" with positive advice on this, and less angry.
This weekend was a mixed bag for me. Played well Saturday, struggled Sunday, and got slaughtered Labor Day for 3/4 of the day, until finally, finally, I got some chemistry: Ford Jess Joe Tbone Wescott--special guest Ronin Steve at some point I think. That's not the tallest team ever, but it worked.
Page 5 Anger. It's an energy, if used wisely. I don't much enjoy getting my ass kicked, but am willing to engage to keep the games going, play, and take my chances. There have been at least 10 games I can think of this year where the super teams got knocked out of the box. I believe I was part of 2 in a row on one day that made the AAR. That's why we play the games.
Page 6 What comes around goes around. A new record was set--20 straight serves for 21-0 victory in last game. The love was spread on this slaughter in terms of serve distribution against a team that had a puncher's chance--Scott, Dan, 2 sanders, and Nate and Drunk Steve. I won't tell you who did that, but how you like me now!? Refer back to page 5.
Page 7 There is a dream that is BALL. Honor it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBEXSiFzOfU
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