As a young coach in the early 1970s, former Melrose AD Sonny Lane preached sacrifice. What does sacrifice mean to you?
"There are no crowds on the extra mile." It means running sprints or 'stadium stairs' when no one else is watching. It means "doing five more." Memorable results arise from extraordinary effort.
Sacrifice demands whatever it takes.
Sacrifice links shared vision and shared results.
Sacrifice means delayed gratification, delay what you want to do now so you get to do what you want later.
Sacrifice means sharing credit and avoiding neediness. It means doing the right thing not just doing the thing right.
Sacrifice means "get to" not "have to." I get to run sprints. I get to improve explosiveness.
Sacrifice comes without guarantees.
Sacrifice means, "put the team first." Your friends are out 'partying' and you don't violate chemical health rules. Do you feel sorry for yourself? They weren't on the court in a sectional championship game, were they?
Lagniappe. You won't always have an angle or an edge on the defender. Choose to develop separating moves off the dribble.
