Trying to understand a few things

I went in to work early to try and understand a few things about volleyball this year. I thought I should utilize the volleyball coach that was more than happy to explain things to me.

I've been reading up on soccer a little bit...actually a lot. I have soccer for dummies. I can't lie. I bought that.

I'm sort of learning about the position of back-lines on defense. The stuff I'm reading is slightly complicated and harder for someone who doesn't fully understand soccer lingo. I wish I saw this with X's and O's. I think I'm grasping it slowly.

Hopefully when I get to watch soccer I will have a better feel for whats going on. I'd like to be educated enough to get excited about something other than a goal being scored or a diving save being made.

Another thing I've read talks about how anyone can be good on defense if they have the desire to be good on defense.

I believe that's true. It takes more grit, reliability, hustle and toughness to do well on defense than it does talent.

One thing I know Coach Auriemma has talked about...and many other coaches have surely talked about too...is how the incoming freshman always come in knowing how to score. So many of the highly recruited players in sports score a lot...(often times they are moved to different positions and utilized differently in college and pros...)

Anyway, basically everyone knows how to score...and in basketball freshman usually dominated when they were in high school. They would drop 20-30 points per game and their team would win. They never had to worry about playing defense because they could score at will.

As you play against better competition you can't get away with not playing defense. Many young players have to learn to focus on defense. They have to pay as much attention to defense as they do on offense.

I also believe that you can always raise your defensive pressure. You can always hustle more, be tougher etc. You can always display effort. That can always make a difference. You can't always rely on talent. Sometimes you just aren't on. Your not mentally dialed in or your just having a bad day. On those days you can still be effective if you work hard, and hustle and give maximum effort. Effort is something that can always be controlled.

I think I've said that 8,000 times. I just think hustling is underrated. I'm more impressed by the player who consistently gets offensive rebounds than I am by the player who can make an alley-oop from half court.

The Alley Oop is great entertainment. The offensive rebounds win games.

I also love players who are in the right spot at the right time. A great example of this is Meghan Gardler. When she plays she always seems to be able to get in the middle of things and make an impact on the game. I think they are in that spot because they just have a certain feel for the game. A certain instinct that allows them to process little cues quickly to help them make sure they get to a spot on the court where they can make something happen.