nfca fastpitch delivery november 2014

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Fastpitch Delivery PAGE 1 NOVEMBER 2014

Everyone remembers their first time. It was 2003; I was 22 years old and a first-year coach with Florida State University. Yes, the first time you go to a NFCA convention is not something you are likely to forget. It’s years later, and I still love the convention.

It is likely that you have several questions surrounding your first venture into this professional development opportunity, so let’s take this step by step so you will be prepared to get the most out of your

time. If you have not yet decided on

convention, I understand your reluctance. There is a financial commitment, it is likely near the finals week of your institution and you feel you need to be there. You may have to take time off from your “real job” and it is so close to the holidays … there are many more small reasons that pop up to discourage your attendance

where those come from. I understand the predicament that

you may find yourself in, however this is our premier venue to learn, network and make yourself a better coach. I promise you will return to your team rejuvenated, full of new ideas, energy and a stronger desire than ever to make every aspect of your program

Aaron Weintraub says Hall of Fame basketball coach Phil Jackson has lessons that can help leaders in any sport.

““There’s lots of aspects that create a good team, not necessarily the best players. Your athletes are a special group. I work each day to make them better on the field and off the field.”

Fields Has Established A New ‘Normal’ At St. Mary’s

COACH’S PROFILE PAGE 11 SHALANE FLANAGAN, U.S. MARATHONER

NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME 19, NO. 11

NATIONAL FASTPITCH COACHES ASSOCIATION

WORDS TO COACH BY...“Sometimes I shake my head and say, ‘I don’t know how

I’m going to do this,’ but I just put my head down and try. It’s amazing. When you raise the bar of expectations you somehow meet it if you really are motivated.”

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Getting The GloryKevin Shelton’s Texas Glory 18U squad has been voted the NFCA’s top travel ball coaching staff.

Pitch Counts Can Be Useful To Coaches

Getting Value Out Of VegasBy JOANNA E. LANE

Asst. Coach, Central Michigan Univ.

INSIDE

A Moment Of HonorNFCA’s Easton Victory Club Luncheon Salutes Coaches’ Milestone WinsNearly 170 coaches will be honored for reaching various career win milestones during the annual NFCA/Easton Victory Club luncheon on December 4 at the 2014 NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nev.

The NFCA/Easton Victory Club recognizes member head and associate head coaches for each 100 victories they achieve throughout their careers. Coaches being honored for achieving 1,000 or more wins receive a specially-crafted award, while those that have reached plateaus stretching from 300-900 victories are awarded personalized plaques. Certificates are presented to 100 or 200-win coaches in honor of their special achievements.

SEE NFCA’S PAGE 8

“Girls can pitch every day in softball.”

I couldn’t believe this. I was coaching baseball for years, and had just started my journey coaching softball. Pitch counts have been around in baseball for a while, as a way to protect a pitcher’s arm.

Going into tournaments, you had to make sure your team carried enough arms to get you through a run. When I found out that softball pitchers could

throw every day, of course my natural thought was, “How is that safe?”

As a travel coach, I am huge on teaching players to play the “right” way. Developing pitchers is one piece to the puzzle. It’s your most important position, and having consistency makes the game much more competitive and enjoyable.

Pitch counts can be used to track efficiency, monitor fatigue and to teach the mental side of the game. They can also serve as a great tool to develop pitchers and keep them

healthy. Establishing a strong relationship

with a pitcher’s personal pitching coach is crucial to their success. By working together, coaches can exchange feedback on game performance and lessons to maximize potential.

One pitching coach I have had the privilege of working with is Diana Schraer. She has built her reputation on developing some of the finest

By DIEGO IBARRAAkadema Elite

SEE PITCH COUNTS PAGE 19

How To Maximize Your NFCA National Convention Experience

TRAINING YOUR MIND PAGE 15

NEW MEMBERS ................................ PAGE 3DIVISION I HCC MINUTES ................ PAGE 4QUESTION OF THE MONTH ............. PAGE 9SOFTBALL BY SMITTY ................... PAGE 12EDUCATION ............................PAGES 13-14RULES CORNER .............................. PAGE 16

VICTORY CLUBFULL LIST OF HONOREES PAGE 5

SEE TIPS PAGE 6

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Fastpitch DeliveryPAGE 2 NOVEMBER 2014

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The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a multi-level coaching organization serving girls’ and women’s fastpitch coaches at all competitive levels of play. The NFCA strives to pro-mote and develop the sport, coaching knowledge and leadership through the services it offers.

Members of the NFCA receive 12 issues of Fastpitch Delivery, an annual calendar, discounts on various products and resource materials and the yearly NFCA Directory of Information.

The NFCA also represents its members in organizations such as the ASA and NCAA and awards programs are offered for coaching wins and high school and collegiate All-American and Scholar-Athlete honors. The NFCA also holds a national convention in December, com-bining business meetings, coaching seminars, exhibits of top equipment and plenty of social/networking opportunities. Members also receive discounts to NFCC courses.

NATIONAL FASTPITCH COACHES ASSOCIATION

Mail application to NFCA, 2641 Grinstead Drive, Louisville, KY 40206 or fax to (502) 409-4622. You can also sign up online at NFCA.org or call (502) 409-4600 for more information.

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CIRCLE APPROPRIATE CATEGORYDI Head $190 DI Assoc $190 DI Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85DI Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70DII Head $130 DII Assoc $130 DII Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85DII Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70DIII Head $130 DIII Assoc $130 DIII Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85DIII Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70NAIA Head $85 NAIA Assoc $85 NAIA Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85NAIA Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70NJCAA I Head $85 NJCAA I Assoc $85 NJCAA I Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85NJCAA I Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70NJCAA II Head $85 NJCAA II Assoc $85 NJCAA II Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85NJCAA II Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70NJCAA III Head $85 NJCAA III Assoc $85 NJCAA III Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85NJCAA III Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70Cal JC Head $85 Cal JC Assoc $85Cal JC Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85Cal JC Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70Other JC Head $85 Other JC Assoc $85Other JC Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $85Other JC Volunteer, Director of Ops, Student $70High School Head $70 High School Assoc $70High School Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting, All) $70Travel Ball Head $70 Travel Ball Assoc $70Travel Ball Asst (circle Pitching, Hitting or All) $70Other Youth (Recreational, Middle School, JV) $70International Coach (internet only) $45International Asst (internet only) $45Pro Head $100 Pro Asst $70Non-Coaching Members All-Inclusive $60(circle Former Coach, Instructor, School, Equipment Manufacturer, Player, Parent, Umpire, SID, other)Non-Coaching Members Internet Only $45(circle Former Coach, Instructor, School, Equipment Manufacturer, Player, Parent, Umpire, SID, other)

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Scott Amdahl, Head Coach, WSB Sparks (Texas); Brian Anders, Head Coach, Lady Tigers-Anders; Katie Anderson, Head Coach, North Park University; Samantha Bader, Student Assistant, DeSales University; Barry Batson, All-Inclusive Membership; Lindsay Baughman, Assistant Coach, Penn State-Behrend; Elizabeth Baux, Assistant Coach, Ave Maria University; Hayley Bevan, Assistant Coach, Valley City State University; Rick Bond, Head Coach, 16U Texas Glory Blue; Alexandra Booker, Assistant Coach, Texas A&M University-Commerce; Jessica Bump, Director of Operations, University of Kentucky; Kerry Busby, Assistant Coach, Agnes Scott College; Gina Carbonatto, Assistant Coach, University of the Pacific; Candyce Carter, Assistant Coach, University of Louisiana at Monroe; Johanna Clair, Volunteer Assistant, Tufts University; Missy Conrad, Assistant Coach, Bethany College (W. Va.); Katherine Crudo, Assistant Coach, University of Minnesota, Duluth; William Cupoli, All-Inclusive Membership; Brandice Cutspec, Assistant Coach, Santiago Canyon College; Alyssa Davis, Head Coach, Southern Vermont College; Keely Decker, Volunteer Assistant, Santiago Canyon College; Janessa Dedeaux, Assistant Coach, William Carey University; Jesse Delorit, Assistant Coach, Bethel University (Minn.); Scott Delozier, Head Coach, North Forney High School (Texas); Kelley Dillon, Volunteer Assistant, College of Charleston (S.C.); David Dominici, Head Coach, NJ Cheetahs; Sheri Donley, Assistant Coach, Villanova University; Kristen Drage, Assistant Coach (pitching), Saginaw Valley State University; Lori Dunbar, Assistant Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Trey Dunbar, Head Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Amanda Ellis, Assistant Coach, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Amy Ekart, Assistant Coach, Fort Hays State University; Ashlee Ferguson, All-Inclusive Membership; Kristie Finn, Assistant Coach, Citrus Hill (Calif.); Penny Foore, Head Coach, Bethel University (Minn.); Roman Foore, Assistant Coach, Bethel University (Minn.); Brian Freese, Volunteer Assistant, Loyola University (Ill.); Amberly Fuller, Assistant Coach, Garland High School (Texas); Jennifer Gilbert, Student Assistant, Ball State University; Jamie Godoy, Volunteer Assistant, Ohlone College; Jolene Graham, Student Assistant, Odessa College; Stephanie Graziani, Assistant Coach, Mayville State University; Audriana Gutierrez, Assistant Coach, A.B. Miller High School (Calif.); Kristen Hawkins, Student Assistant, Midwestern State University; Tony Hendrix, Assistant Coach, Spain Park High School (Ala.); Janelle Higgins, Head Coach, North Platte Community College; Jason Holbrook, Head Coach, Atlanta Vipers; Edward Howell, All-Inclusive Membership; Kaitlin Inglesby, Assistant Coach (pitching), University of Massachusetts, Amherst; George Jara, Head Coach, Baton Rouge Community College; Alannah Johns, Head Coach, All American Sports Academy; Brittaney Kovacs, Head Coach, Oscar Smith High School (Va.); Jeff Kramarz, Volunteer Assistant, State University of New York at Geneseo; Ashley Lane, Volunteer Assistant, University of Kentucky; Sarah Lankford, Assistant Coach, Grayson County College; Katie Lenderman, Volunteer Assistant, Grayson County College; Erin Leddy, Assistant Coach, Mount St. Mary’s University; Theresa Legan, Assistant Coach, Williams College; Kyrstin Lekki, Assistant Coach, Buffalo State University; Jim Loring, All-Inclusive Membership; Katie Lynch, Assistant Coach, Iona College; Martha Martin, Assistant Coach, State University of New York at Geneseo; Jerry Matthew, Head Coach, Libertyville; Andrea McAndrews, Head Coach, Citrus Hill (Calif.); Mickey Mckee, Head Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Bailey Micetich, Assistant Coach (pitching), San Diego City College; Cassie Miller, Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Kayleigh Milliman, Assistant Coach, Mercyhurst University; Cari Moore, Assistant Coach (pitching), Winthrop University; James Moore, Assistant Coach (pitching), Hartselle Lady Tigers; Scott Morrison, Head Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Cya Neal, Director of Operations, California State, Fullerton; Nathan Nelson, Head Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Taylor Nelson, Assistant Coach, Montana State University-Billings; Taylor Orsburn, Assistant Coach (pitching), Belmont University; Nicole Osovski, Assistant Coach, University of Rochester; Jessica Pepin, Assistant Coach, San Jose City College; Brian Pilarski, Head Coach, West Central High School (Ind.); Chelsea Pineda, Director of Operations, Coastal Carolina University; Shannon Pivovar, Assistant Coach, South Dakota State University; Michael Reese, Assistant Coach, Lindenwood University; Amy Robinson, Head Coach, Duchesne High School (Utah); Tiffani Rodd, Assistant Coach, Eastern New Mexico University; Michael Rogers, Assistant Coach, Sacramento City College; Kristine Samaniego, Head Coach, Paris Junior College; Kaia Sele, Assistant Coach, Concordia College, Moorhead; Kerry Shaw, Assistant Coach, Southeast Missouri State University; Jayme Simonis, Assistant Coach, Southwestern Oregon Community College; Matt Smith, Assistant Coach, Glendale Community College of Arizona; Ashley Spencer, Head Coach, McPherson College; Ashley Strode, Assistant Coach, Bob Jones High School (Ala.); Hiroomi Tada, Head Coach, TNT 14U East; Trisha Thurston, Head Coach, Glendale Community College of Arizona; Priscilla Velasquez, Assistant Coach (pitching), Greensboro College; Kellee Vorrnhagen, Assistant Coach (pitching), University of Nebraska at Kearney; Dana Webb, Assistant Coach, Mercyhurst University; Julie Wyrick, Head Coach, TXFC.

New Members

NEWS & NOTES

Head coach Kevin Shelton and assistant coaches Tracy Beard, Lisa Hough, Lynette Shelton, Chaley Brickey and Aaron Weintraub of the Texas Glory have been selected as the NFCA’s National Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year.

Regarded as a groundbreaking summer from an 18U South Central Region perspective, the Glory finished fifth (highest in their region) in the U.S. Club Rankings.

Working with 21 future Division I student-athletes, the staff guided their squad to several top-six finishes, highlighted by winning the 18 Power Pool of the Colorado Fireworks Super 64. The win in Aurora, Colo., was the first for a team out of Texas in several

years and also snapped the California-based Firecrackers’ six-year winning streak.

The season also included a first-place showing at the 2013 Ronald McDonald top bracket, a third-place finish at the

exclusive SoCal Invitational and a sixth at the TC/USA Nationals. In addition, the Glory finished the season fourth in total on-field points as recorded by USA Softball rankings.

Texas Glory also garnered the NFCA

South Central Region Travel Ball Coaching Staff of the Year accolade.

The NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year winners are:

NORTHBeverly Bandits (Ill.)

General Manager Bill Conroy; Head coach Jenn Tyrell; assistant coaches Meg Kelly and Emily Naegele.

SOUTHTennessee Fury 97

Head coach Randy Coppinger; associate head coach Keith Perry; assistant coaches Chuck Sugg, Kevin Earls and Bob Fortel.

SOUTH CENTRALTexas Glory

Head coach Kevin Shelton; assistant coaches Tracy Beard, Lisa Hough, Lynette Shelton, Chaley Brickey and Aaron Weintraub.

WESTOC Batbusters (Calif.)

Head coach Gary Haning.

Texas Glory Voted Top Travel Coaching Staff

NFCA COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR

The Texas Glory 18U travel ball team won regional and national honors. Photo provided.

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October 7, 2014 Telephone Conference No. 2014-10The meeting was brought to order at

10:01 a.m. CST. Those present were: Michelle Burrell, America East Con-

ference; Michael Palmer, American Athletic Conference, Alternate; Lonni Alameda, Atlantic Coast Conference; Kristi Stefanoni, Atlantic 10 Confer-ence, Alternate; David Deiros, Atlantic Sun Conference- Alternate; Stacy Ge-meinhardt-Cessler, Big 12 Conference; Pat Conlan, Big East Conference, and NFCA Board Rep; Barb Sherwood, Big Sky Conference; Amanda Lehotak, Big Ten Conference; Jenny Condon, Big West Conference; Jaime Wohlbach, Colonial Athletic Association; Shonda Stanton, Conference USA; Lynn Cury-lo, Horizon League; Lisa Sweeney, Ivy League; Melissa Inouye, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Karen Linder, Mid-American Conference; Heidi Cavallo, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Amy Hayes, Missouri Valley Conference; Steve Johnson, Mountain West Confer-ence; Roy Kortmann, Northeast Confer-ence; Jane Worthington, Ohio Valley Conference; Heather Tarr, Pacific-12 Conference; Michelle DePolo, Patriot League; Jo Evans, Southeastern Con-

ference; Mandy Burford, Southern Con-ference; Stephanie Hughes, Southland Conference; Rick Fremin, Southwestern Athletic Conference; Annie Smith, Sun Belt Conference; Holly Van Vlymen, The Summit League; Jessica Hanaseth, West Coast Conference; Nikki Palmer, Western Athletic Conference.

Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor, Guest; Vickie VanKleeck, incoming (Sept 2015) NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor, Guest; David Batson, NFCA Legislative Con-sultant, Guest.

Natalie Poole, NFCA Division I Repre-sentative; Carol Bruggeman, NFCA As-sociate Executive Director.

A representative from the Big South Conference was not on the call.

1. Approval of September Call Min-utes. It was moved (Steve Johnson) and seconded (Karen Linder) that the September call minutes be approved.

2. NCAA Rules. Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor, introduced Vickie VanKleeck (incom-ing NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor, Sept 2015) to the HCC. Vickie VanKleeck will join all future HCC calls. Ms. Abrahamson reminded HCC repre-sentatives to note October 31st dead-line for feedback on experimental ball.

3. NCAA Legislation and Governance Structure. David Batson, NFCA Legis-lative Consultant, shared the Division I Governance Structure, Transition Key Dates, and Autonomy Legislation (see attachments.) Notable items include:

A. September 1st, 2015 is next deadline for proposed legislation for 2015-16 consideration.

B. Spring conference meetings will be important in establishing support for legislative initiatives to be considered in the 2015-16 cycle.

C. Legislation voted on during the 2015-2016 process, would have an ef-fective date of August 1st, 2016.

D. Topical areas under consid-eration for autonomy legislation have been identified for possible legislation to be considered at the January 2015 con-vention. Topical areas included career related insurance, cost of attendance – full grant-in-aid, multiyear grants-in-aid, enhanced medical support, nutritional needs of student-athletes and oth-ers

4. Convention Hot Topics (see below) and Working Groups. Natalie Poole, NFCA Division I representative, orga-nized working groups. Carol Brugge-man, NFCA Associate Executive Direc-tor and Division I liaison, will coordinate

correspondence with chair and com-mittee members of each group. Each group will be sent working documents from the respective working group from past year. Chair of each group (listed below) will coordinate a conference call via Ms. Bruggeman prior to November 4th HCC call.

A. Certification of Events (Heather Tarr)

B. Recruiting Calendar (Lonni Al-ameda, Karen Linder)

C. One-time transfer rule (Shonda Stanton, Barb Sherwood)

D. Slowing early recruiting process down (Nikki Palmer, Holly Van Vlymen)

E. Move season back (Steve John-son)

5. Other Business. Jo Evans, South-eastern Conference, recommended Carol Bruggeman, NFCA Associate Executive Director, send survey link (working groups and NFCA feedback) to HCC. HCC reps are to send survey to respective conference coaches and en-courage coaches to complete survey.

6. Next Conference Call. The next HCC conference call will be held at 10:00 am Central time Tuesday, No-vember 4th, 2014.

7. Adjournment. The meeting was ad-journed at 10:41am Central time.

MINUTES – HCC

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The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) and USA Softball will hold open tryouts on January 2 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Calif., for players hoping to make the 2015 USA Softball Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) roster.

Eligible athletes have from now through December 5 to sign up at USASoftball.com for the open tryout, which will involve a series of softball-related skill drills for each position, plus hitting and bunting.

The top athletes from the open tryout will be selected to participate at the USA Softball JWNT Selection Camp on January 3-4, where they will compete for a spot on the 17-athlete roster along with the list of invited athletes.

Those athletes selected to the 2015 JWNT will compete at the World Cup of Softball X on June 30-July 5 in Southern California and at the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Women’s World Championship during August

in Oklahoma City, Okla.“With the ISF Junior Women’s

World Championship being held at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, our goal is to maximize player opportunity and field the best team possible,” said ASA/USA Softball Director of National Teams Ronnie Isham.

The team’s head coach will be Tairia Flowers, the head coach at Cal State Northridge. The rest of her staff will be announced at a later date.

The open tryout is open to any female U.S. citizen born in 1996, 1997 or 1998 who can commit to a June-August 2015 timeframe.

There is a $100, non-refundable registration fee for any ASA/USA Softball athlete, that includes a participant t-shirt and training

from some of the top coaches in fastpitch softball. There is a $115, non-refundable registration fee for athletes who are not registered through ASA/USA Softball that also includes a participant t-shirt, training and insurance coverage for the open tryout.

Participants are responsible for their own equipment and travel expenses to the tryouts. Those

athletes who advance from the open tryout and are selected to attend the JWNT Selection Camp will have their expenses paid for by ASA/USA Softball.

Further information on the JWNT open tryout, including registration time, hotel information, will be relayed to registered athletes after the registration deadline.

— Courtesy ASA/USA Softball

Open Tryouts For Junior National TeamNEWS & NOTES

FEATURED TWEETPhiladelphia University Coach Dies

Joe Long, the softball coach at Philadelphia University for the past three seasons, died unexpectedly on October 27. He was just 47.

“Philadelphia University will miss Joe Long very much,” said Philadelphia

University director of athletics Tom Shirley. “Not only was he a terrific softball coach and student-athlete advocate, but he was a wonderful member of the campus.

“Coach Long always had a smile on his face and was the eternal optimist. He was a great example of the old sports saying, ‘It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.’”

Long had been with the softball program since 2008. After serving as the team’s assistant coach for four

years, Long was elevated to head coach on in 2011.

Under his direction, the Rams compiled a 57-77 record and played in the 2013 and 2014 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Tournaments, the team’s first back-to-back appearences since 2009-10. Philadelphia won 25 games last season, one shy of the school record, and three players garnered All-CACC team recognition, the most honored since 2010.

Long was the head coach at Rosemont College from 2006-09 and led the University of the Sciences program from 1999-2005.

He was the holder of seven college degrees, including a bachelors degree from Franklin Pierce in archeology/anthropology, a masters from St. Joseph’s University in secondary education and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.

Long

Minimum Standards For AthletesInfielders/Outfielders

• Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum• Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds

maximum• Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds

maximum• Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum• Pushups - 30 minimum

Pitchers (consistent speed)• Fastball - 63 mph minimum• Riseball - 60 mph minimum• Change up - 45 mph maximum or 18

mph slower than normal maximum pitch

speed• Curveball - 60 mph minimum• Dropball - 63 mph minimum

Catchers• Throw (home to second) - Two

seconds maximum• Throwing Speed - 55 mph minimum• Bat Speed - 50 mph minimum• Run (home to first) - 2.95 seconds

maximum• Run (home to home) - 12.5 seconds

maximum• Pushups - 30 minimum

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better than it has ever been. What is that you say? You have a

flight and are ready to go? Fantastic! The first step for you is to pack.

The “What do I wear?” question is a common one and is pretty easy to answer. For the vast majority of events you can wear casual clothing. You will see mostly warm-up/travel suits along with jeans, sweat pants and dress clothes.

While casual clothing is fully acceptable, there are some that believe we are a professional organization and in our business caucus meetings we should be dressed appropriately in business casual attire.

IF YOU ARE unsure and are an assistant, defer to your head coach. If you are a new head coach, do what feels right. But always remember you are representing your institution. You will need to pack a minimum of one night’s worth of professional attire for the Hall of Fame Banquet (which you can read more about below).

Now, to get from the airport to the hotel, you never need a car at convention so don’t worry about renting one. There are transportation options listed via the NFCA or you can always take a cab or Google alternative options.

I know, I know, the hotel is so expensive you may want to stay elsewhere. I thought that once too … bad decision! I spent more on the car, gas and time being annoyed driving than the hotel would have cost. Personally, I say share the room and be willing to come a little late and leave a little early if you need to, but staying at the host hotel is a big part of the convention.

THE FIRST TIME I met Sue Enquist was in a hotel elevator … and it was not at the lower-rate alternative. Once you arrive at the hotel and check in, you need to pick up your registration packet. Follow the signs or ask around; you will go to the marked area and pick up your credential along with a convention program, a newspaper, brochures and

the NFCA calendar. Now about that credential – don’t

lose it!You need it to get into sessions and

for meals and social activities and it tells people who you are. It may not look cool to wear, but after you muster up the courage to introduce yourself to Carol Hutchins, she can sneak a peek at it to remember your name, so wearing it will make you both feel better in the end.

You will most likely arrive for the keynote speaker on Wednesday.

One thing I noticed at my first convention was that it looked like a college homecoming. Everyone was hugging one another, re-connecting with old friends, and there I was, standing somewhat off to the side with no one around.

No worries, that is why you are there, to meet people and branch out, so the most important question you can ask in these 72 hours is “Is this seat taken?”

DON’T JUST GRAB an empty chair in the back corner, push to the front where you can see people demonstrate. Yes, the screens are great, but they will not do justice when the speaker demonstrates how to stick a pitch. So throw some elbows (metaphorically), get to the front and even if the only open chair is next to Lisa Fernandez, do not back away, do not get nervous and just simply say “Is this seat taken?” More than 99 percent of the time the person will greet you, introduce themselves and make room for you to join them.

This is hands down the reason I keep coming back for conventions. Our peers are phenomenal at sharing knowledge, helping other coaches get better in every aspect of our professional lives and are willing to share their opinions, drills and knowledge with typically anyone who

asks. Even more, most veteran coaches

also want to know what you think, how you do things and your favorite drills. Everyone wants to learn, so don’t be afraid to share your ideas either.

THE NEXT THING you will probably see on the schedule is something called a happy hour or a hospitality session. These events are hosted by various partners of the NFCA and these sponsors will go out of their way to make sure you have a good time at their event. Usually coupled with complimentary beer and wine, there are games, giveaways, snacks and opportunities for continued networking.

Something else you will probably hear about at the NFCA convention is The Mentoring Session. I was at the first session and it was amazing, without a doubt the highlight of the entire convention.

Since that point, this session has grown, been enhanced and continues to attract more mentors for our younger and/or more inexperienced coaches to learn from and connect with. You usually need to register ahead of time because it will fill up. So make sure you go. You will love every second of it.

THE GRAND EVENT of the week will be on Friday night at the NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet. This is where your dress attire comes in.

We will honor the best in our field on this night, the epitome of what we strive to be. You may hear that this is long, boring and isn’t worth going to. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

You will laugh, you may cry, you will be honored to be in the same room with so many magnificent coaches, but most of all you will not want to miss it.

In between the awards dinners,

lunches and socials is the meat of the convention: the sessions focused on skill and sport development, the mental and the physical sides of coaching, and discussing the hot topic issues of our sport from recruiting to bat testing, officiating, postseason play, our Olympic future and potential rule changes.

WHILE SOME will sound very interesting, you may choose to skip some – that is your decision, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t initially skip some too – but it seems like when I do, everyone raves about it, so I made a decision a few years ago there would be no more skipping of sessions for me.

The exhibit hall will be a hub of activity. It is a place to demo new products, take advantage of special pricing on equipment and see some things first-hand that you may have heard about but never had the opportunity to try prior to this. You may think you will need to bring extra suitcases, but honestly most businesses will honor the convention pricing well into the spring and even ship for free.

There are many people who have had professional development cut out of budget lines and their attendance at these events is no longer approved by administration, so I applaud your decision to make this a priority for your advancement as a coach.

I believe you will get a lot out of convention – more than is mentioned in this article – but you have a responsibility, too.

To get the most out of convention, it requires action, putting effort into increasing your network and don’t forget, it starts by asking “Is this seat taken?”

This article has been reprinted several times previously in Fastpitch Delivery as a beginner’s guide to our convention.

TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING YOUR CONVENTION EXPERIENCECONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Do you know something Fastpitch Delivery should be writing about? Would you like to write articles for Fastpitch Delivery? Just have a question? Email your ideas, questions and suggestions to Dave Hines at [email protected] FD

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NEWS & NOTES

Secondary liaison Ashlee Ferguson became the new contact for the NCAA Softball Rules Committee on November 3, taking over for longtime contact Teresa Smith.

Ferguson had served as the primary contact for the Swimming and Diving Rules and Water Polo Rules subcommittees in addition to her duties as a secondary contact

for softball since her arrival at the NCAA two and a half years ago and is passionate about softball. She can be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling (317) 917-6145.

It was recently announced that Ferrum College softball coach and senior woman administrator Vickie Van Kleeck will retire from coaching

Ferguson New NCAA Softball Rules Contact

HAS YOUR ADDRESS, COACHING POSITION OR SCHOOL CHANGED? If the answer is yes, your member information needs to be updated. Please call the NFCA at (502) 409-4600 or email Manager of Membership Jamie Hazel at [email protected] to make any necessary changes to your roster spot.

NFCA Twitter Account Hits 13,000The NFCA’s official Twitter account,

@NFCAorg, which has added an average of 70 new followers each week over the past two months, reached 13,000 followers on November 6.

Overall, the NFCA’s social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook continue to be ranked in the top five percent of all social media users, according to the analytics website Twtrland.com.

Sixty-five percent of our followers are female, while the other 35 percent are male. The bulk of our followers (75 percent) are between the ages of 18-34, with a nearly even split between the 18-24 (38 percent) and 25-34 (37 percent) age groups. Another 15 percent are in the 35-49 age range, while five percent are ages 12-17. The remaining five percent are either older or younger than the core ranges tracked.

at the end of 2014-15 academic year to become the NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor. Van Kleeck is in her 24th season as softball coach at Ferrum and her 10th as senior woman administrator.

Van Kleeck served on the NCAA Softball Rules Committee from 2007-13 and was the chair for her final two years. Van Kleeck succeeds Dee Abrahamson, who has held the position since 1996.

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Among the 168 overall honorees this year, 13 coaches are being lauded for either reaching or exceeding the 1,000-victory plateau.

One coach, Vince Trivelpiece of Stripes & Strikes, earned his 1,600th career coaching win with that team this past season and also recorded his 100th win at Hazelton Area (Pa.) High.

Two coaches, 2014 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee Phil McSpadden of Oklahoma City University and

Tony Scarbrough of Baker (Ala.) High, reached 1,400 victories, while DePaul University’s Eugene Lenti posted his 1,200th triumph.

Meanwhile, Gary Bryce of Wayne State University, Dennis Clark of Kankakee Community College and recently retired Cowley Community College coach

Ed Hargrove scored their 1,100th wins. Denny Dock of Lakeshore (Mich.) High, Texas A&M’s Jo Evans, Carson-Newman’s Vickee Kazee-Hollifield, Minnesota State Mankato’s Lori Meyer, Arizona State’s Craig Nicholson and Central College’s George Wares all hit 1,000 wins.

NFCA’S EASTON VICTORY CLUB LUNCHEON SLATEDCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

1,600 WINS: Vince Trivelpiece, Stripes & Strikes. 1,400 WINS: Phil McSpadden, Oklahoma City University; Tony Scarbrough, Baker (Ala.) High School. 1,200 WINS: Eugene Lenti, DePaul University. 1,100 WINS: Gary Bryce, Wayne State University; Dennis Clark, Kankakee Community College; Ed Hargrove, Cowley County Community College. 1,000 WINS: Denny Dock, Lakeshore (Mich.) High School; Jo Evans, Texas A&M University, College Station; Vickee Kazee-Hollifield, Carson-Newman College; Lori Meyer, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Craig Nicholson, Arizona State University; George Wares, Central College. 900 WINS: Bill Edwards, Hofstra University; Sandy Montgomery, Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville; Donna Runyon, Ohlone College; Bob Timmons, Coe College. 800 WINS: Frank Griffin, Stetson University; Kate McCluskey, Eastern

Arizona College; Courtney Miller, Seminole State College of Florida. 700 WINS: Evelyn Bean, McKendree University; Andrew Behmlander, Reese (Mich.) High School; Julie Brzezinski, Fairfield University; Terry Burdette, Heartbreakers Red (18U); Rick Church, Blinn College; Connie Clark, University of Texas; Hallie Cohen, William Paterson University of New Jersey; Donna Fields, St. Mary’s University; Renee Gillispie, University of Central Florida; Jim Kulawiak, North Central College; Paula Maloley, Grand Rapids Community College; Drew Peterson, Campbell University; Tommy Ramos, Midland College; Monte Sherrill, Alexander Central (N.C.) High School; Wendy Spratt, Columbia College; Deb Thompson, Spring Arbor University. 600 WINS: Jamie Apicella, LIU Post; Richard Blood, Cornell University; Jerry Breaux, Evangel University; Darci Brownell, Sierra College; Chuck Clutts, Parkland College; Craig Coleman, Robert Morris University; Stephen DePasquale, Gloucester County College; Julie Folliard, H. L. Richards (Ill.) High School; Joe French, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Ron Havelka, Downers Grove South (Ill.) High School; Tom Heath, Oklahoma Christian University; Larry Hennig, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; Dean Johnson, Caldwell College; Thomas Macera, Valdosta State University; George Randolph, Owensboro (Ky.) Catholic High School; Pat Reardon, Central Methodist University; Fran Scislowicz, Rochester Adams (Mich.) High School; Michael Teshkoyan, Caldwell (N.J.) High School; Jeanne Tostenson-Scarpello, University of Nebraska, Omaha; Tim Walton, University of Florida; Jane Worthington, Eastern Kentucky University. 500 WINS: Mary Kay Amicone, Weber State University; Barry Bailey, Clarkston (Mich.) High School; Mike Christner, William Penn University; Aimee DeVos, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Kelly Ford, California State University, Fullerton; Larry Friedrichs, Adlai Stevenson (Ill.) High School; Kelley Green, Coastal Carolina University; Jeana Howald, Mount Vernon Nazarene University; Keith Kramme, Midland University; Rick Noren, St. Martin’s University; Faye Perkins, University of Wisconsin, River Falls; Joel Prickett, Odessa College; Kathy Rodolph, New Mexico State University; Lana Ross, Iowa Western Community College; Vickie Van Kleeck, Ferrum College. 400 WINS: Susan Anderson, University of Central Missouri; Bob Brookens, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania; Brian Campbell, Youngstown State University; Anne DiPrima, Bethpage (N.Y.) High School; Jason Eastman, Oregon Thunder; Renee Hicks, Bellarmine University; Stacy Johnson, Corning Community College; Doug Kesler, Madison County (Ga.) High School; Andy Lee, Louisiana State University-Eunice; Joe Leicht, Indian Hills (N.J.) High School; Candi Letts, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan; Kelly Saenz, San Jacinto College-South; Rick Scott, Piedmont (Okla.) High School ; Lori Sippel, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Jamie Smyth, Saint Joseph’s (Maine) College; Jen Walter, The College of St. Scholastica; Anna Welsh, Southeastern University; Maria Winn-Ratliff, Western Nebraska Community College; Joe Yegge, Kirkwood Community College. 300 WINS: Jason Anderson, Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Carrie Austgen, Deer Park (Texas) High School; Steve Babinski, Indiana Wesleyan University; Kathy Bocock, Elon University; Todd Bradley, Campbell University; Todd Buckingham, Saginaw Valley State University; Paul Bushong, Howell (Mich.) High School; Tony Cook, Jefferson College; Donnie Danklefsen, Trine University; Charlie Dobbins, William Peace University; Jim Farrell, Cornerstone University; Dante Fedeli, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Florham; Rick Fremin III, Jackson State University; Michelle Gardner, Indiana University, Bloomington; Ally Hattermann, Gordon State College; Amy Hogue, University of Utah; Brenda Holaday, Washburn Rural (Kan.) High School; Ruth Kmak, University of Chicago; Anthony LaRezza, Immaculate Heart (N.J.) Academy; Brian Mitchell, Riverton (Kan.) High School; Jerrod Newland, Greenville (Ohio) High School; Leticia Pineda-Boutte, Washington University; John Radtke, Northern Illinois Lightning; Roland Rodriguez, Millsaps College; Mike Rowan, Northwest Mississippi Community College; Jaime Rose, Hutchinson Community College; Jerry Schilf, Benet (Ill.) Academy; Tony Segovia, Friends University; Charles Slater Jr., CCBC-Catonsville; Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson, Auburn-Montgomery; Heather Stone, Western Connecticut State University; Devon Thomas, Brenau University; Wade Womack, Dripping Springs (Texas) High School. 200 WINS: Terri Adams, Saint Joseph’s University; John Bassett, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne; Nicole Borg, College of San Mateo; Jamie Brown, The Sage Colleges; Brooks Cherry, Tennessee Mojo Fastpitch; Pat Conlan, Georgetown University; Brandon Elliott, Virginia Wesleyan College; Jeff Ellis, Polk State College; Eli Field, Frenchtown (Mont.) High School; Dan Gooris, North Park University; Dan Hurst, Hannibal-LaGrange University; Julie LeMaire, Emporia State University; Tom McCall, Milford (Ala.) High School; Misti Nims, Jefferson Davis Community College; Gino Olivieri, Alfred University; Tina Phillips, University of Pittsburgh, Bradford; Jeff Roberts, East View (Texas) High School; Shannon Sullivan, Burleson Centennial (Texas) High School; Dean Thompson, Libby (Mont.) High School; Ben Tyree, Trevecca Nazarene University; Holly Van Vlymen, Western Illinois University; Mike White, University of Oregon; Alan Wilds, Cool Cats of Lee’s Summit. 100 WINS: Alan Caouette, Aliso Niguel (Calif.) High School; Richie Costante, Montini Catholic (Ill.) High School; A.J. Daugherty, James Clemens (Ala.) High School; Vance Edwards, Lamar State College-Port Arthur; John Goddard, Monmouth College; Betsy Hada, Heidelberg University; Scott Hall, Butler University; David Hedge, Windham (N.H.) High School; Robert Huckabee, Apponequet Regional (Mass.) High School; James Kling, Our Lady of the Lake University; Missy Krueger, Coronado (Nev.) High School; Norm Kujawa, Notre Dame (Ohio) Academy; Charles Lindsay, Jr., West Chester East (Pa.) High School; Bob Ligouri, Des Moines Area Community College; Lacey Lister, Washington College; Rachael Powers, Wheaton College; Val Silvestrini, Florida Institute of Technology; Annie Smith, Georgia Southern University; Beverly Smith, University of South Carolina, Columbia; Vince Trivelpiece, Hazleton Area (Pa.) High School; Richard Wojcik, Cleveland Central (Ohio) Catholic.

VICTORY CLUB

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Winter months, our priority is to have our team continue with strength and conditioning and reinforcement of skill mechanics.

Dr. Dot Richardson Liberty University

Strength, Strength, Strength! We will start five and sometimes six underclassmen who are very talented and also extremely tight as a

group. The question is can we get strong enough to compete with teams loaded with upperclassmen?

Ronald FerrillSt. Ambrose University

I am concentrating a lot on preparing my team mentally to deal with the high-pressure situations we will face in playoffs. Mental conditioning

has been a new and important step for us this offseason.Bryan PoehlerKeller (Texas) High School

Due to low temps in Tennessee, we are predominantly forced indoors. Luckily for us we have an indoor hitting facility that allows us to

continue to get some swings in, but our high school governing body does not allow us to coach during these open facility times. For this reason, our main focus during the winter months is muscle strength, endurance and mental toughness — all of which we address in the weight room.

Samuel SheppardSmyrna (Tenn.) High School

Always have two. 1. Pitchers throwing simulated: First pitch, great pitch. Get ahead of the hitters. 2. Hitters never get enough work on the

outside corner.Denny DockLakeshore Lancers

Conditioning/strength and maintenance of our preseason work. Otherwise fall has been a huge waste and we won’t be in playing

shape for the season.Marie ThomasonEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Being a normal person. Our girls spend so many hours during the fall and then the spring dedicated to softball, during the winter months it is

good for them to have a greater life balance. It gives them a chance to hit the academics even harder and still have more time to experience college life,

which is something they give up so much of during the season.Ron ShoemakerLa Salle University

Our team needs to focus on many things, but in the winter they must establish a great strength base. The season is demanding. The ability

to train harder and longer, while being more durable can be solidified in the winter months.

Joe KinsellaLake Forest College

We need to get faster. Being a first-year 12U, we are smaller and sometimes not as fast or strong as the older girls. We also have several

girls in other sports, and I want them to take a break and get away from softball for a month or so.

Brooks CherryTennessee Mojo 03

Actually there are three areas of concentration: 1. Core Stability and conditioning with emphasis on lower back, abs, shoulders, etc. to

prevent overuse injuries and add core strength. 2. Weaknesses. Individual work on whatever technique areas the player needs to improve on. The winter is the time to work on deficiencies and make those areas strengths. 3. Team Building. Introduction of the new team members and developing the player’s role within the team.

Bill MatthewsKeystone (Ohio) High School

In the winter we need to get in shape to prepare for the rigors of season. Conditioning is the most critical element, alongside building team

cohesion. If these two things come together in winter, you can use the non-traditional fall season and January to work on strategy and skill.

Sonja Garnett Academy of Art University

Student-athletes need to work on their grades! Academic success is so critical to their future and our program’s success.

John BoccoliniCounty College of Morris

Our team works on two things. They work on both their mental and physical strength.

Annette Hunt-ShepherdGettysburg College

What’s the one thing that your team needs to work on most during the winter months?

Have a Question or an Answer?

Here is your chance to give input in a very simple manner – we need ideas for questions you would like to see answered in a future edition, so please feel free to share those ideas.

Respond by emailing Dave Hines at [email protected].

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

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PLAYING A ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Georgia College softball players Emily Robertson and Hannah Coursey (above) and their Bobcat teammates (photos at right) helped fill a dump truck with potatoes to benefit local charities, churches and families in need. It was the third straight year that the team has participated in Georgia College’s annual Potato Drop. Photos courtesy of Georgia College Athletics.

PHOTOS ABOVE: The University of Alabama-Birmingham softball squad spent some time volunteering at the local Ronald McDonald House, working in the kitchen and spreading some cheer. Team members Cara Goodwin (dressed in the minion costume), Madison Hir, Katelyn Prater and Olivia Black also shared a few laughs with a youngster during the visit. Photos courtesy of UAB softball.

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By any account, winning 50 games and getting knocked out in the super regionals by the team that went on to win the national championship is a pretty terrific season. But when you’ve averaged 43 victories a season for 17 years — with no losing campaigns — it is what qualifies as a “normal” season.

SUCH IS the case for longtime St. Mary’s University coach Donna Fields, who has won 735 games over the past 17 seasons at her alma mater — including 13 of the last 14 Heartland Conference titles — with seven seasons of 40 or more victories and four seasons of 50 or more triumphs.

Only West Texas A&M stood between the Rattlers and a fourth trip to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship last season. St. Mary’s won the title in 2002, when it was 58-11, and also advanced to the championship site in 2003 and 2005. Fields won an NAIA national title as a player at St. Mary’s in 1986.

“We had a great season,” Fields said. “West Texas was the better team that weekend.”

IT WAS nearly déjà vu for the Fields family last season, with daughter Hannah on the team and similarly forced to watch from the dugout with a knee injury as her mom had done 28 years ago during her championship season as a player.

But a pair of shutout losses to West Texas A&M after the Rattlers had won the first game of the best-of-three Super Regional series ended dreams for now of mother-daughter national titles in a St.

Mary’s uniform.Hannah, now a junior at St. Mary’s, was actually

better known early in her athletic career as a standout club volleyball player. But when she got more serious about softball, the college suitors came calling, leading to a funny family meeting.

“I said, ‘Hannah, do you want to go to one of those

schools and play against me?’ Fields recalled saying.The younger Fields had been intent on making her

own history, not following in her mom’s sizeable footsteps.

“I always told the staff I was never going to come

Fields Has Established A New ‘Normal’

Donna Fields has won 735 games and a national title as the longtime coach at St. Mary’s University. Photo provided.

Longtime St. Mary’s University Coach Has Been Definition Of Success In Division IIBy DAVE HINES

Editor

COACH’S PROFILE

IN THE PRESS BOX WITH DONNA FIELDS1) How has the game changed in the time you’ve

been coaching?“I am not real sure the game has changed. Maybe

more long ball and less pitcher dominance, less of the short game depending on the team that you play. I think outside the game itself has changed the most: The recruiting process. The amount of recruiting tour-naments. It is endless. Athletes verbally committing their 8th, 9th and 10th grade year. I don’t think there are better athletes (now), but I do believe the interest in our sport has grown, so the amount of good athletes have grown.”

2) What are some problems coaches now face that are different from when you started coaching?

“As a coach the problems or issues within a team may change but it is all part of the game. Just a dif-

ferent chapter, different verse. Technology versus no technology, the way student-athletes communicate today, good leaders versus bad leaders, girls that don’t accept their roles or have discipline. You have to adjust to your personnel just as deciding how you play the game.”

3) If you knew then what you know now, how would your coaching have been different?

“After every game or practice I ask, ‘What could I have done differently?’ I do not think I could change anything — it was all a part of the process. I just hope that I have touched the many young lives in a positive manner and the experience that they received was as special as the experience I received as a student-athlete.”

4) Is there a secret to success in coaching?“Coaching is like putting together a puzzle — not all

the puzzle pieces fit together (and) it takes time to find the right connection. Is what will lead to success for me the same that will lead to success for the next guy? I am unsure. I do know programs have to have discipline, expectation and direction. I have sat through many coaches’ clinics and educational sessions. Learning from my colleagues has been key for me. I do know, from the knowledge I’ve gathered, I have to be comfort-able with what I try to implement, though.”

5) What would your ideal season be like?“It is nice to be able to go through a season when

your athletes are doing the right things on the field and off, they get along, have a good relationship with the coaching staff and have a positive work ethic. To me, winning will take care of itself when life is balanced like that.”

SEE FIELDS PAGE 19

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Rules should be and are normally required for all teams, including those in recreational, travel, high school and college softball. Pro ball is another animal, and is beyond Smitty’s ability or desire to deal with. This, along with other reasons, is why he would not ever desire to coach pro ball in any sport.

High school rules, along with the consequences of violations, are set by the schools. Coaches may have an opinion about such matters, but the school will have the final say. So high school ball shall go merrily along its way for purposes of this story.

TRAVEL BALL presents the problem of enforcement. How many rules can a coach demand that a player follow, and how far can a coach go with penalties for violations? This again presents many problems for coaches.

They can demand that players be on time, wear their uniforms correctly and follow coaching instruction. There may or may not be other rules. Penalties for violations depend upon the state of the coach’s digestion and personalities of parents — the latter being the toughest to deal with, for “my kid is innocent and would never do that.”

A travel coach can set the rule of no drinking, smoking or drugs, and this is normally not a problem, but it can be. Although rules of behavior during travel are set out, all teams, including younger ones, often violate these rules.

Most violations are minor and can be dealt with easily. The

problems become more difficult as the egregiousness of the violations increases. The team studs are sometimes dealt with less harshly than the “regular” miscreants, and this is a huge mistake for any coach. Rules must be enforced fairly and evenly for all.

THE REAL problems develop in college softball. Males seem to have a different standard for rules at times, and this is wrong — but it can be a fact. Drinking seems to be the problem here for both sexes, but sometimes “boys will be boys” is the standard.

No coach will condone egregious behavior such as damaging property during a trip or outrageous conduct, but therein lies the problem. Rules will always be set, but what is the definition of a rule violation? Can it be that rules can be broken a little bit, some rules more, or not at all? Can there be exceptions to the rules? These constitute difficult problems for any coach.

MOST PARENTS understand the rules and that a college softball coach is the general in these matters and the ultimate decision maker. Disputes will often arise when parents perceive unfairness or discrepancies in punishments for other players for the same violations. Thus, the coach becomes the judge, juror and enforcer.

A coach is required to wear many hats. Every coach believes inwardly that

punishment for violations is evenly and fairly meted out. However, coaches are human, contrary to the beliefs of many.

OFTEN THERE ARE special circumstances, such as family problems, illness or some such situation that may affect a decision. The worst problems may develop when the team stars

are somehow perceived to be treated in a special way. It seems these violations occur very often when important games are on the immediate horizon.

What to do? We are in the national championship series and a key

player was just found violating the no drinking rule.

CAN WE overlook the violation this one time, until the important games are over? Are there special circumstances, such as the player’s favorite dog just died, or more importantly, a family member has just become ill or died?

The decision must be to enforce the rules evenly. There really is no alternative. Parents and the administration can raise the roof over enforcement, but the coach has the backup argument that “rules are rules.”

There are many who would say there are exceptions to every rule, and there probably are, but who is really to judge?

Similarly, standards that a coach sets are sometimes difficult to follow by some players.

TAKE, for example, a requirement that a player must do a physical chore within a certain time or other criteria, and, if not done, playing time will be restricted. A team’s best pitcher may not be physically able to do one or more of these chores. What then?

Each coach will have to answer this question, but again, uniformity comes to the fore.

A coach must contend with these problems, sometimes frequently. So it is essential that rules be set out and the team made aware that violations will be dealt with uniformly and without exception. The trick is not to get caught violating this concept, for then the coach becomes subject to even more criticism.

No one said coaching was easy.

Dick Smith is the former head coach at the University of St. Francis and previously coached at Valparaiso University.

Want to argue, cuss or discuss? Email Smitty at [email protected].

SOFTBALL BY SMITTY

Team Rules Need To Be Enforced Fairly For AllBy DICK SMITH

Players need to fully understand team rules, which should be set out at the very first team meeting and repeated in other meetings. The rules need to be fair and fairly enforced. If players violate these rules, they must be quick to own up to having committed the violations and show proper remorse. If a player feels wronged by a coaching decision, that player has the obligation to discuss the matter with the coach, and if no agreement can be reached, the athletics director is next. Going beyond this step is a matter of choice. Try it. You’ll like it.

SMITTY’S TIP

Rules will always be set, but what is the definition of a rule violation? Can it be that rules can be broken a little bit, some rules more, or not at all?

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OK, I admit that the title of this month’s article is just crying for the opportunity to ruffle some feathers. And I most likely have a few people thinking I do not know my elbow from second base about pitching. To be honest, there is the distinct possibility they are correct.

However, I have noticed an epidemic amongst pitchers that concerns me. To be fair, it was not long ago that I felt the same way about pitchers throwing down the middle of the plate. I even told my pitchers they were not to practice fastballs down the middle. As soon as they were at full distance, they were to begin placing the ball on the inside and outside corners of the plate.

I DID THIS because no pitching coach in his or her right mind wants a pitcher to ever throw a pitch down the middle of the plate. Forget the mask they sometimes wear, give them catchers gear if they start doing that.

But now I have noticed through working with my team, working camps, and recruiting there is an epidemic of pitchers not being able to throw a pitch to any part of the plate on a consistent basis with consistent speed.

So what am I really talking about is simply this: To get the most speed and control of a pitch you must pitch in straight lines towards the plate.

This principle is not new to pitching or to softball. Linear versus rotational hitting has been a hot topic amongst hitting coaches for years. I am simply proposing the same idea for pitching.

If a pitcher steps on a line to a target and takes her hand and body on this same line, it gives her the best opportunity for the ball to go on the same line with the most amount of speed to her target.

This also keeps the power she builds in her legs and arm behind her hand as opposed to beside or in front of her hand. If you are unsure about what I am talking about, think about how they launch the space shuttle and where the power is located.

FOR THE SAKE of argument, stand behind one of your pitchers in practice, and ask her to throw a few fastballs down the middle. This will take a few pitches to see, so bear with me.

The first pitch, watch your pitcher’s stride foot. Does it go to the glove? If it does not, this means she is starting her power forward in a direction not on line with the intended target.

Simply put, power is lost, since she will not be able to recover all of the power expended forward if it has to change directions. She can recover some of it, but what if all the effort she used to bring her power back on line were added to the pitch itself?

The second pitch, look at her arm circle. You are looking to see if her arm varies off a straight line to the glove either to the left or right. It should be in line with the glove at all times.

If her arm varies left or right, think about your bike tire as a kid when you bent the rim. You could not ride very fast, and if you did, you probably just about killed yourself because you did not have control.

Pitching is the same way. If a pitcher’s arm is off line, this means she

has to get back in line with the target by the time they release. In order to do this she will either slow her arm down or will pull off the wrong line in an attempt to put it on the right line.

THE THIRD PITCH, watch her glove. You are looking for the same thing. Does her glove stay in line with the catcher’s glove? I will get back to why this is important after the next pitch.

The fourth pitch, watch her front hip. You are looking for something similar to a hitter taught a linear style of hitting. For pitching, you want to see if her hand comes through before her hips.

Now back to the glove. Not always, but typically if a pitcher’s glove starts pointing more towards first base than home plate, her hip also comes through before her hand. These two are connected, but they are easier to see if you focus on each one individually.

This means power generated from the legs and hips is now headed for first base instead of home plate. When this happens, you pretty much only have power generated in the arm for the pitch itself.

IF YOU HAVE a pitcher who could also play on the offensive line of your football team, you probably don’t need to worry too much about this. For the rest of us, you might want to get that power on the pitch.

The fifth pitch, ask your pitcher to throw with as much speed as possible. If she does any of the above, you will see them exaggerated on this pitch. After this pitch ask your pitcher if she feels her speed is comparable to the effort she is putting into the pitch.

Pitchers can feel they are losing power on the pitch. They may not know what it is, but they do know “I try as hard as I can, but just never seem to throw any faster.”

Now ask your pitcher how many of the five pitches went to the target of down the middle. This will give you an indication of how much control your pitcher actually has over her body and more importantly the ball.

SO WHAT DOES this mean for your pitchers on a daily basis? I have my pitchers practice throwing down the middle. I have found once they can control their body in a straight line, keeping the power they generate on the same line, it is much easier for them to place the ball wherever they need. This is because all they do is move their middle to an inside or outside middle, or, if you like, a river middle or chalk middle.

It does not matter where your middle is; your pitcher just needs to be able to throw down the middle. For those who are wondering about breaking pitches, the same principle applies.

You pick which middle you want the ball to start on and simply allow the spin to break it off the line.

Megan Brown is an assistant coach at the University of Akron and the pitching coach for the Great Britain National team.

She earned her doctorate in kinesiology from Auburn University and was a three-time All-America pitcher at Florida Southern College, earning Hall of Fame induction for both her alma mater and the Sunshine State Conference.

Brown played in National Pro Fastpitch from 2007-09 and in Europe from 2010-13. She previ-ously coached at the University of Connecticut under longtime coach Karen Mullins.

Teach Pitchers To Throw Down The MiddleEDUCATION

By MEGAN BROWNAsst. Coach, Univ. of Akron

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FD


Have you ever heard of the Female Athlete Triad? If not, do not worry. Most coaches (and even players) have not.

This topic is a tough and uncomfortable one for many players and coaches, but as leaders in the world of female athletics, the Triad desperately needs our attention.

This issue may not currently apply to anyone on your team, but it is too important to ignore. In the best interest of our players, we must sometimes be willing to address tough topics. This could equip you with life-altering information for one of your players.

The Female Athlete Triad is a disorder made up of three conditions:

Energy Deficit. When the amount of food an athlete consumes is not enough to supply the energy she needs to complete her current workout and training routine.

Menstrual Disturbance. Irregular cycles or absence of a period, altogether.

Bone Loss. It begins with decreased bone mass and can lead to the serious long-term condition known as osteoporosis.

As females, we many times experience struggles emotionally, concerning the mirror, our bodies and the perception of others. We are relentlessly bombarded by magazine covers, ads and billboards plastered with beautifully fake, airbrushed women.

Therefore, our view concerning healthy body composition is often far from reality.

AS ACTIVE females, once we begin to see the positive results of working out and eating healthy foods, we can sometimes drift outside the beneficial and balanced zone. We can become extreme in our approach by exercising excessively.

Excessive exercise exceeds necessary preparation for our sport, and focuses more on calorie burning than skill development or other improvements. Once we see some

“positive results” in how we look or in the way our jeans fit, it is then tempting to decrease caloric intake, eating less than we should. Before we know it, the Triad is attacking our bodies, minds and emotions.

I challenge you to provide a copy of the Triad Check for each member of your team. Take time as a group to complete the exercise or encourage players to complete the information on their own.

Ask your athletes to be honest and transparent when completing their answers. When finished, have them return their completed survey to you. Be sure to review each one and use the information to help you stay aware of the possible Triad warning signs for each of your players.

TRIAD TRUTHS:• Losing our periods will not

improve our performance, and it definitely does not contribute to long-term health.

• One does not necessarily lead to two, and then to three, but all three conditions can be closely related to one another.

• Low bone mass may not necessarily be caused by the Triad

and may be a red flag for other health problems.

• Starting birth control in order to regulate the cycle is not the ultimate answer. The real problem is the energy deficit.

What can you do?Females struggle more than

they will admit and much more than we may typically notice. Being aware of the warning signs and making an effort to be sensitive concerning this issue may allow you to recognize the Triad and facilitate early treatment. As the coach and an advocate

for your player’s health and safety, simply being observant

can make a difference. Notice your athletes’ habits and patterns. If a

player is experiencing constant fatigue or chronic stress fractures, then ask questions.

If you are not comfortable addressing female issues, then find another coach, trainer or nutritionist who can offer that support. Players have usually never heard of the Triad, and they are definitely not aware of the long-term effects it can breed. Sometimes, they need guidance, support and encouragement.

You can help them understand the negative aspects associated with their athletic performance and overall health. More importantly, though, address them as people — people with emotions and struggles. Be aware that Triad symptoms are really just symptoms of another (likely deeper) issue. If you are not trained to address issues you discover or even suspect, then get help from someone who is.

Being proactive is important, but also be sensitive. When we break it down to the fundamentals, just care for your players. Period. Be informed and care for your players.

By CHARITY BUTLERFounder, Exceed Sports

Charity Butler is respected nationally & in-ternationally as a pro athlete, writer, speaker, collegiate coach, hitting instructor and Certi-fied Intrinsic Life Coach®.

As a Pro Speaker for Sports World, Inc, Butler travels the country speaking to more than 40,000 people annually. As a recognized ex-pert in confidence training, she also presents at various conferences, colleges & universities.

Butler is the founder of Exceed Sports, LLC (www.Exceed-Sports.com) and of the I HEART FASTPITCH Campaign (www.iheartfastpitch.com). Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @CharityButler

The Triad: Are Your Players Being Affected?EDUCATION

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Basketball Hall of Famer Phil Jackson won two NBA titles as a player for the New York Knicks, six as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and five as the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is an expert on getting players to work together effectively.

He uses lessons from many sources to draw out the strengths of each individual on his teams, including philosophies and strategies from Native American culture and Zen Buddhism. His 11 Principles of Mindful Leadership are presented in his book, Eleven Rings.

Some key points coaches can learn from Jackson:

1. Lead from the inside out.Be yourself. Don’t worry about

being accepted or trying out every flashy new technique. The more Jackson spoke from the heart, the more he noticed the players could hear him and benefit from what he had gleaned.

Build trust in yourself and from others by being poised (just being yourself).

2. Bench the ego.Jackson said, “The more I tried to

exert power directly, the less powerful I became.” Distribute power as widely as possible without surrendering final authority. Foster an environment in which everyone plays a leadership role.

People have different gifts and everyone has a unique set of both strengths and weaknesses. This does not make anyone superior to anyone else. A high achieving team has leaders who find a way to draw out the strengths of every member.

3. Let each player discover his own destiny.

You cannot force your will on people. If you want them to act differently, inspire them to change themselves, rather than using the carrot or the stick. Get players to think for themselves, not depend on their coaches.

If you want to be a coach’s dream, it is not sufficient to merely show up on time, do what you are told and hustle. You also have to pay attention to details while continuously asking how and why.

4. The road to freedom is a beautiful system.

The triangle system basketball offense empowers the players, offering each one a vital role and a high level of creativity within a clear, well-defined structure. All players must be fully engaged at all times or the whole system will fail.

There are fundamental mechanics of physical skills, mental skills and strategy. Understand as much as you can about these frameworks, and then always work to learn more about yourself and the game. Do not underestimate the importance of creativity.

5. Turn the mundane into the sacred.

Blest be the tie that bindsOur hearts in Christian love;The fellowship of kindred mindsIs like to that aboveJackson said at the start of each

training camp, his teams performed a ritual borrowed from Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi. The players lined up at the baseline and Jackson said, “God has ordained me to coach you young men, and I embrace the role I’ve been given. If you wish to accept the game I embrace and follow my coaching, as a sign of your commitment, step across that line.” Wonder of wonders, they always did it, Jackson said. “We did this in a fun way, but with a serious intent.”

Getting better faster comes from smart work, which comes from courage, motivation and attention to detail. Motivation is a skill that leaders practice every day. Perhaps you find it from a vivid image of winning or achieving a long-term goal. Perhaps you find it from an appreciation for the opportunity to play. Perhaps something

else, but recognize that a big part of your job is to find what works for you to maintain consistently high enthusiasm.

6. One breath equals one mind.Jackson had the players sit in silence,

breathing together in sync to help align them on a nonverbal level. And it worked!

If you place too many restrictions on players, they’ll spend an inordinate amount of time trying to buck the system. They need both structure and enough latitude to express themselves creatively.

If coaching about how to breathe seems ridiculous for elite level softball training, consider that you may be wrong and picture NBA players doing it. Breathe (or die)! Try to breathe in through the nose and breathe out twice as slow as you breathe in, maximizing the volume of air moving in both directions. Thinking about the shape of the lungs, filling and emptying each space within that shape will probably help.

7. The key to success is compassion.Jackson quotes expert translator

Stephen Mitchell:I have just three things to teach;Simplicity, patience, compassion.These three are the greatest treasures.Simple in actions and thoughts,You return to the source of being.Patient with both friends and

enemies,You accord with the way things are.Compassionate toward yourself,You reconcile all beings in the world.It’s essential for athletes to learn

to open their hearts so that they can collaborate with one another in a meaningful way.

Humans are social beings. We will accomplish more when we work together rather than alone. Appreciate rather than battle others.

8. Keep your eye on the spirit, not on the scoreboard.

Most coaches get tied up in knots worrying about tactics, but Jackson preferred to focus his attention on

whether the players were moving together in a spirited way. He was patient, even late in a close game. This was not an act. His confidence grew out of knowing that when the spirit was right and the players were attuned to one another, the game was likely to unfold in their favor.

There is an old Japanese tale about a samurai warrior and his three sons. The samurai wanted to teach his sons about the power of teamwork. So he gave each of them an arrow and asked them to break it. No problem. Each son did it easily.

Then the samurai gave them a bundle of three arrows bound together and asked them to repeat the process.

By AARON WEINTRAUBMental Training Expert

Aaron Weintraub holds a B.A. from Emory University (1993) and a M.Ed. from the Uni-versity of Virginia (2000). He served as an as-sistant baseball coach for 13 years at Emory, UVa, Presbyterian College, Brevard College, and Cedar Valley College. Four of those pro-grams achieved school records for wins while he was there.

I n 2 0 0 6 , We i n t ra u b s t a r te d w w w.CoachTraub.com, a consulting business whose mission is to over-deliver value on goods and services designed to help you win the mental side of the game. He has worked with teams and individuals in all sports around his hometown of Dallas and around the country.

His company also runs events such as softball camps and coaching clinics and sell books, videos, Elite Athlete Audios, and motivational cues. Leadership Training for Softball, the book from which this article was excerpted, is now available.

Jackson Can Teach Coaches Many LessonsTRAINING YOUR MIND

SEE JACKSON PAGE 17

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In my last article I discussed all the possible appeal plays except batting out of order. So let’s tackle this somewhat confusing appeal play now.

You discover a batting out of order, but the improper batter hits into a double play. Should you appeal?

When the improper batter comes to the plate instead of the batter who is scheduled to bat, the defense may have a chance to gain an advantage by noticing this and appealing it at the right time. I will break down the batting out of order rule into the five most likely scenarios. Hopefully it will assist you to appeal the infraction properly and to your advantage:

1. While the improper batter is at bat. The defense should not bring it to the attention of the plate umpire yet. If appealed at this time, the proper batter will take her place and assume the current ball-strike count. There is no advantage for the defensive team.

2. The improper batter completes her turn at bat and gets on base. Now is the time to appeal this infraction, but it must be done before the next pitch. The proper batter will be called out for failure to bat. But here is where the codes are different:

ASA, NFHS and USSSA: Any outs on base runners are kept and all other runners will be returned to the bases they occupied at the time of the pitch. So in these codes, the defense would always be advantaged by appealing the batting out of order.

NCAA: Most of the time this infraction should be appealed. If appealed, the entire play is negated and the defense does not keep the outs on any base runners. It may not happen often, but if two outs are made on base runners (and not on

the batter-runner) during this play, a coach could decide to ignore the infraction and keep the two outs on the runners.

If the batting out of order is appealed, the only out will be on the proper batter, with all runners returning even if they were called out on the play.

3. The improper batter completes her turn at bat and makes the only out on the play. If there are no runners or runners do not advance on this play, the defense could decide to ignore the infraction. Why?

Only one out will be declared on this appeal (the proper batter for failure to bat). The improper batter’s out is nullified, so you cannot also keep this out.

The defense could wait to see if the next batter will also be batting out of order, so watch who is coming to the plate. If so, wait until this next batter completes her turn at bat to see if she gets on base, then appeal her batting out of order.

The only exception might be when the proper batter who failed to bat is the opponent’s biggest hitter. By appealing, she will be declared out and miss her turn at bat.

If runners are not put out but advance on this play, then in all codes the infraction should be appealed. The out on the improper batter is nullified. The proper batter will be called out for failure to bat and all runners will be returned to the base they occupied at the time of the pitch. The defense can get only one out on this play, but the runners must go back.

4. The improper batter completes her turn at bat, makes an out and outs on runners are made on the play. As stated above, in ASA, NFHS, and USSSA, all outs are kept on the play. For these codes, always appeal before the next pitch. But in

NCAA, as stated above, the entire play is nullified. So if the defense turns a double play, the NCAA coach now must make a decision:

Choice No. 1: Do not appeal. Keep the double play and wait to

see if either the next batter is out of order also, or the next time the batting order comes around, the offense bats out of order again.

Choice No. 2: Appeal.The proper batter is declared out;

return all runners, including any who were put out, to their bases at the time of the pitch. You can get only one out in NCAA play when batting out of order is appealed (the proper batter who failed to bat).

5. The defense appeals after a pitch to the next batter. The defense has lost its opportunity (and advantage) to properly appeal this infraction and the appeal will be denied. The appeal will also be denied if:

1) This at bat results in the last play of a half-inning and the defense does not appeal before the pitcher and all infielders have left fair territory.

2) It is the end of the game and the umpires have left the field of play.

These five scenarios summarize the possible situations you might encounter during a game.

So who is the next batter?The rule for batting out of order

includes wording to identify who should be the next batter after the appeal – and this may be the most confusing part of this rule.

If properly appealed, the next batter is the batter who follows the proper batter (who has just been declared out for failure to bat). If not properly appealed (situation 5), the improper batter’s at bat is now official and the next proper batter is the player who follows that player who batted out of order.

An example will help. Consider

the batting order as A, B, C, D, etc.C bats instead of A, completes

her turn at bat and B steps into the batter’s box. The defense does not realize this until after a pitch (or pitches) to B (now standing in the batter’s box), and now the defense appeals the batting out of order.

Since C’s at bat is now official (whether she made an out or safely reached base), the batting order picks up with the player batting after C. D should be the current batter. If any other player is in the batter’s box, that batter is now batting out of order.

In future articles I will explore other situations for taking advantage of appeal plays, including the nefarious “fourth out appeal.”

If you have questions about this article, please send an email to [email protected]

John Bennett has 26 years of umpiring experi-ence in fastpitch softball, working high school, travel and college games.

He umpired at the NAIA National Champion-ship Series from 1998-2003, and has umpired in National Pro Fastpitch, dating back to when it was known as Women’s Pro Fastpitch and the Women’s Professional Softball League.

Bennett has umpired Pac-12 and Big West conference contests for many years, earning standing as a crew chief, and has worked many Division I Regional and Super Regional games. The last two years he worked at the Division II National Championship Series in Virginia.

He recently finished his term as the Active Official for the NCAA Softball Rules Committee.

RULES CORNER

Benefitting From Batting Out Of OrderBy JOHN BENNETT

Longtime Umpire

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Webster’s Dictionary defines the word community as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.” This concept has a lot to do with whom we choose to surround ourselves and the support we turn to when we need it the most.

Teams often are constructed in the same way. Coaches and managers choose people based on numerous non-negotiables like strength of character, follow-through and, of course, skill.

We choose friends and confidants, we choose mentors and we choose how we react to certain issues and negatives. And we use all of that to form that fellowship we share with others.

We get advice, we talk about the latest neighborhood issue, we share our family stuff and we lean when we need to. And it’s one of the most important things we can build and be a part of.

But the truth is, some of us insert ourselves into existing communities, not working too hard at making them right for us. Some of us build our

own, from the ground up, and pick and choose each person we connect to and with. Teams are a mixture of both. So are families. We may not always be able to choose the people who are a part of them, but we can choose how we connect and interact.

November is very often tagged “gratitude month” and is often the kickoff of the Thanksgiving holiday with a month full of thank yous and giving back.

And while that is wonderful and feels good, I wonder what it would take for us to be aware and conscious of that all the time. I think actively building community is one of the most important things we can do.

Ok, so how does it work, and why should we put the energy into doing so?

1. When we build our own community, we get to choose. Again, understand that sometimes someone else puts the people in place, but we can take the time to get to know them and how we can relate to each other.

2. We have strengths that others don’t. We use those to our advantage by offering ourselves openly to the team, as well as try to be open to the fact that others may be able to do

things well that you aren’t as good at. Having a sense of community adds to our abilities to lean on each other.

3. Often, deep down inside we are a lot more alike than we are different. Especially if we are on the same team, we are probably there for the same reasons. Lean on those reasons and use them to close the gaps between us. When we take the time to see those similarities, then we can make those bridges between us stronger.

4. Everyone likes to get behind a cause. Find your why and rally behind it. This usually builds community faster than anything else. Know that there are certain people who just need to feel like they are a part of something. A cause, whether it’s just being positive as a group, will always create more positives and will happen in waves. Use that to help build your community quickly and with the right people.

5. Know that a sense of community will also bring a sense of comfort in good and bad times. Building a team around a WHY and a strength that surrounds you will always bring people together. This is a wonderful feeling to have

when things are difficult and you need support, but also to have those around you to celebrate with.

Community builds stronger teams. Make sure those around you feel every ounce of it. It’s the difference between those who survive and those who thrive.

THE MENTAL GAME

Jen Croneberger is a mental game coach who speaks at clinics, team workshops and corpo-rate seminars. She has been interviewed on ABC news (Philadelphia affiliate) on many occasions about the mental game, consulted by MTV’s MADE as a fear coach and was the 2009 Female Business Leader of the Year for Chester County, Pa. She works with many organizations and sports teams from pro-fessionals to youth and is formerly the head softball coach at Ursinus College. Her blogs and more information on her programs can be found on www.thefivewords.com.

On Being Thankful For CommunityBy JEN CRONEBERGER

President, JLynne Consulting Group

But none of them could. “That’s your lesson,” the samurai said. “If you three stick together, you will never be defeated.”

Do not criticize a teammate in public, even constructively. Mining for conflict is indeed a trait of a great leader, but another is to create positive energy and confidence. Timing is critical.

9. Sometimes you have to pull out the big stick.

You can’t be a coach if you need to be liked. In the strictest form of Zen, monitors roam the meditation hall

wielding a “compassionate stick” for those sleeping or listless.

The purpose of a blow is to reinvigorate. Jackson invigorated players by practicing with no talking, lights out or scrimmaging with lopsided teams, then not calling any fouls on the weaker team.

Do not spend much time focused on what other people will think about you. Focus on doing your best. It is great to want other people to like you, but the only person you need to like you is yourself.

10. When in doubt, do nothing.Be patient. When the mind is allowed

to relax, inspiration often follows.It may be counterintuitive that

sacrificing time asleep to meditate, pray

or breathe deeply will lead to increased energy, but it is true. An open mind is not judgmental. It is both possible and useful to notice what works and what does not without being judgmental. This is called mindfulness.

11. Forget the ring.Jackson says that being fixated on

winning (or more likely, not losing) is counterproductive, especially when it causes you to lose control of your emotions. What’s more, obsessing about winning is a loser’s game.

The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.

Focus on the journey rather than the goal. What matters most is playing the

game the right way and having the courage to grow.

“Compete with” rather than “competing against.” Lao Tzu, the father of Taoism, believed that being too competitive could throw you out of whack, spiritually:

The best athleteWants his opponent at his best.The best generalEnters the mind of his enemy…All of them embodyThe virtue of non-competition.Not that they don’t love to compete,But they do it in the spirit of play.Compete effectively by focusing on

how to give best effort performances.

JACKSON CAN TEACH COACHES MANY LESSONSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

SEE JACKSON PAGE 18

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During the 1974-75 UCLA men’s basketball season, two young researchers, Ronald Gallimore and Roland Tharp, systematically observed 30 hours of practices and recorded and coded 2,326 discrete acts of teaching by legendary coach, John Wooden. Approximately 30 years later, they revisited their original study in order to look beyond the quantitative data and hard numbers, provide rationale, insight and personal reflections from themselves, Wooden, and a former UCLA basketball player.

In an effort to begin to explore and share the scientific side of effective coaching, I’d like to share some of the methods and philosophies behind Wooden, who many consider to be the greatest coach — and teacher — of all time.

The economy of talk refers to the high frequency of instruction provided by Wooden during his practices as well as the short, succinct and punctuated nature of this instruction. They were often frequent, and in rapid-fire order, yet distinct. Approximately 50 percent of his coded acts of teaching were categorized as instruction.

At the time, teacher-praise was a hot topic in the classroom setting. The research on Wooden revealed that he seldom praised his players. Almost 30 years later, when asked about this, Wooden expressed his opinion of instruction as a positive approach to teaching. This isn’t to say he believed

instruction to be synonymous with praise, however it appears to emphasize the importance of instruction over praise.

Even more interesting is the fact that this sentiment was shared by former players. One in particular discussed the importance of the information received during corrections and its direct effect on promoting change. Had the corrective strategies been simply positive, such as “Good job” or negative, like “No, that is not the right way,” Wooden would have been merely providing an evaluation over a solution. This same player also noted the objectivity of information, by explaining that it is aimed at the act, rather than actor.

Don’t get me wrong, I personally believe praise to be a crucial aspect of effective and positive coaching. However, it is important to recognize how and when it is effective and meaningful. It must be specific, informative, genuine and focused on effort and mastery.

Another masterful element of the economy and efficiency of Wooden’s teaching methods was a form of scold/reinstruction that combined information, modeling and feedback that was so brief, yet loaded with information that it soon came to be known as a “Wooden.” This was a three-part sequence in which he demonstrated the correct way to perform an act, followed by an imitation of the incorrect way the act was just performed and then a remodeling of the correct way once again. The

immediacy of the demonstration coupled with the emphasis placed on feedback made this a highly effective teaching tool.

One thing I have found in my observations of coaching and conversations with athletes is a frequent feeling of lack of feedback. Athletes are often told that they didn’t do something correctly, and perhaps not told how to do it correctly or sent to do a drill or activity that is meant to “teach” them how to do it correctly. Often times, acknowledgement of a correction (or lack thereof) is not provided.

Another signature of Wooden’s teaching methods is referred to as the whole-part method. Players would be shown the “whole” before it was broken down into parts, worked and gradually brought back together. Teaching was done within the framework of the whole, but designed so that it would not minimalize the individual and their differences. In addition, he was big on drill and repetition, so that basic skills could be executed with automaticity, resulting in an ability to exercise individual initiative and imagination. He expressed a desire to have his players think for themselves.

I have found that many athletes who enter coaching have typically worked and played in an environment where everything was a directive and there was little to no independent thought, creativity or risk.

We played our fall season without base coaches. We play our spring season with one base coach.

We need our athletes to be capable of making decisions and have a willingness to take risks that will pay dividends more times than not. If we do not consistently provide an environment where this is encouraged and rewarded, it is unreasonable to expect to see these things when there are perceived consequences, as there are in competition.

While the way Wooden was able to fire instruction at any given time to any given player may have seemed improvisational, it was anything but.

His practices were planned to the minute. He logged every minute of every practice he ever conducted, and could have told you in detail about each one. He studied each of his players individually in order to arm himself with anticipated and appropriate responses.

Wooden understood that teaching was not throwing out material for someone to get, and that teaching wasn’t teaching if somebody wasn’t learning. His approach to life as a “one-room schoolhouse” made him more than a coach of basketball. As much as we can say that the times and athletes have changed, I firmly believe his lessons are timeless, and what he has left to us and our profession is priceless.

By BREE NASTIHead Coach, Adelphi University

Bree Nasti is in her third season as the head softball coach at Adelphi University.

Adelphi won 27 games this 2014 and went 25-5 in Northeast-10 Conference play in her first season, winning the Southwest Division regular-season title and the program’s first Northeast-10 Conference Tournament crown to garner a berth in the NCAA Division II East Regional. In recognition of their efforts, Nasti and her staff were named the NFCA Division II East Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Prior to Adelphi, she coached at fellow metropolitan New York Divi-sion I schools Stony Brook, St. John’s and Hofstra.

Nasti has a master’s degree in kinesiology from Fresno State and has conducted research in the field of sports psychology, specifically coach-ing science and elite team sport coaching. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo, where she is the softball leader in nearly every offensive category and was a four-year letterwinner and a three-time All-Region and All-Mid-America Conference honoree.

Wooden Much More Than Legendary CoachVIEWPOINTS

It is a privilege to get to approach your potential as an athlete. Get away from war analogy terms like kill, have to, battle or enemy.

Anger, resentment, and hatred can bring useful energy, but they typically bring mistakes and misjudgments, too.

The worst way to win is by forfeit. A partnership with your opponents

will be a more useful analogy than thinking of them as an evil enemy. Appreciate that your opponents push you to heights that you would be unlikely to see without them. It is certainly possible to be both fierce and friendly.

Ultimately, the primary competition is always with oneself.

JACKSON CAN TEACH COACHES MANY LESSONSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

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pitchers in the Northeast, including 2014 NFCA High School All-American Stephanie Thomas (of New Jersey’s Immaculate Heart Academy).

“I THINK THAT there is a common misconception that a softball pitcher can throw without injury. It is important that coaches value quality over quantity, because overuse can lead to injury,” Schraer said.

In a study done by Rush University Medical Center, Dr. Nikhil Verma, the lead author and a specialist in sports medicine said, “The greatest impact is on the biceps, as the muscle first accelerates the arm and then puts on the brakes, after transferring force to the ball.” According to that study, the muscle force used in windmill pitching is actually higher than in baseball.

With the right approach, the information from detailed pitch counts is instrumental when teaching the mental side of the game. The most critical age group for development is between the ages of 12 and 16. Schraer takes the objective feedback from pitch

counts and implements it within her program.

“I think it’s important that youth travel coaches understand that these players are still growing,” she said. “During this crucial stage, coaches can help bridge the gap between a players’ physical and mental growth.”

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED softball educator Cindy Bristow has long emphasized the importance of recognizing a pitcher’s “fatigue point” and allowing them to rest.

As competitors, some pitchers may be hesitant to tell their coach when they are tired.

“It is important as a pitcher to communicate with your coaches how much you have left (and) immediately when something is bothering you, because you know your own limits,” suggests Ashley LaGuardia, who pitches at Princeton University.

The health and safety of athletes should always be the No. 1 priority for all coaches, players and parents. Some players have a high tolerance for pain, which can lead to overuse injuries. Parents can play a key role in injury prevention.

Mary and Ben Thomas have three daughters — two of which are pitchers — including Stephanie, who pitches at

Lafayette University, and 12-year-old Catherine. When thinking big picture, Mary Thomas explains, “We realized that Stephanie had a high tolerance for pain and wouldn’t mention anything until the pain crossed a certain threshold. With Catherine, we encourage her to communicate any discomfort to avoid any future injuries.”

FOR THE ultra-competitive athlete who always wants to push through, a pitch count can serve as a tool for coaches to pinpoint when a pitcher is reaching her “fatigue point.”

“Playing at a higher level is ultimately going to get you recruited and further your career, so it’s important to stay healthy,” LaGuardia points out.

Of all the benefits pitch counts can bring to the game, it’s important to always have a clear purpose. Making every pitch count can make all the difference.

Diego Ibarra is the Director of Player Development for the New Jersey-based Akadema Elite softball organization and also coaches the travel ball group’s 18U team. He also coaches softball at Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, N.J. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @dibarra912.

PITCH COUNTS CAN BE USEFUL COACHING TOOLSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Pitching coach Diana Schraer, left, makes a point during a lesson. Photo provided.

to St. Mary’s,” Hannah Fields said, “(but) I didn’t want to play against her. I wanted to wear the blue and gold with her.”

“I would’ve missed her being at all my games. It’s been a really enjoyable experience.”

BUT IT almost never happened.“I didn’t think I’d come back,”

Donna Fields admitted. “I went to the high school level and was enjoying myself. I was at Taft High School for 14 years. I didn’t have the desire to coach on the college level.”

“My dad was in the same company for 44 years. I believe in loyalty (to one place). I would never have thought that was what God had in

my plan.”Fields is glad she decided to

return to coach softball and, at the time, be an assistant coach for the volleyball squad.

“Right now, I feel confident in

the decision,” she said. “Having the alumni come back and be proud of what we’ve accomplished makes me feel proud.”

Fields also serves as the school’s senior woman administrator, where

she has a role in the success of all of the Rattlers’ sports.

“I take a lot of pride in having the women’s programs be as strong as the men’s ones,” she said.

FIELDS HAS plenty of experiences that she can use to help the other squads.

“There’s lots of aspects that create a good team, not necessarily the best players,” she said. “Your athletes are a special group. I work each day to make them better on the field and off the field.”

Fields said her father, who died in September, instilled in her many qualities that have helped her be successful throughout her coaching career, but two stand out among the rest.

“He always told us, ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’ and ‘only ask of others what you would ask of yourself.’”

FIELDS HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW ’NORMAL’ SEASONCONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Hannah and Donna Fields watch the action from the dugout during a game. Photo provided.

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