NFCA FASTPITCH DELIVERY OCTOBER 2014

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Fastpitch Delivery PAGE 1 OCTOBER 2014

Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf was recently chosen to receive the inaugural NFCA Donna Newberry “Perseverance” Award.

The award, named for the longtime Muskingum College and 2008 NFCA Hall of Fame coach who died in November 2010 after amassing a 906-419-1 mark over 36 seasons, recognizes an NFCA member coach who has demonstrated extraordinary strength of will and character in the fight to overcome a physical, mental or social adversity that presented an

additional challenge to the already demanding job of a coach.

Gumpf, who recently started her 14th year leading the Fighting Irish, has compiled a 549-220-1 record in South Bend, which includes 13 straight NCAA tournament appearances and four Big East titles.

The last few years have been difficult for Gumpf, but not because of anything on the softball field. In the summer of 2010, her four-year-

Three successful coaches and a longtime administrator comprise the 2014 NFCA Hall of Fame class that will be inducted during December’s NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nev.

Head coaches Julie Lenhart (SUNY Cortland), Phil McSpadden (Oklahoma City University) and Les Stuedeman (University of Alabama-Huntsville) were elected at last year’s convention, as was NFCA Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker in the Pioneer category.

Lenhart is the winningest coach in program history at Division III Cortland, going 665-255-2 in 20

seasons leading the Red Dragons.Two years ago, Cortland was

the national runner-up, compiling a 35-17 record and scoring the school’s best NCAA tournament finish. The Red Dragons overcame an 8-10 start to claim their third State University of New York

Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) championship in four years and notch their 12th straight 30-win campaign. The Red Dragons’ only two losses in five games at the World Series were to national

Jason Schreiber suggests softball coaches can improve skill retention by having players teach what they’ve learned in videos.

““Success is how you define it. Taking a team that was 4-14 the year before you arrived and turning them around to be .500 and play in the playoffs for the first time in many years is as successful as winning championships. Both teach you valuable lessons and both are fun and will fill your heart with joy.”

Austgen Has Built A Dynasty At Deer Park

COACH’S PROFILE PAGE 13DEREK JETER, LONGTIME NEW YORK YANKEES SHORTSTOP

OCTOBER 2014 VOLUME 19, NO. 10

NATIONAL FASTPITCH COACHES ASSOCIATION

WORDS TO COACH BY...“There may be people who have more talent than

you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.”

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Appeal-ing ResultsLongtime umpire John Bennett says alert coaches can reap big rewards.

Gumpf Earns Inaugural Newberry Award

Quartet Set To Enter NFCA Hall

INSIDE

Academic Accolades AwardedNFCA Member Schools Boast 4,687 Individuals With At Least A 3.5 GPA

The NFCA is pleased to announce that 4,687 softball players across seven membership divisions earned NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2013-14 academic year.

NCAA Division I, with 1,105 honorees, had the most individual student-athletes with a 3.5 grade-point average or higher, while 1,020 players in NCAA Division III scored recognition, followed by 741 in the High School Unweighted category.

NCAA Division II had 695 honorees, High School Weighted amassed 584 recipients, NAIA had 359 and Junior College totaled 183.

Meanwhile, in the NFCA Top 10 Academic Team rankings, Division II Adelphi University paced all colleges with a 3.724 grade-point average, while Hazelton Area and Byron Nelson led the High School Unweighted and Weighted categories.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (3.670) topped NCAA Division I, while Emerson College (3.644) was the Division III leader, William Carey (3.704) set the NAIA standard and East Mississippi Community College (3.587) was No. 1 among junior colleges. Hazelton Area posted a 3.953 GPA, while Byron Nelson had a 4.778 GPA.SEE GUMPF PAGE 15

NFCA Executive Director, Three Coaches In 2014 Induction Class

EDUCATION PAGE 15

DIVISION I HCC MINUTES ................ PAGE 4NEW MEMBERS ................................ PAGE 5QUESTION OF THE MONTH ............. PAGE 8SOFTBALL BY SMITTY ................... PAGE 14VIEWPOINTS ...........................PAGES 20-21MARKETING ................................... PAGE 22

ACADEMIC HONOREES LIST AT NFCA.ORG

Baker Lenhart McSpadden Stuedeman

SEE QUARTET PAGE 23

Deanna and Tatum Gumpf

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Fastpitch DeliveryPAGE 2 OCTOBER 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.

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NEWS & NOTES

Schutt Sports has created a helmet sticker to honor the memory of the four North Central Texas College softball team members that died in a highway crash on Sept. 26 in Oklahoma.

“Tracey Kee (of the University of North Texas) approached me about making a decal for her helmets to honor the four athletes that lost their lives,” Schutt’s National Director of Baseball and Softball Promotions Dianne Baker said. “I decided instead of making many different decals for different universities, wouldn’t it be

nice to show the support of the entire college softball world by making one decal in a show of unity.”

Lions players Brooke Deckard, 20, Jaiden Pelton, 20, Meagan Richardson, 19, and Katelynn Woodlee, 18, died

from injuries sustained when a tractor trailer that had crossed the median into their side of the highway collided with their bus, which was returning from a scrimmage against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Okla. A dozen others were injured in the crash.

“We couldn’t be more saddened by the tragedy that struck North Central Texas College and, in fact, struck our entire college softball family,” Baker said. “We’re a group that cares about each other, regardless of what school we go to or colors we wear.

“I want to thank my boss, Kip Meyer, VP for Marketing and sales at Schutt Sports for stepping up to the plate and agreeing to do the first 1,200 free, along with his decision to sell the others at cost, so everyone can get the decals. Also, thanks to Glenn Beckmann for all his work on the design of decal.”

Schutt is selling a sheet of 25 for $15, which includes shipping anywhere in the United States, Canada or Hawaii.

For more details, email Baker at [email protected].

Schutt Stickers Honor Four NCTC Victims

SportsBoard Is NFCA’s Mobile Player Assessment SolutionThe NFCA is pleased to announce

that SportsBoard has joined our prestigious list of Corporate Friends and is now our Official Mobile Player Assessment Solution.

“We’re very excited to partner with SportsBoard and use its exceptional, one-of-a-kind solution,” NFCA Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker said. “Besides our own staff using SportsBoard at our camps to collect data, attending college coaches will now be able to use SportsBoard at NFCA recruiting events to capture their recruiting data electronically. The

efficiencies SportsBoard will enable for all involved are tremendous.”

While the idea for SportsBoard originated 10 years ago, tablet computers back then just weren’t as easy to use. “The iPad was a game-changer in that regard,” according to CEO and founder Gregg Jacobs. “When I approached college coaches about the concept of SportsBoard three years ago, all of them told me that recruiting was the single largest

paper-driven process that needed automation. So that’s where we started.”

College coaches can use SportsBoard at NFCA, PGF and Surf City events to view rosters and schedules for each tournament, quickly find the recruits they want to watch, and then take notes, capture video, rate skills, chart pitches and hitting, and record test results…all on their iPad or iPhone.

NFCA will deploy SportsBoard at its camps to streamline collection of test results into a database from which it can easily be published.

“SportsBoard is going to facilitate data collection, analysis and trending capabilities for every athlete over a multi-year window,” Baker said. “We’ve never had an efficient way to achieve this using clipboards and Excel, and that’s what is most exciting for us.

“SportsBoard is going to take the NFCA to new heights, and we believe SportsBoard can really help coaches at all levels of our game,” she said. “We look forward to working with SportsBoard over the next three years.”

Image courtesy of Schutt Sports

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September 9, 2014 Telephone Conference No. 2014-09 The meeting was brought to order at

10:01 a.m. CST. Those present were:Lonni Alameda, Atlantic Coast Confer-

ence; Michelle Burrell, America East Con-ference; Heidi Cavallo, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; Pat Conlan, Big East Confer-ence, and NFCA Board Rep; Lynn Curylo, Horizon League; Michelle DePolo, Patriot League; Jo Evans, Southeastern Confer-ence; Rick Fremin, Southwestern Athletic Conference; Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cessler, Big 12 Conference; Beth Golitko, The Summit League, Alternate; Jessica Hanas-eth, West Coast Conference; Holly Hesse, Missouri Valley Conference, Alternate; Kyla Holas, American Athletic Conference; Me-lissa Inouye, Metro Atlantic Athletic Con-ference; Steve Johnson, Mountain West Conference; Roy Kortmann, Northeast Conference; Karen Linder, Mid-American Conference; Bridget Orchard, Atlantic 10 Conference; Nikki Palmer, Western Ath-letic Conference; Barb Sherwood, Big Sky Conference; Annie Smith, Sun Belt Confer-ence; Shonda Stanton, Conference USA; Terri Sullivan, Big Ten Conference, Alter-nate; Lisa Sweeney, Ivy League; Jaime Wohlbach, Colonial Athletic Association; Jane Worthington, Ohio Valley Conference

Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Softball Secre-tary-Rules Editor, Guest; Sharon Cessna, NCAA Director of Championships, Guest

Natalie Poole, NFCA Division I Repre-sentative; Lacy Lee Baker, NFCA Execu-tive Director; Carol Bruggeman, NFCA As-sociate Executive Director

Mandy Burford, Southern Conference; Jenny Condon, Big West Conference; Heather Tarr, Pacific-12 Conference and representatives from the Atlantic Sun Con-ference, Big South Conference and South-land Conference, were not on the call.

1. Approval of August Call Minutes. It was moved (Ms. Smith) and seconded (Mr. Fremin) that the August call minutes be approved.2. NCAA Rules. NFCA Division I Repre-sentative Natalie Poole asked for clarifi-cation regarding the overall softball rules process and asked Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Softball Secretary-Rules Editor, for information on timelines, feedback/comment periods, and a review of the overall process. Ms. Abrahamson re-ported the following: A. NCAA Rules Overall Process. 1) There are eight voting members

on the Rules Committee (four from Div I; two each from DII and DIII). In addition, the National Umpire Coordinator, an active umpire, the Secretary Rules Editor and the two softball liaisons from the NCAA Play-ing Rules and Officiating also participate by providing their expertise although they have no vote.

2) There is a call for proposals. Pro-posals are collected in March and April of

rule change years (odd years). 3) The Softball rules committee dis-

cusses these proposals on their spring phone calls to determine when clarification or data are desirable before the meeting.

4) The Softball rules committee meets at the WCWS to discuss the pro-posals (usually around 80) and also review injury and statistical data pertaining to pro-posals.

5) When time comes to vote, major-ity votes rules.

6) There is a two-week comment pe-riod between June meeting and PROP.

7) PROP must approve rule chang-es with financial implications, those that im-pact the image of the game, major chang-es with consideration to conformity among sports and requests for experimental rules.

8) The manuscript goes to the printer in July with distribution in August.

B. Experimental Rules Updates. 1) Balls. 100 dozen experimental

balls, 34 dozen to Division I, were distrib-uted for use across the U.S. to try out in all different climates. The rules committee is requesting feedback from these institu-tions by late fall so they can follow up with experimenters as needed. The proposal to adopt the new ball will be voted on at the spring meeting.

C. Time Frame/Voting Procedures. 1) Short Time Frame. There was

concern from the HCC about the time frame of getting proposals in March and April and taking a vote in June. Ms. Abrahamson felt it was enough time when every committee member does due diligence.

2) Absent Rules Committee Mem-bers. There was an HCC concern regard-ing Division I representation on the June vote when Division I committee members were absent. There was a strong request from HCC for alternates. Ms. Abrahamson reminded HCC currently the NCAA has no process for proxy. HCC felt Division I needed to be represented in full during vot-ing period. Ms. Abrahamson will follow up with NCAA and ask if we can have alter-nates on committees. Post call update - the NCAA does have a process for a succes-sor to attend the committee meeting (rules committees, championship committee, etc.) the year before his/her appointment starts if the member he/she is replacing is unable to attend. So if you are rotating off the committee and your replacement has already been approved, that person could attend and have voice but no vote. If the committee member who is unable to at-tend is not in his/her final year, there is no process for a replacement unless the com-mittee member resigns from the remainder of his/her term.

3) Distribution of Rules Book. The HCC voiced concern in the short time frame for feedback regarding the ap-proved changes so requested delaying printing. Ms. Abrahamson noted the com-mittee could request a change to back

printing to November and distributing the rule book in December. The current con-tract with the printing company would have to be investigated to see if/when that might be possible. Note that previous commit-tees have favored having the approved changes in the coaches’ hands in August for fall competition, coaches’ conference meetings and umpire education clinics. Previous December distribution shortened the time for coaches and umpires to pre-pare for February competition so the pro-duction schedule was changed in 2014.

4) NFCA Rules Committee. Ms Abrahamson reminded the HCC that the NFCA has a standing Rules Committee which could become more active in mak-ing rule proposals or discussing issues in the game that might need to be addressed by rule changes.

3. ESPN Ratings. Sharon Cessna, NCAA Director of Championships, was on the call and reported on ESPN ratings. Ms. Cessna stated ESPN is pleased with the state of the game and the softball commu-nity should be very proud with the changes they have made to improve the television aspect of the game.

A. Viewing Options. There were sev-eral options for viewing including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and the Watch ESPN App.

B. Overall Ratings. Overall ratings re-flected an increase in NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals and a slight decrease in WCWS. Details are below:

(1) ESPN and ESPN2 have 96 mil-lion households and ESPNU has 74 million households.

(2) NCAA Regionals was up ap-proximately 45%; NCAA Super Regionals was up approximately 32%; WCWS was slightly lower with a rating of .62 (highest ever for softball was .89)

(3) The only NCAA championships with a higher rating were MBB, WBB, FB, and CWS

(4) On WatchESPN there were over 28,000 live unique viewers that watched 990,000 live minutes for an aver-age time spent of 35 minutes per viewer.

C. New Items for ESPN (1) Bases Loaded (baseball is al-

ready doing this)- numerous games avail-able on digital simultaneously.

(2) Networks flex D. TV Commentators. Ms Cessna

stated they are always looking for new tal-ent and for people who know the game. To assist having a quality product, pregame conference calls with umpires and rules members occur prior to broadcasts.

4. Interpretation Reminder. NFCA Division I Representative Nata-

lie Poole asked HCC members to send a reminder regarding publicizing skill instruc-tions. It is permissible to report out on a skill instruction session only after the session is complete.

Division I institutions should be re-minded that bylaw 17.1.7.2.2 prohibits skill related instruction from being publicized or conducted in view of a general public au-dience. It is permissible to report out on a skill instruction session after the session is complete, provided there is no mention of any future skill instruction sessions in the post. For example, it is permissible to tweet “today’s skill instruction session was great,” provided it is not posted until after the ses-sion has concluded, but a coach could not add “can’t wait for tomorrow’s session to get even better.”

5. Convention Hot Topics. Convention hot topics (see below) were

developed from working groups. A. Certification of Events B. Recruiting Calendar C. One-time transfer rule D. Slowing early recruiting process

down E. Move season backExecutive Director Lacy Lee Baker will

send out a survey for head coaches and/or assistant coaches to see who would like to be on a working group. She will also request additional hot topic items. NFCA Division I Representative Natalie Poole asked HCC reps to inform respective con-ference members to look for this survey and give feedback.

Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker and NFCA Division I Representative Nata-lie Poole will verify the heads of working groups committees and pass information from former chairs to new chairs to build upon foundation of work already done. HCC will discuss working groups in detail on October call.

6. Next Conference Call. The next HCC conference call will be held at 10:00 a.m. Central time Tuesday, October 7.

7. Adjournment. The meeting was ad-journed at 11:10am Central time.

MINUTES – HCC

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.

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Mitch Alexander, Head Coach, Sudden Impact; Nicole Algierie, All-Inclusive Membership; Elsa Martina Apo, Assistant Coach, Trinity Valley Community College; Meaghan Asselta, Assistant Coach, Florida International University; Samantha Avery, Volunteer Assistant, Springfield College (Mass.); Alana Aweau, Assistant Coach, Academy of Art University; James Bailes, Head Coach, Hewitt Trussville Middle (Ala.); Jim Bell, Assistant Coach, Briar Woods High School (Va.); Victoria Benavidez, Assistant Coach, Sam Houston State University; Kadie Berlin, Head Coach, Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa; Megan Blank, Assistant Coach, George Mason University; Thad Bolin, Assistant Coach, Diamond Sports Hotshots; Katie Boshart, Assistant Coach (pitching), State University College at Oneonta; Tyler Bratton, Assistant Coach, Mississippi State University; Eddie Brooks, Head Coach, Grapettes EB; Mike Carpenter, Head Coach, Summit High School (Ore.); Caitlin Chance, Volunteer Assistant, Washington College (Md.); Randi Davis, Assistant Coach (pitching), University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; Sammy Delacruz, Head Coach, USA Athletics De La Cruz; Jeffrey Doroski, Head Coach, Riverhead High School (N.Y.); Jamie Dunn, Head Coach, Southwest Minnesota State University; Matthew Fish, Head Coach, Victor J. Andrew High School (Ill.); Carrah Fisk Hennessey, Head Coach, Keene State College; Elise Fortier, Volunteer Assistant, Florida Atlantic University; Emily Friedman, Assistant Coach, Columbia University; Garrett Furnal, Assistant Coach, Presbyterian College; Jacob Garrett, Assistant Coach, Hewitt-Trussville High School (Ala.); Lauren Grant, Assistant Coach (pitching), George Washington University; Marcie Green, Assistant Coach, Oregon State University; Felecia Gulledge, Assistant Coach, Hewitt-Trussville High School (Ala.); Jason Halsey, Assistant Coach, Kaikamahine; Kasie Hatfield, Volunteer Assistant, Pennsylvania State University; Victoria Hayward, Volunteer Assistant, Seattle University; Lisa Hess, Assistant Coach, Predators; Carl Hoeninger, Head Coach, Spotsylvania; Chris Hujber, Assistant Coach, Long Island Express East; Jennifer Hunt, Head Coach, Assumption (Ky.); Jairn Janecka, All-Inclusive Membership; Karen Johns, Head Coach, Hewitt-Trussville High School (Ala.); Katie Keith, Head Coach, Pine Tree High School (Tenn.); Joel Laughlin, Head Coach, Ashtabula Edgwood (Ohio); Caitlin Luquet, Head Coach, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Heather Maddox, Student Assistant, Gordon State College (Ga.); Jodi Mayan, Assistant Coach, Saginaw Valley State University; Scott McDonald, Head Coach, Firecrackers-GA (Ga.); Scott Merrill, Assistant Coach, Northeast Xtreme; Keri Meyer, Assistant Coach, Robert Morris University; Larry Miller, Head Coach, Framingham State College; Krissi Oliver, Assistant Coach, Wayne State College (Neb.); Chrissy Ortiz, Assistant Coach, Northeastern Junior College; Gregory Palmer, All-Inclusive Membership; John Paris, Assistant Coach, Lakeshore (Mich.); Matt Pearson, Head Coach, Martin Luther College; James Powell, Head Coach, Wayne County (Miss.); Karla Powell, Assistant Coach, St. Johns River State College; Kristin Powell, Assistant Coach, William J. “Pete” Knight High School (Calif.); Jillian Rader, Assistant Coach, University of Mount Union; Gator Rebhan IV, Head Coach, Florida International University; Louis Rizzuti, Volunteer Assistant, Missouri Western State University; Caitlyn Sandy, Volunteer Assistant, James Madison University; Annie Sarcone, Assistant Coach, Messiah College; Steve Schucker, Head Coach, Yeshiva University; Justin Shults, Assistant Coach, Miami University (Ohio); Brian Simpson, Assistant Coach, Harrisburg (Mo.); Mikiah Smith, Volunteer Assistant, Oregon State University; Shanna Smith, Head Coach, Clarendon College; James Spencer, Assistant Coach, Virginia Legends; Katherine Spring, Assistant Coach, Eastern Connecticut State University; Scott Steward, Head Coach, Riverview Community (Mich.); Brittany Stewart, Assistant Coach, Southwest Minnesota State University; Jennifer Teague, Head Coach, Columbia University; Chris Turco, Head Coach, Pope High School (Ga.); Megan Uhrman, Assistant Coach, North Carolina A&T State University; Jillian VanWagnen, Assistant Coach, Ohio University; Jessica Villegas, Assistant Coach, North Carolina A&T State University; Megan Warner, Assistant Coach (pitching), Illinois State University; Scott Wells, Head Coach, The Factory Softball Club 14U Red; Melanie Williams, Assistant Coach (hitting), Harvard-Westlake (Calif.); Shannon Williams, Assistant Coach, Knight High School (Calif.); Laura Winter, Assistant Coach (pitching), Fordham University; Alyssa Wolfe, Assistant Coach, Ohio University; Lauren Yao, Volunteer Assistant, Mt. San Antonio College; Tony Young, Head Coach, Holy Cross (Ky.)

New Members

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is honored to announce member coaches Mallory Holtman-Fletcher, Brittney Lightfoot and Nikki Stein are the first three recipients of the Mary Nutter Scholarship.

The educational grant, named for the former Pittsburg State (Kan.) head coach and 1997 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee who founded National Sports Clinics, seeks to continue Nutter’s effort to provide softball coaches at all levels access to the best minds in the sport to help them become better coaches themselves.

Recipients receive funding to attend the NFCA National Convention, where they can improve their skills at educational seminars and through interaction with their fellow

convention attendees. This year’s convention is Dec. 3-6 at Bally’s in Las Vegas, Nev.

Holtman-Fletcher is interested in building on the success she has had as the head coach at NCAA Division II Central Washington University.

“I know that the knowledge that is available in our field is ever-growing and I want to be able to share in that,” she wrote in her application.

“Budget cuts have occurred and we have lost funding for education. This opportunity would allow me to talk to the best in our field and learn what we need to take our program to the next step and be able to make myself a better coach for the ladies that put so much into this program.

“I was lucky enough to attend the Nashville convention (in 2009) while I was a GA, and when I returned I was reinvigorated. I cherish the thought of talking to the Patrick Murphys and Sue Enquists of our profession.”

Bethel College assistant Lightfoot was nominated by her head coach, Megan Hastings, who said that the budget at their NAIA school would not pay for both of them to attend.

“I’d like to attend a convention in order to learn more about coaching

from successful coaches,” Hastings wrote, “and to gain tips about not just running practices, but about motivation and keeping a team passionate about softball.”

Stein is a young Division II coach who Lake Superior State University head coach Lori Shimasaki thinks can really blossom with the type of professional development the convention offers.

“She is my only assistant coach, who takes on many responsibilities while her salary is less than equal (to those tasks),” Shimasaki wrote. “Nikki cannot afford to attend the convention each year (but) has great potential for pitching growth, and I would like for her to build on her

Three Earn First Mary Nutter ScholarshipsNEWS & NOTES

SEE THREE PAGE 11

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The Sioux City (Iowa) Convention and Tourism Bureau and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recently announced that the NAIA Softball World Series has a new home for its 2015 and 2016 editions.

Morningside College and the city of Sioux City will serve as the official

hosts, with games at the Elizabeth and Irving Jensen Softball Complex — the home of the Morningside softball team since its completion in 2006 — on May 22-28, 2015, and May 27-June 2, 2016.

The NAIA Softball World Series is a 10-team double-elimination format, played on one stadium field. That format went into effect in 2013. The NAIA has sponsored the Softball World Series since 1981, when its inaugural championship was held in Conroe, Texas. Currently, 197 NAIA institutions sponsor the sport of softball.

“We are extremely excited to bring another National Championship event to the Sioux City community — the

NAIA Softball World Series!” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. “I have no doubt that the city of Sioux City and Morningside College will offer a first-class championship experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. I am thrilled to partner again with our friends in Sioux City.”

In addition to the Softball World Series, Sioux City will host the both the 2014 NAIA Volleyball National Championship in December and the 2015 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship in March. Both championships will take place at the Tyson Events Center.

“The City of Sioux City is excited to

host the Softball World Series,” said Sioux City city manager Bob Padmore. “It is another opportunity to show our community’s hospitality to the athletes and institutions of the NAIA.”

Morningside has made five NAIA Softball World Series appearances, most recently in 2012.

“All of us at Morningside are excited and honored to have been selected to host the NAIA Softball World Series” Morningside College President John Reynders said. “We are very proud of this facility and look forward to sharing it with teams and fans from around the country.”

—Courtesy NAIA

Sioux City New Home Of NAIA World Series NEWS & NOTES

Teammates hoist former University of Tennessee and Team USA and current Chicago Bandits pitcher Monica Abbott on their shoulders to celebrate a Toyota Motor Company win during the Japan Softball League season. (Photo courtesy Monica Abbott via Twitter)

SOFTBALL SNAPSHOT

NFCA Excelling On Social Media

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) 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.

The website uses Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to create an overall social media score. The NFCA does not have an Instagram account, so just our Twitter and Facebook accounts go toward the ranking.

The @NFCAorg Twitter account boasts more than 12,800 followers and has averaged nearly 70 new followers each week over the last month. Within the last week, the account sent its 10,000th tweet.

Our Twitter account has achieved a “very active” ranking for original Twitter posts, an “impressive” rating for the popularity of our Twitter content and an “above average” ranking for interaction with our followers.

By comparison, the NFCA ranks in the top five with the American Volleyball Coaches Association, which has 2,400 more Twitter followers and two primary playing seasons (women in fall, men in spring), giving it 50 percent of the year from which to draw interest and content.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has Twitter (19,000 followers), Facebook (9,500 likes) and Instagram (962 followers) accounts all counting toward its score, but is less active on social media, and therefore only ranked in the Top 10, at least five places behind the NFCA.

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I personally like the NFCA Convention because you get to interact with coaches on a more personal level. Most of the time we see the coaches and

they are recruiting going from field to field. At the convention they are much more relaxed. Picking their brain at a lunch break or in the lobby is invaluable. The NFCA convention does it right. Great times with the Easton Victory Club Luncheon and all the other events that they plan.

Anthony LaRezzaImmaculate Heart (N.J.) Academy

The opportunity to see old friends, meet new coaches and establish new friendships. Expand and learn, sharing fresh softball ideas with

fellow colleagues and just being part of a passionate and positive softball atmosphere for a week make this event a must!

Craig MontvidasNetherlands National Team

My favorite thing about the NFCA Convention is the unbridled sharing of information between coaches. This leads to a feeling of

connection and inclusion amongst coaches and encourages networking outside of your personal coaching circle. The NFCA is a tremendous organization that I feel fosters this environment, something we should all be grateful for and contribute to.

Hannah ShalettSkidmore College

I like reconnecting with all the other coaches! It’s fun celebrating and strategizing with them!

Becky Stenning PearlLewis University

My favorite thing about the NFCA Convention is the camaraderie between coaches and the accessibility to the best coaches and

players in our game. The exchanges that can occur during a reception, the HOF banquet or over a bagel and coffee at the continental breakfasts, are priceless. It’s inspiring how some of the best and most recognizable coaches in our game are not only willing to share openly, but also willing to continue learning through presentations and casual interaction. It’s a week I look forward to all year.

Eric OakleyKent State University

I always enjoy just being able to exchange ideas with “the greats” but feeling like an equal. There is never a feeling of not belonging

in any session, banquet or just the social time. The speakers are always excellent and the events run in a first-class fashion. I wish that I could attend every year!

Julie DetjenFox Valley (Wis.) Lutheran

I like all the speakers who come and share drills, practice plans and many other things that it takes to run a softball program.

Karin GadberrySWA/Head Softball Coach

My favorite part of Convention is always The Mentoring Session. As a young head coach, it has been amazing to learn from the best

in the game, hearing their words of encouragement and advice as I build my own program.

Lee NegrelliUniversity of Wisconsin-Platteville

The best part of the convention is the networking with other coaches throughout the nation. You may be able to help someone

who’s going through an experience you had in the past or you can gain valuable knowledge and find someone willing to help you with something you may be working on.

Jeff FilaliButler Community CollegeFounder/GM Tulsa Elite

My favorite part of the convention is the Softball Summit. I love hearing all of the different perspectives that coaches around the country

take on certain matters of our game. As a young coach, I am in constant sponge mode. I crave learning from experienced coaches.

Kaela JacksonUniversity of South Carolina

The speakers! It is so enjoyable and educational to listen to experts and peer coaches discussing our sport.

Becky NorrisCleveland State University

My favorite part is The Mentoring Session. I learn so much and get lots of support! Being a young coach, it’s great to hear the wisdom that mentor

coaches have on very good questions that we all can relate to.Roo JohnsonAirline (La.) High School

What’s your favorite thing about the NFCA National Convention and why?

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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Reigning NFCA co-Freshman of the Year honoree Annie Aldrete of the University of Tennessee heads the list of invitees announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball for the 2015 USA Softball Women’s National Team (WNT) Selection Camp on Jan. 4-8 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Calif.

Those athletes who accept the invitation to tryout will vie for one of 17 spots on the 2015 USA Softball squad that will compete at the 10th World Cup of Softball in Irvine, Calif., and one of 15 spots on the team that will compete in the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Both events are in July.

Additional athletes may be invited to the USA Softball WNT Selection Camp at a later date. During the five-day selection process, athletes will participate in position drills

as well as simulated games and be evaluated by the Women’s National Team Selection Committee.

In addition to the list of invitees, the 2015 coaching staff has been selected, with University of South Florida head coach Ken Eriksen the head coach; assistant coaches Laura Berg, the head coach at Oregon State; Howard Dobson, an assistant coach at LSU; and Lisa Dodd, the head coach at UNLV; all continuing their roles from the 2014 team that captured the General Tire World Cup of Softball IX and earned the silver medal at the International Softball Federation Women’s World Championship in Haarlem, Netherlands.

Aldrete Tops Team USA Camp Invitees ListNEWS & NOTES

Team USA Selection Camp Invitees• Annie Aldrete, C, Tennessee• Valerie Arioto, INF, California• Ally Carda, INF, UCLA• Lauren Chamberlain, INF, Oklahoma• Raven Chavanne, INF, Tennessee• Amanda Chidester, C/INF, Michigan• Cheyenne Cordes, INF, California• Aimee Creger, P, Tulsa• Samantha Fischer, INF, LMU• Kellie Fox, INF, Arizona• Amber Freeman, C, Arizona State• Lauren Gibson, INF, Tennessee• Chelsea Goodacre, C, Arizona • Cheridan Hawkins, P, Oregon• Jolene Henderson, P, California• Taylor Hoagland, INF, Texas

• Nicole Hudson, OF, Missouri• Alex Hugo, INF, Georgia• Janelle Lindvall, C, Oregon• Destinee Martinez, OF, Oklahoma• Haylie McCleney, OF, Alabama• Jessica Moore, P, Oregon• Michelle Moultrie, OF, Florida• Sara Nevins, P, South Florida• Jessica Plaza, C, Stanford • Sierra Romero, INF, Michigan• Kelsey Stewart, INF, Florida• Janie Takeda, OF, Oregon• Jaclyn Traina, P, Alabama• Lacey Waldrop, P, Florida State • Chelsea Wilkinson, P, Georgia• Hallie Wilson, UTIL, Arizona

Connect With The NFCA On Twitter!

@NFCAorg

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2013 NFCA NATIONAL CONVENTION CLINIC DVD ORDER FORM If you couldn’t attend the convention or you just want to review a session that you attended in San Antonio, you can purchase a DVD of many of the topics. DVDs are $20 for members/$25 for non-members (plus shipping and handling). Each features the speaker as shot in his/her presentation at the convention. All recordings are approximately 45 minutes in length.

DVDS (@ $20/$25 EACH) # $ SHIPPING ($6 FIRST DVD; $1 EACH EXTRA) $ TOTAL $

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE ZIP

E-MAIL

PHONE

CHECK q MONEY ORDER q CREDIT CARD q

CARD # CVV/CID CODE

EXP. DATE SIGNATURE

RETURN TO NFCA, 2641 GRINSTEAD DRIVE, LOUISVILLE, KY, 40206, FAX TO (502) 409-4622, CALL (502) 409-4600 OR PURCHASE ONLINE AT WWW.NFCA.ORG.

DVD’S NOW AVAILABLE!

DVD NAME & SPEAKER

“DEFENSE: PLAYING CATCH AT A HIGH LEVEL”Marla Townsend, Head Coach, University of Alabama, Birmingham

“MAXIMIZING SUCCESS WITH EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION”Kirk Walker, Assistant Coach, UCLASue Rankin, Senior Research Associate, Rankin & Associates

“THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COACHES & HITTERS”Tim Walton, Head Coach, University of Florida

“DEFINING CULTURE -- DEFINING LEADERS IN AN AGE OF ENTITLEMENT”Aaron Weintraub, Mental Training Expert

“DRILLS, DRILLS, DRILLS”Diane Miller, Assistant Coach, University of Nebraska; Cheryl Milligan, Head Coach, Tufts University; Kevin Shelton, Head Coach, Texas Glory

“REALLY? THAT’S A RULE?”Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor

“CHOOSING YOUR OPTIMUM TEAM DEFENSE”Bill Edwards, Head Coach, Hofstra and Staff

“TRAINING TODAY’S PITCHERS”Lance Glasoe, Assistant Coach, University of Washington

“BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL SOFTBALL BUSINESS”Sara Hayes, Founder & Owner, Powerline Consulting

“TEACH, INSPIRE & CONNECT TO YOUR PLAYERS THROUGH BOOKS & ARTICLES”Yvette Healy, Head Coach, University of Wisconsin

“TRADITION, HARD WORK & SUCCESS: DEVELOPING A WINNING PROGRAM FOR THE LONG TERM”Carol Hutchins, Head Coach, University of Michigan

“SECRET LIFE OF A STAFF”Amanda Lehotak, Head Coach, Penn State University

“THE YIPS: WHEN MIND MATTERS”Eileen Canney Linnehan, Assistant Coach, University of Illinois, Chicago

“AGGRESSIVE BASERUNNING: YOUR KEY TO SCORING MORE”Eric Oakley, Head Coach, University of North Dakota

“TAKING OVER A NEW PROGRAM: A NEW ‘STATE’ OF MIND”Shawn Rychcik, Head Coach, North Carolina State University

Registration is now available for the NFCA’s National Convention, our popular annual gathering of the very best in fastpitch softball, which is scheduled for December 3-6 at Bally’s Las Vegas.

We’re hoping you’ll be “all in” to join us for this terrific opportunity to get better as a coach through the sharing of knowledge of the sport among your peers at all levels of

the game. There are a wide variety of educational and networking opportunities and a chance for our various member committees and caucuses to meet. We also take the time to salute our members’

accomplishments at the Easton Victory Club luncheon, Hall of Fame dinner and Coaching Staff of the Year brunch, and provide an opportunity to check out the latest advances in equipment and

technology at our manufacturer trade show.

When planning your travel to Las Vegas, keep in mind that there are various NFCA committee meetings scheduled to take place the morning of Wednesday, December 3.

Go to NFCA.org and click on the Convention link at the top of the page or call (502) 409-4600 to sign up today.

Have You Registered For Convention Yet?NEWS & NOTES

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talent by attending.”Nutter, who died suddenly in

July 2012 while vacationing in Colorado, compiled a 204-125 record over eight years at Pittsburg State, which was an NAIA school at the time.

She got her start in coaching with three years as a graduate assistant at Michigan State, after seven years as a teacher in nearby Elsie, Mich.

In 1981, Nutter won the first of three NAIA District 10 titles and

the first of her three District 10 Coach of the Year honors (1981, 1982, 1985). That 1981 squad finished fourth at the NAIA national championship and she served as an assistant coach for the 1983 Pan American Tri-Nationals team and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Pan American selection committee. Nutter was an 1988 inductee into the NAIA Hall of Fame.

As a player, Nutter was a two-time first-team All-American (1974-75) for the Lansing Laurels, an ASA Women’s Major fastpitch team and spent 1976 as player-coach for the Michigan Travelers of the Women’s Professional Softball League.

Hofstra University announced that NFCA Hall of Famer and longtime Pride softball coach Bill Edwards will be a 2015 inductee into its Athletics Hall of Fame.

Edwards retired in May after 25 years at the helm, compiling a 928-419-3 mark from 1990-2014 that makes him the winningest coach for any sport in Hofstra history. He won his 900th career game this past February and went 34-15 for the season, earning an at-large bid to the team’s 15th NCAA tournament.

During his tenure, the Pride finished at least 10 games better than .500 in 23 of his 25 years and never had a losing season. Among Edwards’ many accomplishments over 1,350 games, includes all 15 of the program’s

NCAA appearances and 18 postseason conference championships, including 10 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles and the first seven in league history. He is a member of the 2009 NFCA Hall of Fame induction class.

The surprise announcement was made in front of family and friends attending the annual Hofstra Softball Alumnae Day. A commemorative banner honoring Edwards will be added to the outfield wall at Hofstra’s field, next to the program’s retired jersey numbers.

This will be the fourth Hall of Fame induction for Edwards. He is a 1989 Iona College Hall of Fame inductee for leading the men’s ice hockey team to a 123-50-11 record over 11 seasons

from 1968-79, and was inducted earlier this year into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, in recognition of his success coaching high school baseball, basketball and softball in that county of New York state before his collegiate career began. At Commack, the school district in which he taught from 1967-99, Edwards led the softball team to an 118-61 record over nine seasons, with appearances in the Suffolk County Class A playoffs in seven of the nine years. His 1988 squad finished third in the New York State Tournament. The football team, meanwhile, won three league titles, two conference

championships and one Suffolk County championship from 1981-83 with Edwards as its offensive coordinator. He is also a past president of the Suffolk County Softball Coaches Association.

Edwards’ staff earned 12 NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year awards and he collected CAA Coach of the Year honors six consecutive seasons from 2008-13 and was the America East Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1999. During his tenure, five players earned NFCA All-America honors.

Hofstra Athletic Communications contributed to this story.

Edwards Set To Enter Hofstra Hall Of FameNEWS & NOTES

NFCARECRUITING APP

College prospects can go to the Apple Store to download the free app to enter their profile for college coaches.

THREE EARN FIRST MARY NUTTER SCHOLARSHIPSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Longtime Hofstra coach Bill Edwards offers some advice this past spring. Photo by Dave Hines.

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PLAYING A ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Lexi Serek, a junior at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., stands with the equipment her charity organization, For the Love of the Game, collected recently for distribution to those in need. The goal of the non-profit she started with her dad, Donald Serek, is to make sure no child is left out due to lack of equipment. Learn more at www.givingkidsasportingchance.com. Photo provided.

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Carrie Austgen has seen a lot of change in softball over 35 years. From improved equipment, to better fields, to the use of technology to enhance players’ and teams’ results, the game has gotten a lot better.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her success. Starting with two national championships as a player at Texas A&M, and continuing in her coaching career with two state titles in the last three seasons at Deer Park High, Austgen has been surrounded by success for the better part of three decades.

“It’s been an enjoyable ride,” she said.

THIS PAST SPRING, the Lady Deer continued their run of dominance in the state of Texas, advancing to the state final four for the third consecutive season and winning for the second time. Austgen said it would have been perfect timing if the team had followed 2012’s state title with a repeat in 2013 — which would have been back-to-back titles as a coach exactly 30 years after her back-to-back national championships in 1982 (AIAW) and 1983 (NCAA) as a player. A loss in the 2013 state semifinals nixed that.

Not to worry. The tough defeat set the stage for the 2014 state title, as the players came back determined to get back where they felt they belonged.

“They practiced smarter and harder to be prepared for the playoffs,” Austgen said. “They stayed healthy. They learned how to leverage each other’s strengths and to utilize their gifts for the good of the team.”

Despite their best efforts, it almost all came

crashing down short of their goal. Deer Park dug a four-run deficit in the first inning of a state quarterfinal game against Bellaire. But the Lady Deer fought back to tie in the third and then scored the game-winner in the seventh for a season-saving 5-4 victory.

THE 6-1 WIN in the semis was Austgen’s 300th high school victory and they cruised past The Woodlands, 8-2, in the Class 5A final for their second state crown.

“We had a great group of seniors,” Austgen said. “They had a great season. I t was exhilarating.”

Austgen, who collected 272 wins at San Jacinto College, now has a stellar 573-328-7 record as a coach. She said winning as a coach is much different than winning as a player.

“YOU KNOW THE kids are about to lose it at out 21,” she explained. “(As a coach) you know to be focused.”

As someone who came into coaching knowing great success, when it didn’t happen it was a bit of an adjustment.

“Sometimes you don’t have all the tools,” Austgen said. “But if you can push them to

Austgen Has Built Dynasty At Deer Park

Carrie Austgen, top center, and her Deer Park squad won their second state title in three years this past spring. Photo provided.

Coach Has Guided Her Team To Two State Championships In The Last Three SeasonsBy DAVE HINES

Editor

COACH’S PROFILE

IN THE PRESS BOX WITH CARRIE AUSTGEN1) How has the game changed in the time you’ve

been coaching?“The equipment has definitely changed. Bats and balls

are hotter, helmets and catching gear have improved. The game has more balls put in play with the change in (pitching) distance and the slappers. The quality of softball fields is much better. Use of technology is huge.”

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

“How to advise high school kids/parents about much

they should budget to attend camps, play in exposure tournaments and for hitting/pitching lessons.”

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

“I would have strived to find my authentic coaching style with my strengths. I would have started mental training and team bonding activities earlier in my career. I would have defined success much differently.”

4) Is there a secret to success in coaching?“The secret to successful coaching is putting every-

one’s strengths to work doing the job they are capable of doing.”

5) What would your ideal season be like?“We lived it last season. We had a great group of se-

niors that had an amazing high school career. They had strong determination to (again be) state champions and overcome last year’s loss in the state semifinal. They learned how to come from behind. They never gave up. The journey we all had together is one that will bond all of us for life.”

SEE AUSTGEN PAGE 21

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Smitty is often asked what kind of bat a player should get. A difficult question to answer, to say the least.

It is difficult, because in most cases Smitty has not seen the player swing a bat in practice or a game, and there are many questions to be answered. Even then, it is a difficult question to answer.

There are so many bat makers and sizes out there that one has to be a guru of enormous wisdom and experience to make a suggestion about the bat a particular player should use.

MANY PLAYERS select a bat that is too heavy for them, thinking that they will hit a ball farther. It is bat speed and angle to the ball that count, not weight. A smaller and weaker player may not have the strength to generate speed or even come close to making contact with a heavy bat.

Thus, she should use a smaller and lighter bat. Bigger and stronger players might have good results with a longer, heavier bat.

Female players, even older ones, having decided on weight and length will often select a bat based on its color, believe it or not. They will often make the selection based upon an older or professional player’s recommendation of bat maker and style.

When Homerun Sally is successful with a certain type of bat, a player will often get a similar bat. Of course, as the player gets older and grows, all this will change.

It is patently apparent that this is not an easy question to answer. And so, Smitty, not being an expert on bats,

usually tells a player to get a bat that feels right. Easy cop out, no?

Please note that the majority of Smitty’s college and travel ball players have used a 32- or 33-inch bat.

The next problem has to do with gloves and catching a ball. When a player is young, her parents will buy her a small one. It is usually one that is stiff as a board, has no flexibility and makes it almost impossible to catch a ball. But they are cheap and readily available. Manufacturers know that to make a proper glove — one that is flexible — is expensive, and parents would not want to spend lots of money on a glove their daughter will outgrow.

As a player advances in age and efficiency, she will want a better glove, one that is nicely made, is flexible and will be efficient in enabling the player to catch a ball. As a rule, a player will select a large glove, thinking that this will help them catch balls. Actually, large gloves can be very inefficient in this regard for many reasons.

REMEMBER THAT large gloves weigh more than smaller ones, thus eliminating quickness in moving to get a ball or to catch it. These are critical skills one needs to be efficient in the game.

First basemen and catchers probably need larger gloves, but infielders and outfielders should have smaller ones. Remember, speed in softball is essential to the proper execution of fundamentals. And since softball can be a dangerous game, a quick glove can save a face or body part — especially for a pitcher or corner infielders.

Back to the young or beginning

players. Since manufacturers make inefficient gloves for these people, don’t make the mistake of having your young, inexperienced player use one at first.

Start with a wiffle or pickle ball and teach the mechanics of catching a ball barehanded. Most parents do not know these fundaments and think that just by throwing a ball at a player, she will learn to catch it. Often it is not so.

When a real ball is used, she will often miss the ball and get hit. If you haven’t noticed, getting hit hurts. Thus, young players can learn to catch by tossing the glove away and going barehanded until they learn the technique.

WE FIND MANY young players deciding to go into cheerleading rather than go through the tortures of being bonked by a softball. Can’t blame them, really. Of course, eventually they will learn to catch balls thrown at them.

After being bonked, players will often shy away from thrown balls. This is the stuff of which errors are made. Then, of course, come the grounders that daddy insists on hitting. Although hit softly, players will shy away from them and develop bad fielding habits.

Once again, when a player learns to properly catch a ball — a subject that requires far more space than Smitty has — she can advance to grounders. The wiffle or soft rubber ball can be used to learn the trade of grounder fielding and it can be done bare handed on softly hit balls.

One question lingers. How fast should a player be advanced? That depends on many factors: age, size and athletic ability. An ignorant

answer might be that she should be advanced as fast as possible. Sort of begs the question.

First and foremost, a player should be advanced one step at a time. Once she has learned step one, she should move on to the next. But if she reverts and forgets the first item of training, go back and review it as many times as it takes. Advancing too quickly can damage a player’s progress substantially. Remember, it takes time for the muscles and brain to coordinate in youngsters. Repetition is the key.

All players, even advanced ones, will lapse into bad habits. Take hitting for example. Players can train and train, but suddenly lapse into old habits.

Practice does not guarantee success. It first must be done perfectly and then executed perfectly in games, an unfortunate situation that cannot be avoided. Remember, coaches: Have patience.

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

Finding The Answers To Common QuestionsBy DICK SMITH

You will find that coaching and playing are trades, and each has its fundamentals that must be learned if there is to be success. Learning and practicing fundamentals in any sport is essential, whether it be playing or coaching. Go to coaching clinics and discuss these topics at every opportunity. Try it. You’ll like it.

SMITTY’S TIP

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As a college baseball coach, I am always looking for ways to get through to my players.

This past season, I tried something unique and experienced tremendous success. For the first time in 15 years of coaching, I was certain every player on my team was on the same page with me.

THE IDEA came to me at a coach’s convention, where a speaker emphasized we retain 10 percent of what we hear, 50 percent of what we do and 90 percent of what we teach to someone else. For me, 90 percent represents a large number. So, I thought to myself, “I have to get my players teaching.”

But I quickly realized there is just not enough time in practice to have my players teach. Then I remembered that each of my guys has a cell phone with video capability. I wondered, “Why not have my players teach me the ideas taught in practice by making videos on their smartphones?”

I talked to a few of my players about the idea and their response was, “Coach, you want me to make a YouTube video? We make videos all the time, just not about baseball.”

When I decided to use the concept with my team, I saw remarkable results. Not only were my players learning through teaching, but the method actually also increased a player’s sense of urgency.

We had one player who really struggled when it came to bunting, which is an effort skill. Anyone can bunt if they work on it. The staff had

numerous conversations with this player, trying to encourage him to become a better bunter. But he lacked a sense of urgency about the need to improve.

So, one day I ordered a video. I told him, “You are going to become the leading expert on bunting.” I told him to talk to his coaches, his teammates and look on YouTube. I said, “In two weeks, you are going to make a video and teach the world how to bunt.”

He became our best bunter in two weeks. The fear of producing a foolish video increased his sense of urgency. And, in our conference championship game, he executed a perfect bunt with two strikes.

WHERE WE saw the biggest impact was when we used the method to teach our mental routines. As a coaching staff we believe strongly in the ideas taught by mental training experts Brian Cain and Ken Ravizza. As much as we believe in the mental side, it only works if we can get our players to buy-in and develop their own routines.

With the use of this method, the option not to buy-in was eliminated. I made my guys make a video talking me through their mental routines and store it in their video library on their phones. I could watch their videos anytime I saw something off, and correct the problem. I knew for certain my players had developed their own mental routines.

At one point during the season, we hit a stretch where we struggled hitting with runners in scoring

position. I decided to implement the method to correct the problem. I set up RBI situations in practice and had each player record a partner’s routine on the hitter’s phone.

I HAD EACH player compare the routine they originally did with the new video we recorded in practice. What they found was they were rushing the breath portion of the routine in RBI situations. They corrected the problem and we were back to hitting with runners on base.

We would not have won our conference without this breakthrough, which I call the Millennial Method because it appeals to this technology-driven generation of athlete. We used this method to teach our plays, as well as our mental routines. We used it for skill development. And we even used it to correct a behavior issue.

The results so impressed me that I wrote a book entitled, “The Millennial Method,” to chronicle the many ways we used this teaching method and elaborate on our implementation of the method in our programs.

IT CAN WORK in any sport, once the coaches understand the motivations of the millennial generation. The response I have received about this concept has been very positive. Coaches are not only excited to try it with their athletes, but some coaches want to bring it into the classroom.

As coaches, we have conversations with players to improve their sense of urgency about learning a skill. We

may think the conversations go well and expect the player will go straight to the field and get to work. But too often we learn that our definition of urgency and the player’s definition can be very different.

I have seen this concept bridge the gap between the two definitions.

The Millennial Method increases an athlete’s sense of urgency, helps players learn by teaching and allows coaches to know for certain if their players know what they are teaching.

As an assistant baseball coach at Alvin Community College in Texas since 2000, Jason Schreiber has sent more than 100 players to the NCAA Division I level and 20 into the pros. Two of those have made Major League Baseball rosters.

Schreiber holds a bachelor’s degree in sports administration from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in fitness and human performance from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.

Schreiber was the 1993 Houston high school Player of the Year at Bellaire High. His college career included one season at the University of Kansas, one season at San Jacinto Junior College and two seasons at the University of Houston.

EDUCATION

Using Millennial Method Aids Retention

old daughter Tatum was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In their nomination essay, Notre Dame associate coaches Kris Ganeff

and Lizzy Lemire said that the average person would never know that Gumpf was building a perennial softball power at the same time she was fighting to save her daughter’s life. Despite a vow to be at every one of Tatum’s doctor appointments or treatments, Gumpf somehow also managed to be at 99 percent of the

team’s practices, every game and continue to be involved in the lives of her players during a very challenging two and a half years personally.

Each season since 2011, Notre Dame has hosted a Strikeout Cancer weekend, which to date has raised over $105,000 to benefit South Bend’s Memorial Children’s

Hospital — where Tatum started her treatments — and children throughout the state of Indiana who are battling cancer. The Irish are annually among the leaders in raising funds for the NFCA’s StrikeOut Cancer initiative.

Now eight years old and in the

GUMPF EARNS INAUGURAL DONNA NEWBERRY AWARDCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

SEE GUMPF PAGE 17

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The purpose of this column is to help softball coaches better understand softball rules and perhaps, by so doing, get a competitive advantage.

Appeal plays offer this opportunity. Batting out of order is the most confusing of all appeal plays, so I will discuss it separately in next month’s column.

For now, let’s dig a little further into some of the advantages you may gain through other appeal plays. Before you read this column, take this pre-column quiz:

1. What exactly is an appeal play (how is it defined in the rule book)?

2. What are the possible appeal plays for your games?

3. When the shortstop catches a line drive and throws to first base to retire R1 who is running with the hit, is that an appeal play?

The first step to taking advantage of an appeal play is to understand what an appeal play is. Put simply, an appeal play is a play or rule violation

for which the umpire does not make a ruling until requested by a coach or a player. There are at least four appeal plays for all codes:

• Batting out of order (NCAA includes this with the Improper Player rule)

• Runner missing a base • Runner leaving a base on a caught

fly ball before the batted ball is first touched

• Batter-runner attempting to advance to second base.

There is a fifth appeal in NCAA – switching base runners on occupied bases (for example, after an offensive conference and the runners go to the wrong base). In ASA, NFHS and USSSA the umpire can notice and rule on this “illegal switching of bases” without an appeal.

Here are some situations that require an appeal, and how the defense can get a competitive advantage by knowing the rules.

1. Missing a base. A coach probably has other responsibilities during playing action or may get caught up

watching the play, so have someone assigned to:

• Watch each runner touch her bases as she advances OR

• Watch each base and home plate• Report to the coach immediately if

they are sure, or even suspect, this has happened.

This could be a fielder who is not involved with the play or specific dugout players. I have witnessed many runners missing a base and it was not appealed. The defense has lost the opportunity to get an easy out. And quite often that runner scores. The appeal would have negated that run.

2. Leaving a base on a caught fly ball before the batted ball is first touched.

• This is very similar to No. 1 above, so use the same technique. Assign someone to watch.

3. The batter-runner attempts to advance to second base after overrunning first base.

• Many people do not know that this is an appeal play

• A batter-runner, by rule, is allowed to overrun first base

• After overrunning, if she makes any attempt, including a feint one, toward second base, she puts herself in jeopardy and can be tagged out.

So somebody should be watching this batter. This is a live-ball appeal only, and the batter-runner must be tagged out while off the base. The defense cannot just tag first base after the attempt. If they tag the batter-runner after she is safely back on first base, it’s too late.

As a bonus for reading this article, here is an additional fact about an appeal play and a little-known fact about the so-called “ground rule double.”

It is an appeal play when a defensive player catches a line drive and doubles off a runner. This is not a force play — it is a live-ball appeal.

The umpire will rule on this immediately, because the actions of the defense have made it obvious that the defense is appealing that the runner left the base before the fielder first touched the caught line drive (treated the same as a fly ball).

When a batter hits a fair ball which goes over the fence on a bounce, this is not a “ground rule double.”

Every rulebook states that this action (a fair batted ball bounces over a fence or enters dead ball territory) is a two-base award.

A true ground rule double would be for a situation like this to occur: A large sinkhole has appeared in left-center field so the home team has drawn a line around this hole and declared, as a ground rule for that day — if a batted ball goes into that sinkhole, it will be declared a double.

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

Being Alert Can Yield Appeal-ing Results

FEATURED TWEET

Editor’s note: This tweet by Fastpitch Delivery contributor Matt Lisle was among the worldwide trending Twitter items during the week of Sept. 20.

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Here’s what I know for sure. We all want two things in life. And by want, I mean we desire and yearn for and search, long and run after the moment we see a glimpse.

Well, sometimes perhaps it’s that drastic, other times we are just aware it exists. And by having an awareness of our real desires, we are so much more apt to find, especially when we are not even looking.

That’s real bliss actually … when we no longer have to seek, but it just finds us. I could go on, but first let me tell you about these two things.

We all want to be seen and we all want to be listened to.

Notice, I said listened to, not heard. There is a reason.

I HEAR a helicopter off in the distance out my window right now. The faint sounds of a bird chirping a few trees over, a faint dog bark and the voice of a child. All right now. But I didn’t hear them at all a few moments ago. I wasn’t really listening to them.

When we truly listen to another, we give their words life and meaning. We validate the word’s very existence. We engage in that moment in life with her and we invite each other in.

I have talked in the past about the word Sawubona. It was a word I heard a few times circled around in a few different channels about

six or seven years ago. The word is a Zulu greeting which means, “We see you.”

And as Orland Bishop, a youth mentor in Los Angeles described it; it was always we, not I. We all come from a rich history, a background, a legacy. We all come from something, someone, somewhere.

SO THE “we” becomes our ability to see beyond ourselves, and the “seeing” of another is the ability to connect in that moment, together.

For reasons we often never know, we meet others exactly when we are supposed to … the ones that help us to become more of who we are supposed to be. Coaches, mentors, parents, friends, teachers, family, they all are a part of our history.

And when we really “see” another person, in all their vulnerability and their power, all of their weaknesses and strengths, for all they are, the audacity of that moment is breathtaking. It reminds us of the fact that when we invite others into our lives in that moment, we are a witness to each other’s souls.

It’s a simple way of connecting. Look into a stranger’s eyes as you pass them in the store, as you hold the door walking out of a restaurant, as you board the bus. Speak and listen … and see them. Really see them.

All of life’s relationships, whether they are coach and player, two people on the same team, co-workers, spouses, or parent and daughter, rely

on knowing we each want these two things. And having that awareness helps to create deeper connections.

How can this be done so easily? I have long been a proponent of the little things that have huge meaning. They will always add up.

I was walking into a large office building in Center City in Philadelphia a few weeks ago. On the way in, everyone who passed security at the front desk had to either sign in or show ID.

I showed the lady near the elevator my ID and, as I did, I just happened to glance at her nametag. She let me through and up to the top floor for my meeting. I was up there almost an hour and a half.

I SAID goodbye and came back down to the lobby. As I walked out, I passed her again as I am sure hundreds of others did that day. I made it a point to look her way, and as I was passing her I made eye contact and she smiled.

I smiled back and told her to have a wonderful rest of the day. She said, “Thank you Jennifer, you do the same.” And as I walked by, it took me a second to realize that she called me by name. She remembered my name.

I turned back to look at her as she was checking another ID. I looked again, stopping in my tracks. And if she wasn’t so busy I think I would have gone back and let her know that I appreciated that.

Simple. Little things. She called

me by name. I stopped in my tracks because

I couldn’t believe she would remember me. An hour and a half later, after she said hello and goodbye to what had to be 70 people just while I was upstairs.

She saw me. She embraced my existence in that moment. And right then I realized how important being present is.

How much we yearn for and jump around for and desire. How much we want to be listened to … and seen.

Sawubona, Tonya.We see you, too.

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.

She Called Me By NameBy JEN CRONEBERGER

President, JLynne Consulting Group

third grade, Tatum has reached her second year of remission and is back to being the healthy and upbeat kid she was prior to her diagnosis.

Newberry, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III history

when she left the game, transitioned the Muskies from a slowpitch team to a perennial fastpitch national contender. She helped guide Muskingum to 17 conference championships, 18 NCAA regional appearances, eight national championship appearances and the 2001 Division III national championship.

Newberry was the only Division III coach to be named national coach

of the year in two sports — softball and basketball. As Muskingum’s women’s basketball coach, Newberry earned 403 victories and three conference championships. Her 1991 team finished as the national runner-up, falling to St. Thomas in the Division III title game. Over her distinguished career, she also served as an instructor, coach of field hockey and volleyball, women’s athletics

director and assistant athletics director.

While undergoing chemotherapy treatments for her third bout with breast cancer in 2010, Newberry led the Muskies to the Ohio Athletic Conference tournament for the 25th consecutive time. In the months before her death, Muskingum dedicated its


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When you think of Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Raphael, and other artists of the Renaissance, what are some of the associations and words that come to mind? Many of us assume natural-born talent, God-given skill sets, and gifted or innate abilities.

What I love about The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle is the exploration of this “cultural rebirth” and debunking of associated myths. If you have not read it, I strongly suggest you do, if you want to further understand the physiology and methodology of learning, training, motivation and coaching. Coyle looks for the combination of factors (cultural, religious and historical) that made the Renaissance a movement like no other. In Florence, Italy, from the 14th through the middle of the 17th century, apprentices spent years learning their master’s crafts. Textbooks didn’t exist and they learned by doing and doing repeatedly and with painstakingly detailed precision and commitment.

While we may use the word skill to describe their abilities, it appears they preferred to be considered craftsmen.

What’s the difference? Well, a preliminary look at definitions show that the two are quite similar, seemingly, but the craftsman’s mindset strays from the idea of giftedness and favors an attitude that is both unselfconscious and detail-oriented. In short, a much more controllable approach than being touched by the hand of God.

What does this have to do with softball? Well, it’s less about softball and more about learning a craft, skillset and profession. Recently, a brief text conversation with my first coaching mentor reminded me of what some of us may already know or believe, and that is the value of mentorship in theory and the lack of it in practice.

Like most of us, I wasn’t handed a full-time coaching job out of college. I wasn’t handed any coaching job out of college. I asked for one, and was honored to be able to do it for little to no

money, because what I learned about coaching (and softball) was something that could be considered priceless.

I gained more than I gave, listened more than I spoke, observed and quickly learned how little I knew about so many things. I kept a notebook and logged things I felt were valuable and things I wanted to be able to recall. I kept files and folders, both literally and electronically. At times I felt inadequate, unprepared, and overwhelmed, but knew I wouldn’t feel that way forever.

Sometimes I equate myself to a new parent bringing home their first child, in that no amount of preparedness fully prepares you for this profession. I’ve also never brought home a first child, so please excuse my analogy should it be entirely inaccurate.

Now, I haven’t been around that long. I don’t compare the paying of my dues to those of my predecessors, but I do understand the concept and believe in it. Are you aware that Pat Summitt’s starting salary at Tennessee was approximately $250 a month? She was bouncing more checks than basketballs while driving vans, and washing the one set of uniforms she had to purchase by selling donuts the year before.

Now, we want to know if our coach buses have Wi-Fi and power outlets. It is easy to forget the past. It is easy to expect to be handed a job, and a job with what we deem to be an acceptable salary with benefits, of course.

We often remind our players of how privileged we are to have the things we have here. We do it to assure a continued appreciation. We compare it to buying a new car. At first, we’re careful where we park it, we bring it to the carwash weekly, vacuum it, drive with caution, etc. As time passes, it’s just a car, and eventually, we want a newer, better one.

At another point in my career, I witnessed a coach speaking with a team after a game. At some point in the talk, she said, “When I was in college and I played …” and I felt like I could literally see the eyes of 16 players glaze over, as if the television show they were

watching just went to commercial. I shared my observation with a friend and colleague, who said, “They don’t care what you did. They want to know what you can do for them.”

It became more obvious to me that my playing career was insignificant in terms of what I was doing now and how little a correlation exists between the ability to do, and the ability to teach.

Would you bring your car to someone for mechanical repairs based solely on the fact that they are considered to be an excellent driver? I may be great behind the wheel, but am completely unqualified under the hood. A strong playing resume may garner you instant credibility, but if you lack the ability to coach and teach, that credibility will be thrown out the window as quickly as it was assigned to you.

My last point is not a knock on administrators, as the skillset and experience that often earn them their positions are starkly different than those that earn us ours. We often see athletics directors with backgrounds in business, development and fundraising. For some of us, fundraising may be a point of emphasis in our hiring process.

I’d say that most of us are hired because someone believes in our ability to win and win consistently. We also cannot expect those hiring us to know the nuances of our sport. It is unreasonable to expect those outside of it to be able to systematically determine if a coach has the necessary skillset to be successful, especially regarding sport-related skills, systems and knowledge.

So how do they decide that you are the right fit or a good hire? It varies. While likeability is always a factor, as is the network of those making the hiring decision, having learned under those regarded as experts or successes could be something that sets you apart.

More importantly, years logged does not make you a wiser, more capable coach. If you’ve ever interned, you may know the value of hands-on experience or learning on the job. You may already have an appreciation for

mentorship. If you’ve ever entered into a job you weren’t prepared for, perhaps you weren’t there for long and maybe you didn’t leave on your own accord.

While getting the job may be the most important thing at the time, what about keeping it? You will be expected to perform, or someone else who can will replace you. Mentoring is not something you can expect, but something you must seek out and value so that you can have the necessary tools to succeed for the long haul. It is also not something that a couple of hours, a day or a weekend at a class, conference or convention can adequately provide.

Invest the time, pay your dues and the benefits will hopefully return to you tenfold in a longer, happier, more effective and impactful career.

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.

Seek Out Mentors To Be The Best You Can BePSYCHOLOGY

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Do you clutter your mind with too much thinking while you’re trying to perform?

FocusFocusing on the task at hand is a vital

performance skill that can be learned with quality practice. To focus, you must block out regrets about the past and worries about the future, recognize the correct present-tense object for your focus, and find that “trust mode” that allows your potential to come out in your performance.

Positive Self-TalkSelf-talk is not optional. You’re

going to think and the quality of your thoughts is going to determine the quality of your attitudes. Are your thoughts helping you excel or holding you back?

Both. This is where the rubber meets the road and everyone has some good and some bad habits. Identify the good ones so you can do them again and identify the bad patterns so you can make an adjustment. It is exciting to think of what you can achieve. Your potential is absolutely astounding. Training your brain to move towards the things you want and to stay positive in the face of challenges will allow you to fulfill that potential.

TrustIs there anything more important

for you to perform at your best than trust? Trust is simply the combination of focus and confidence. Great athletes consciously control their confidence level. They don’t lose confidence after mistakes and they gain it after successes. Their self-talk has a consistently optimistic-explanatory style that is always honest, but emphasizes positives and de-emphasizes negatives.

There are two sides to every coin and both are true. The question is: Which point of view is a more useful side to focus on?

Self-Control You must first control yourself if you

are going to control your performance. You have little to no control of what goes on around you, but total control of how you respond. Learn to recognize your red-light and green-light signals.

The goal is get yourself into your ideal state when it is time to practice and perform. Your internal state is comprised of your attitude and your physiology. It is useful to have multiple routines for getting you on track, both before and during competition.

Softball will provide adversity. No one stays in his or her ideal state all of the time, but consistent competitors come closer.

PerspectiveAnyone who’s ever “choked,”

meaning that they played below their potential when they perceived that it was a particularly important situation, should realize that a performance/self-concept link is extremely damaging to the quality of a performance. Worry is counterproductive, because it prevents the athlete from being in the moment and often turns attention towards uncontrollables.

If you’re worried what others will think of you, you’re going to be partially distracted from the task at hand. Training in this area will clarify for you the perspectives that allow for the greatest performances. There is plenty of evidence to support the truth of these beliefs. Ultimately, your perspective on performance is your choice, but if you are competing with less information, you may be fighting an unnecessary uphill battle.

RoutinesWouldn’t it be great if you could

guarantee giving your best effort every single time? You can. Not best effort ever, of course. That’s not realistic. But you can control the controllables and give the best effort you possibly could give at this point in time in this

situation. By using your experiences

effectively, you can build routines that will make sure that you are physically and mentally at the right place at the right time. And if you define success in controllable terms — along the lines of late UCLA coach John Wooden’s “the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best” — you can guarantee success.

ImageryThe mind-body connection is

powerful, but communicating from mind to muscle can be challenging. Learn about the impact that imagery has for many famous athletes and work to improve your imagery skills.

Imagery is free and always available. You can use imagery before, during and after your performances to maximize growth and winning. By running experiments (games and practices), you will figure out how and when to use imagery most effectively for you. Try these simple examples: image the color blue to calm your nerves and image a shiny, silver spring loading and then exploding to be patient and maintain good rhythm without losing explosiveness.

Goal-SettingYou have some big goals already.

You want to prevent frustration at the distance of big challenges and prevent complacency from destinations already achieved. Certainly, you are already demonstrating goal-directed behavior, but mounds of research indicate that writing down controllable goals will help you maintain goal-directed behavior more consistently.

Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” A formal goal-setting process will also ensure that each step is headed in the right direction. It is a process rather than an one-step resolution, because monitoring and adjusting

goals is critical. Courage

The great thing about being human is our potential to create “second nature.” We have the power to change. Courage is the strength of will to do what is difficult. It comes in both physical and moral forms.

Moral courage includes the ability to resist peer pressure, risk embarrassment and stick to your values through adversity. It is a requirement for turning weaknesses into strengths, because both identifying and working on weaknesses are painful. “Without courage,” Winston Churchill said, “all other virtues lose their meaning.”

Courage is the most important mental skill.

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.

Core Concepts To Achieve Mental ToughnessTRAINING YOUR MIND

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“Because I never want to forget a life-changing experience …”

Read in her own words Elyssa Reyes’ insights from our summer trip to the Dominican Republic. Reyes competed internationally as one of my America’s Team/I Heart Fastpitch players and is currently a freshman player at Cedarville University:

“The experience I went through today … (cannot) be neatly summed up in a little bow. In the Dominican Republic, we went to a dump to help people gather bottles in order to make a living.

People work in the hot sun for hours gathering plastics and glass to be recycled. The work is hard and messy. The dump workers make less than $2 a day, the norm for much of the world. We cannot even begin to understand those statistics until we meet someone behind them and walk in their shoes. Today, for that short hour and a half, I got a glimpse into a world of instability and insecurity.

People literally have no clue if they will collect enough to get their next meal for their family, if the police will harass them because they are Haitian or if they will be deported (from the Dominican Republic) because they are stateless people.

These people are not to be looked down upon or pitied because they are poor. Rather, they are to be looked at with dignity and equality, because they are not different than you and me.

Just like you or me they have dreams, hopes and aspirations. Just like any other human being they want to love and be loved. Like most people (actually even more than some people), they go to work each day to provide for their families.

Our guide, before we started, said we would find something in the person we were working with that resounded with our own selves.”

Reyes understands what it means to serve.

Our guide explained that we were not going to the dump to change the world or to even help the people we would meet. We were not going to “fix” the poor people; we were going to meet her friends.

Often, even in working with our athletes, we confuse helping, fixing and serving. Author Rachel Naomi Remen articulates these concepts very clearly:

“HELPING, FIXING and serving represent three different ways of seeing life,” she wrote. “When you help, you see life as weak. When you fix, you see life as broken. When you serve, you see life as whole. Fixing and helping may be the work of the ego, and service the work of the soul.

“From the perspective of service, we are all connected: All suffering is like my suffering and all joy is like my joy. The impulse to serve emerges naturally and inevitably from this way of seeing.”

Bingo! This is exactly what Reyes describes. At the dump, we experienced not diversity, but commonality. We recognized more clearly than ever the connection of humanity, rather than differences in culture, language, socioeconomic status, skin color or opportunity.

From this perspective, we were able to truly connect and serve.

Helping Our Players vs. Serving Our Players

Remen explains further, “Serving is different from helping. Helping is not a relationship between equals. A helper may see others as weaker than they are, needier than they are, and people often feel this inequality. The danger in helping is that we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity or even wholeness.”

“When we help, we become aware of our own strength,” she says. “But when we serve, we don’t serve with our strength; we serve with ourselves, and we draw from all of our experiences. Our limitations serve; our wounds serve; even our darkness can serve. My pain is the source of my compassion; my woundedness is the key to my empathy.”

AS COACHES, we can recognize equality with our players without forfeiting our roles of leadership and respect. In fact, recognizing our similarities allows us to connect and lead more effectively.

Players follow coaches they trust. This requires authenticity.

Much like the working conditions at the dump, authenticity is often ugly, smelly and uncomfortable. Transparency paves the way for connection and real impact.

If we want our players to perform their best, we must be willing to sometimes show them our worst. Look for opportunities to be real and transparent.

I am not suggesting that coaches share too much information or cross professional boundaries with personal information. Simply be real. When you screw up, own it.

Recognizing our own shortcomings and weaknesses instinctively produces more patience and compassion with the faults of our players. This mindset equips us to serve, rather than help.

Fixing Our Players vs. Serving Our Players

Remen also shares, “Serving is different from fixing. In fixing, we see others as broken and respond to this perception with our expertise. Fixers trust their own expertise but may not see the wholeness in another person or trust the integrity of the life in them.

“When we serve we see and trust that wholeness. We respond to it and collaborate with it. And when we see

the wholeness in another, we strengthen it. They may then be able to see it for themselves for the first time. Serving requires us to know that our humanity is more powerful than our expertise.”

As coaches, we are experts. It is our job to teach, develop and equip our players. When our expertise dominates, however, we lose power to connect. The most incredible instruction in the world is useless if it does not impact our players.

Further, if we are committed to unveiling our players’ full potential, we must “recognize their wholeness and strengthen it.” If we desire for them to maximize their abilities, we must teach them to value themselves for who they are and not only what they can do. After all, we are human beings, not human doings.

Awareness and Service“What you are aware of, you can

control. What you are unaware of controls you.” —Anonymous

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

Aim To Serve Others, Rather Than Just HelpVIEWPOINTS

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Do you ever feel you need glasses? My boss has reading glasses everywhere.

I was just laughing at her last week when during a game she took them off and offered them to our second baseman, thinking they were sunglasses. Whether you need a prescription or not, coaches do need a stash of glasses on hand.

Now, I am not talking about the kind you get from the doctor or at Walgreens, but the kind that give you the needed perspective to help your players become great. Here is what I mean.

I HAD A player who was complaining about a negative environment on the team. As she spoke of how negative everyone and everything was, it became very apparent that this young lady wore negative glasses 24/7. Every coaching point or lineup adjustment became a personal insult. So it didn’t matter what was said or done, all she could see was the negative through her glasses.

As a coach, we sometimes have on unfashionable glasses too. We have on negative glasses, defeated glasses, it-will-be-better-next-year glasses, these-kids-don’t-care glasses, I-am-the-only-one-who-

does-anything glasses, this-kid-just-doesn’t-get-it glasses, we-don’t-have-the-resources-the-other-teams-have glasses, etc. … all of which, if worn, can keep us from seeing what we need to be our best for the team.

Coaches are to lead their teams and set forth an example for them to follow. I am not an optometrist, but if I were, I would suggest the following prescriptions for a coach to have on hand:

1. The what-are-you-doing-right glasses: These help correct the “They cannot do anything right,” the “They just booted three in a row,” or the “We have not won since Reagan was in office” perspectives.

2. The effort glasses: These help correct the “She’s not as talented, so will never play and cannot make up the difference” perspective.

3. The one-adjustment-at-a-time glasses: These help correct the “Try to stay in your legs,” the “Not drop your hands,” the “Pull off the ball” or “Pop up all on the same pitch” perspectives.

4. The reality glasses: These help correct the “Our team is the best in the country” or the “We could not beat the Sunnyvale Retirement Home team” perspectives.

5. The “That was better” glasses: These help correct the “Adjustment wasn’t perfect, so

why bother” perspective.6. The “They are just kids”

glasses: These help correct and give compassion when our players act like exactly what they are: young ladies trying to find their way in a crazy world.

And lastly...7. The Life-outside-of-softball

glasses: These help you see what is truly important in life and that we cannot take things for granted.

Perspectives can be difficult things to navigate. It is important as coaches that we not only have good perspectives, but also help our players maintain proper perspectives.

Seasons are long, and there are times that players put on their own set of unfashionable glasses that can make it hard for coaches to get through to them.

I am finding as a coach that it is pivotal for me to check myself first when I see unpleasant perspectives or tendencies in my players. Players have a tendency to take on the perspective of their coaches. If I only focus on mistakes, it seems reasonable that my players will as well. If I focus on being aggressive, then my players will.

Now I know that you cannot get every single player to buy into the team just by keeping a proper perspective and wearing the appropriate glasses for whatever

correction is needed. However, an improper perspective or an incorrect correction will most definitely keep your team from becoming great.

A successful season is made up of thousands of interactions and situations. How we view and react to them can be the glue that holds it all together or the wrecking ball that tears it all down. So before you head out to practice today, what glasses are you wearing?

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.

What Glasses Are You Using To See Things?VIEWPOINTS

By MEGAN BROWNAsst. Coach, Univ. of Akron

be the best version of themselves, that’s success.

“Taking a team that was 4-14 the year before you arrived and turning them around to be .500 and play in the playoffs for the first time in many years is as successful as winning. Both teach you valuable lessons and both are fun and will

fill your heart with joy.

“WINNING championships can happen, but enjoy the kids, the game and teach them to push to be their best version of themselves.”

More recently, Austgen has helped more than just her own team. She’s been an advocate for all high school squads as the High School Representative on the NFCA’s Board of Directors.

“I feel a responsibility to bring a voice to understand the high school

coach,” she said, adding she enjoys being able to be that voice for her segment of the membership and playing a part in helping the Board make shape the game of softball as a whole into the best version of itself that it can be.

IT WOULD BE EASY to think that Austgen’s positive personality and way of inspiring others would be enough on its own to achieve success, but she’s quick to credit others for helping her achieve the

heights she has. Among other talents, assistant

coaches Errica Cantu and Ruben Garcia are especially valuable as her pitch-caller and advance scout, respectively.

Meanwhi le , s t rength coach Doug Bull makes sure the team is prepared physically and the contributions of former assistants Kim Partin and Nan Kimball are not forgotten.

AUSTGEN HAS BUILT A DYNASTY AT DEER PARKCONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

SEE AUSTGEN PAGE 23

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By JAMI LOBPRIESMarketing Strategist

I read a quote recently in a Boston Globe article talking about why fans ignore women’s sports. The author said, “It takes a lot of work to be a women’s sports fan.”

What the author meant was that it’s hard to be a fan of women’s sports because you have to work so hard to find information — whether it’s live games on TV, player stories and stats, or even to buy merchandise of your favorite female athlete. Information on women’s sports and female athletes is not readily available. Thus, if you want to be a lifetime or consistent fan of women’s sports, it takes a lot of work.

I teach Introduction to Sport Management courses at the University of Tampa. What that means is I teach first-year sport management students or students with a minor in sport management about what career opportunities exist in the vast sports industry.

BEING THE women’s sport enthusiast that I am, I joke to my friends that I’m spreading awareness of women’s professional sports one sport management undergrad student at a time! With that mindset, I asked my students recently why they don’t watch women’s sports, and you know what a common answer amongst my 50 students was? It’s never on! Again, it takes work to find women’s sports.

In my world of sport marketing research, we refer to this phenomenon as framing. In regards to media, framing defines how media coverage can shape mass opinion. For example, the massive amounts of media coverage of men’s sports over women’s sports help frame society’s opinion that women’s sports are inferior to men’s sports.

One thing that has become more common, and will continue to grow with the surge of conference networks, is college softball on television. I played from 2005-08 when the Women’s College World Series was

really blowing up, and when the new postseason structure had just been implemented.

Every year since then, we have seen growing coverage of Super Regionals, Regionals, Conference tournaments and now even regular-season games. What that means is college softball fans don’t have to work as hard to be college softball fans, and hopefully it means we are gaining new fans—those mainstream fans who happen to be watching ESPN when a game comes on or those avid sports bar viewers.

ANOTHER INTERESTING thing this means is we are creating framing even within our own sport. We live in a world of early recruiting — 14, 15 and 16-year-olds are verbally committing to schools that they won’t even attend until four, three or two years down the road.

What schools do most kids want to go to? Easy, the ones they see on TV!

I’ll use my former 12U team as an example. I loved asking them where they wanted to go to school, because their brutal honesty was priceless. My center fielder wanted to go to Oregon because “their uniforms, duh.” My pitcher wanted to go to Oklahoma because that’s where Keilani Ricketts played.

My first baseman/outfielder wanted to go to Florida because “they’re so pretty and they wear cute bows.” And another utility player wanted to go to Alabama because she loved the way Haylie McCleney played.

Their decisions were heavily influenced by the softball they consumed on television. The coverage of particular softball teams was framing

their view on college programs. The more games that were on TV, the more their decisions changed.

Now, I will be the first to say this is a great problem, because it means we have a lot of softball on TV. It means our young girls can watch role models who look like them. It means our athletes get an opportunity to showcase their talents to large audiences. And it means that hopefully our sport will continue to grow at all levels — youth, college, professional and hopefully even Olympic.

But the interesting thing that is happening is how framing and the influx of college softball on television is shaping our early recruiting. I hate early recruiting and don’t have a problem sharing that.

I’M NOT writing this article to tell college coaches to become better marketers or to tell ESPN and CBS to showcase more schools. Instead, I’m writing this article to bring light to framing and how it influences young girls’ decisions on the colleges they chose to attend.

If you’re a travel ball coach or a parent, you might want to make sure you ask your daughter or player why they really want to go to that school.

Yes, cool uniforms, bows and school colors catch your eye and play a large role in the aesthetics of a softball player with big dreams, but does that softball program offer an academic degree you’re interested in? Does that coach fit your learning style? Does that college town or city fit your personality? Will you mesh with the kinds of players that coach brings in? Deeper questions that 17, 16, and now 15 and 14-year-olds

have to make.I think it’s funny, though, that at

the age of 14, us girls are way more interested in cool uniforms and pretty bows than we are in potential college majors and the academic rating of a university.

Something to think about.In the meantime, I hope softball

coverage at all ages continues to grow. I know I’m biased, but I believe our sport offers one of the best made-for-television sport viewing opportunities there is. But as I continue to my own continuous sport viewing on TV and realize how framing affects some of my own decisions, I wanted to bring light to how sport coverage can shape the decision-making process of our young athletes.

Jami Lobpries is a sports management PhD student at Texas A&M, researching sports mar-keting and women’s sports. She played colle-giately at Texas A&M, where she participated in two Women’s College World Series, and profes-sionally in National Pro Fastpitch from 2009-12.

Lobpries uses her playing experiences and research to discuss marketing strategies to help grow women’s sports. Follow her on Twitter at @JamiLo2 and keep up with her blog at www.womenssportblog.com

Framing Can Affect The Public PerceptionMARKETING

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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champion Tufts. Cortland has qualified for seven

NCAA tournaments and went to three straight tournaments from 1997-99 and 2003-05 under Lenhart, advancing to the World Series in 1998, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013. Eight of Cortland’s 12 SUNYAC titles have been won during Lenhart’s tenure.

She is a four-time SUNYAC Coach of the Year, was the 1997 NFCA East Region Coach of the Year and her staff has been honored seven times as the NFCA Division III Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

BEFORE CORTLAND, Lenhart coached five seasons at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where her teams went 120-77, earning her Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) Coach of the Year honors in 1990 and 1992, while winning the league title in 1992.

With an overall record of 785-332-2 in 25 seasons, Lenhart has the distinction of being just the seventh

coach in Division III history to reach the 700-win plateau and is sixth all-time in victories among Division III head coaches.

In 28 seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma City University, McSpadden has built the Stars’ program into a major NAIA powerhouse. He has guided his squad to eight national titles (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007) and 13 total championship games, the most in both categories in NAIA history, during 25 visits to the NAIA Championships.

A FOUR-TIME NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year and eight-time NFCA NAIA Southwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year honoree, McSpadden has accumulated a staggering record of 1,423-355, to sit at the top of the list of active winningest coaches in NAIA softball, and led his program to 17 Sooner Athletic Conference crowns.

He has also coached over 75 All-Americans, more than 35 NAIA scholar-athletes and had four former OCU players help their respective countries win Olympic medals.

In 2014, the Oklahoma City University and NAIA Hall of Famer guided the Stars to 55 victories, their second straight title in the

NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City bracket and to the NAIA Championships for the 23rd consecutive season and NAIA-best 28th time overall.

STUEDEMAN HAS compiled an 894-278-1 record over 19 seasons as the only coach in University of Alabama-Huntsville program history. She has guided the Division II Chargers to 12 straight NCAA tournament appearances and averaged 47 wins each season. Her teams have never had fewer than 24 wins, and she has never had a losing season.

Alabama-Huntsville went 48-12 last season and reached the NCAA South Super Regional for the second straight year, along the way earning Stuedeman her ninth career Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year award. Her staff, meanwhile, has been chosen as NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year six times.

STUEDEMAN’S TEAMS have earned 17 NCAA berths and won five South Region titles (1999, 2001, 2009, 2011, 2014). Alabama-Huntsville was the Division II runner-up in 2009 and 2011.

Under Stuedeman, the Chargers have appeared in 11 Gulf South Conference championship games, winning a conference-record eight titles and three straight from 2006-08.

In 2013, Stuedeman was inducted

into the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame, where she was a catcher from 1990-92, earning all-district honors all three seasons and garnering All-American status in 1992.

As only the second full-time Executive Director in the history of the NFCA, Baker has proven to be an invaluable contributor during a time of unprecedented growth and prosperity in the national softball coaches’ organization.

Named to her current position in 1994, she recently celebrated her 20th year with the Association and serves as the primary liaison to the NFCA’s Board of Directors.

A NATIVE OF Jackson, Miss., Baker possesses more than 30 years of experience in the sports industry, including seven years at the NCAA, where she served as assistant and associate director of championships, while administering all three NCAA softball championships.

Prior to that, she worked for the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee as project director and editor of Olympic Record, the official daily program of the 1984 Olympic Games.

Baker got her start in athletics in sports information, working at San Diego State and Stanford universities. Later she served as the Associate Director of Athletics at Truman State University.

A graduate of Delta State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, Baker is married to NFCA Hall of Fame coach Jay Miller, and they have one daughter, Nikki, who is in graduate school at Illinois State University.

We have all been guilty of “helping” and “fixing,” but now with a little more awareness we can take control and aim to serve instead.

In the Dominican Republic, the people at the dump would have been working all day whether we worked alongside them or not. In fact, most of them are working in the hot sun today. We did not change their world. Their lives are quite similar to the day we experienced with them.

Through the experience, though, we gained awareness. We learned to connect with others and to truly serve. We began to see that diversity can actually reveal similarities, if we look for them.

“Fixing and helping create a distance between people, an experience of difference.” Remen tells us. “We cannot serve at a distance. We can only serve that to which we are profoundly connected.”

“Service is a relationship between equals: our service strengthens us as well as others. Fixing and helping are draining, and over time we may burn out, but service is renewing. When we serve, our work itself will renew us. In helping we may find a sense of satisfaction; in serving we find a sense of gratitude.”

Learn from Reyes. Rather than regard others as weak or broken, we must choose to see them as whole. With authenticity, find ways to intentionally connect with your players.

Help less, fix only when necessary and serve more.

AIM TO SERVE OTHERS, RATHER THAN JUST HELPCONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

QUARTET POISED TO ENTER NFCA HALL OF FAMECONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

softball field in her honor, renaming it the Donna J. Newberry Softball Field and Newberry finished a book about her coaching career and experiences — “You Must Play to Win: A Coach’s Journey from the Pit to the Pinnacle.”


AUSTGEN HAS BUILT A DYNASTY AT DEER PARKCONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

“Turn your assistant coaches loose on what they are good at,” she suggested. “On the same hand, utilize the strengths of each player.”

Knowing how each individual operates best is the key.

“I’m a bit of a firecracker as a coach,” she admitted. “Some kids are quiet. Some kids are loud. But you can see the passion in their eyes. (It’s all about) turning loose that passion.”

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NFCA FASTPITCH DELIVERY OCTOBER 2014