A Pillar's Approach to TOGS

Preparation for a TOGS tournament begins the day after the previous year's Finals. 

Did we win TOGS? If the answer is yes then my mind begins to dwell on what worked. What were some positive takeaways from the tournament? I'll spend some time encouraging my partner on his great setting or blocking. Then I'll turn inward and start to ride the high of a few good digs and kills. 

Life is good after a win, I remain optimistic about what tweaks we can make to be even better next year but I don't get too consumed with changing things because as the great Karch Kiraly says, "don't fix what ain't broken". I believe Wayne Gretzky said that as well but I'm not one to name drop. I'm also a friend of a professional volleyball player named Troy Field and he says that all the time. Basically, don't change a thing and keep being awesome.  

Did we lose TOGS? If the answer is yes then don't remind me. I know... I think about it every day. I begin to scheme and examine our game, what went wrong? How could I let Willie's dead-hand hits outplay me? Side note - a dead-hand hit is as if you took a limp fish and hit a volleyball with it. As you would imagine, the inward processing has already begun and the burning fire of a loss starts the engine of change. 

Life is NOT GOOD after a loss. At least for a few days or at least until we eat dinner together that night. The engine of change pushes my partner and me into greater things. New defensive schemes, new workouts, more reps. We will add new weapons to our bag of tricks. And we will keep that loss with us until that L turn to a W.  

Now, this is a pillar's approach to TOGS. It will be similar to the approach of some of our veteran teams. But if you are a newer team to TOGS and have found yourself reading this to find a few tips on how to get ready for TOGS I will say this; you will only get out what you put in. This tournament has been going on for just under a decade and we have seen people come and go. The people who have had the most fun and get the most excited to play TOGS are the ones who have bought into the dream to make this tournament a legacy that our kids not only play in but want to carry on themselves. 

In conclusion, get prepped however your team sees fit. Run workouts, watch the AVP, or carb load the night before at the Luau. We are excited you are going to play and we love your devotion to make this an awesome tournament. Cause if you're not here excited about it, we're back to a bunch of buddies disputing who is the better volleyball player. See you out there. 

Bill