Coaching Management 13.9

Coaching Management VOL. XIII, NO. 9

A N N U A L

S O F T B A L L

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HEART OF THE DEFENSE

Building a Better Infield

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Coaching Management Softball Edition, 2006

CONTENTS

Vol. XIII, No. 9

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33

27 LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Heart of the Defense

ISF responds to Olympic setback ...

Tulane studies pitching injuries ...

Title IX takes one step back and two steps forward ... Grant funds coaching positions ... ATHENA targets steroid abuse ... Softballer wins Honda Award.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 In five years at the University of Georgia, Lu Harris-Champer has transformed the softball program into a national contender, compiling a record of 259-93, with NCAA tournament appearances each of the last four seasons.

SOFTBALL FACILITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 HITTING & PITCHING AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 UNIFORMS & APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 WEB NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Publisher Mark Goldberg Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Research Dina Stander, Signs of Life Studio

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Dennis Read Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson Kenny Berkowitz Abigail Funk David Hill Greg Scholand Laura Smith

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THE COACHING CAREER

A Fresh Start

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At some point, most coaches have thought about quitting their jobs. How do you know when it’s time to find another school? And what do you do when you get there?

OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE

The Latest Buzz

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Whether it’s consumed to enhance performance or as part of the daily diet, caffeine can be a negative for today’s competitive athletes.

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Building a better infield requires a strong foundation in fundamentals, practice sessions that train mind and body, and a solid strategy for creating teamwork.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Softball Responds to Olympic Setback This summer, the softball community was dealt a crushing blow when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced its decision to oust the sport from the summer games beginning in 2012.

which softball has developed and how it’s being played around the world.”

As one example of growth, Porter points to softball’s inclusion in the World University Games for the first time in 2007. Held every two years by the International University Sports Federation, the summer games are scheduled to

teams from Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Guatemala, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States. After five days of competition, the USA Elite team, which included players from seven NCAA Division I institutions, won the gold medal in a closely fought 1-0 final against Chinese Taipei.

The second World University Softball Championships will be held in Tainan, Taiwan, in July 2006.

To qualify for USA Softball’s Elite Team, athletes must have been born between Jan. 1, 1978 and Dec. 31, 1988. Players may be invited to one of three tryout sessions held each year, where they will be evaluated and selected by USA Softball’s National Team Selection Committee.

For more information about the World University Softball Championships, visit: ■ USA Softball: www.usasoftball.com ■ International Softball Federation: www. internationalsoftball.com ■ International University Sports Federation: www.fisu.net

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Tulane Studies Pitching Injuries Coaches used to think their windmill pitchers could throw a complete game—then do it again the next day, and the day after that—all without risking pain or injury. But now, researchers say that line of thinking is a big mistake, and that pitchers are visiting doctors and physical therapists in droves complaining of arm and back pain.

Calling it an epidemic, Sherry Werner, Coordinator of the Human Performance Laboratory at the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, says that 80 percent of college softball pitchers miss some playing time because of arm pain.

Equally startling, says Werner, is that the same problems exist for players in the 12 to 18 age group.

“Each year we see 20 to 30 pitchers requiring some type of shoulder or elbow surgery at our clinic,” says Werner.

“And we have another 20 to 30 each year doing rehab in lieu of surgery.” For Werner, those numbers indicate that it’s time for coaches to start being proactive.

“For too long we’ve heard the myth that softball pitchers have a natural throwing motion and they can pitch as much as they want without hurting themselves,” says Werner. “As a result, we see an increasing number of players every year—many 18 and under—coming in to see us.

COURTESY OF USA SOFTBALL

“The ’04 championships were a good opportunity for our athletes,” says USA Elite Team Head Coach Jay Miller, who is also Head The USA Softball Elite Team, which included players from seven NCAA Coach at Mississippi Division I institutions, defeated Chinese Taipei 1-0 to win the gold medal at State University. the first World University Softball Championships, held in Plant City, Fla., in “Although being October 2004. dropped from the Olympics will have an effect on the goals and take place in Bangkok, ThaiBaseball and softball failed to aspirations of college players, land in 2007. Talks to add softreceive a majority of votes, the college game is still very ball began two years ago, becoming the first events strong and will continue to when the ISF offered to host dropped from the games in 69 be. The international softball the first World University Softyears. community is working very ball Championships at its hard to have the game reinheadquarters in Plant City, Fla. “We’re very disappointed by stated, and I think we’ll be the outcome of the vote,” back for the 2016 Olympics.”

Held in October 2004, the says Don Porter, President of first World University Softball the International Softball FedAs Porter continues to lobby Championships included atheration (ISF). “I think the IOC the IOC to change its mind letes from around the globe, made a mistake in not fully for 2016, he believes the sucwith past Olympians peppering recognizing the extent to

cess of events like the World University Softball Championships will only help. “We have a lot of major events coming up which will showcase the success of softball,” says Porter. “We just have to regroup and work toward getting softball back on the Olympic program. We’re hopeful this is just a temporary setback. Softball will go on.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD we expected, based on how many injured softball pitchers we see at our clinic.”

also asked its member schools not to use the new e-mail survey option.

Werner’s goal is for coaches to treat softball pitchers with the same caution used for their baseball counterparts, starting with pitch counts and extended rest periods. Werner recommends pitchers 12 years old and under throw no more than 60 pitches per workout or game. She recommends no more than 80 pitches for 13- to 15-year-olds, and no more than 100 pitches for athletes 15 years old and over.

Institutions can comply with Title IX in three ways: by demonstrating that the percentages of male and female athletes are approximately the same as the percentages of males and females in the student body; that the school has a history and continuing practice of expanding opportunities for the underrepresented gender; or that it is fully and effectively meeting the athletic interests and abilities of the underrepresented gender. Under the DOE’s clarification, schools attempting to pass the third test may now use e-mail surveys to prove that underrepresented students are content with their current offerings.

Coaches should also strongly consider giving their pitchers more time off between starts and workouts. “If you pitch on a Monday, we recommend that you take Tuesday off— whether it’s a game or a workout—with no softball activity at all,” says Werner.

At the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, researchers performed a full biomechanical analysis on each of the pitchers of the 1996 USA Olympic Softball Team, including Lisa Fernandez (above), and found similar stresses to those documented in studies of baseball pitchers.

Many need surgery and have shoulders that look like they belong to a 90-year old.”

“The main purpose was to compare our data with what is out there for baseball pitchers,” says Werner, a former pitching coach at Penn State University who has studied and treated arm injuries for 17 years. “We found that the stress on a softball pitcher’s arm is very similar to a baseball pitcher’s, which is what

For more information about avoiding overuse injuries, see “One More Pitch?” at: www.momentummedia.com/ articles/cm/cm0907/pitch.htm

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Title IX Cases Continue Advocates of gender equity in athletics see a mixed picture in two recent federal decisions.

Meanwhile, equity in facilities continues to be a growing avenue for Title IX complaints.

A change in the way Title IX compliance can be measured raised alarm among the law’s proponents this spring, when the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) unveiled a “clarification” allowing schools to use e-mail surveys to gauge interest in athletics. The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) called the change an attempt to weaken Title IX, and the NCAA urged the DOE to rescind the clarification. The NCAA

Most troubling to Title IX’s supporters, the clarification allows schools to interpret lack of response to the e-mail survey as lack of interest. “That is one glaring flaw,” says Stanford University Athletic Director Ted Leland, who co-chaired the DOE’s Commission for Opportunity in Athletics when it reviewed Title IX three years ago. “It’s like having a local tax referendum and saying anybody who doesn’t go to the polls is voted as a ‘no.’

Measuring someone’s interest in participating in athletics is much more complicated than just sending out an e-mail.”

While women’s sports advocates fear the impact of the

JED JACOBSOHN/GETTY IMAGES

The first of Werner’s research projects, released in April, studied 24 pitchers during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics by recording their throwing motions during competition.

The second project, to be published soon, examined a population of 12- to 18-yearolds. It was conducted in a laboratory setting where 158 injury-free pitchers threw off a regulation pitching plate. For both projects, Werner and her team performed a full biomechanical analysis on

each of the players, which entailed calculating about 100 different elements of movement, including stride length and arm speed, to measure how much torque and force they placed on their shoulders and elbows.

“We realize that once teams get into nationals, pitchers will have to throw two or three games in a day, then come back and throw one or two the next day,” she adds. “And as long as that happens once, twice, or three times a year, it’s okay. But it can’t happen every other weekend.”

The DOE provided institutions with a model Internet survey, which asks respondents whether they have participated in, now participate in, or are interested in participating in sports.

Those who say yes then select from a list of the 23 NCAA championship sports and seven emerging sports. For each sport selected, students report their high school participation, their current participation, their interest in future participation, and their ability to participate.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD DOE’s new guidelines, they are hailing another piece of Title IX news as a welcome expansion in the scope of the law. In March, a 5-4 majority of Supreme Court justices ruled that Title IX protects whistleblowers from retaliation when they complain about gender inequity at an academic institution.

Parents whose daughters play on sub-par softball fields also continue to take action under Title IX. “A substantial portion of the cases we’re getting involve disparities between baseball and softball fields,” says Neena Chaudhry, Senior Legal Counsel for the NWLC. “Baseball fields having a lot of amenities that softball fields don’t have seems to be the case at a large number of schools.”

Field inequality became the focus this spring at Mayo High School in Rochester, Minn., where the baseball coach found himself calling a game due to darkness even though the school’s field was equipped with lights. The adjacent softball field doesn’t have lights,

Roderick Jackson, teacher and Acting Head Girls’ Basketball Coach at Ensley High School in Birmingham, Ala., won his Supreme Court appeal as a 5-4 majority of justices ruled that Title IX protects whistleblowers from retaliation by their academic institutions.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

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The case involved Roderick Jackson, an Alabama high school teacher and girls’ basketball coach who sued his school in 2001 claiming he was fired for complaining that the school provided vastly inferior facilities and resources to his girls’ team. In the majority opinion, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote that “without protection from retaliation, individuals who witness discrimination would likely not report it … and the underlying discrimination would go unremedied.” Jackson is now free to take his lawsuit back to

district court, where he must prove that his firing was a direct result of the Title IX complaints.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD and so after an investigation by the Office for Civil Rights, the district decided to discontinue night baseball games.

Rochester’s solution—preventing baseball players from using a resource already in place—is technically legal, but it’s not ideal, according to Chaudhry. “We refer to that as ‘equalizing down,’ and it’s always better to equalize up if possible,” she says. “When you equalize down, you often end up with a situation that makes both girls and boys feel bad, since the girls feel like they were responsible for taking something away from the boys. It also creates a backlash against Title IX and creates

bitterness about the law.”

Rochester coaches encountered exactly that phenomenon. Softball players told their coaches they didn’t want the baseball players to be barred from using lights and insisted that not having lights on their field didn’t bother them.

“When girls are used to not having the same facilities as the boys, they come to expect that,” Chaudhry says. “When coaches hear their female athletes say, ‘We don’t care,’ it’s their job to educate the athletes about what the law requires. Otherwise, they’re training their athletes to grow up expecting less.”

The OCR’s clarification of Title IX, including the downloadable user’s guide and technical manual explaining the use of surveys, can be found at: www.ed.gov/about/ offices/list/ocr/docs/title9guidanceadditional.html.

NCAA Grant Jump-Starts Program When Austin College first sponsored a club softball team two years ago, athletic administrators wanted to elevate the sport to varsity status. But one thing stood in the way: money.

Now, with the help of a Strategic Alliance Matching Grant from the NCAA, that hurdle has been overcome, and the Sherman, Texas, school plans on fielding a varsity team beginning in the 2006-07 season.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grants were created to assist institutions and conferences seeking to enhance ethnic and gender diversity among their athletic and administrative coaching staffs. For those receiving the grants, the NCAA funds 75 percent of a newly created position in its first

year, 50 percent in its second year, and 25 percent in its third year. In total, approximately 20 grants are awarded annually among Division II and III institutions.

Austin Vice President for Student Affairs and Athletics Tim Millerick says that the grant will be instrumental in getting his school’s new softball program off the ground. “This money will be a tremendous help, because until now we couldn’t get the funds together for a full-time position,” he says. “The grant allows us to phase it in. Ever since we first decided that we wanted to make softball a varsity sport, the personnel issue has been the only thing holding us back.”

With nearly 50 grant applications from D-III schools considered by the NCAA this year, the selection process was highly competitive. Millerick believes

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Austin was chosen because its new coaching position is a perfect fit for the mission of the grant program. In addition to Head Softball Coach, the job carries the title Assistant to the Director of Athletics and includes responsibilities in the administrative side of the athletic department. “The new coach is going to help me create an assessment plan, assist with our institutional self-study, and aid in our transition to a new conference next year,” he says. “That is substantial administrative work, and I think making that kind of opportunity part of the job description impressed the NCAA.” For more information on the NCAA’s Strategic Alliance Matching Grants, visit: www1.ncaa.org/ membership/governance/ division_III/d3_initiatives/ strategic_alliance_grant

ATHENA Targets Steroid Abuse Take competitive young athletes dedicated to performing at their best, have them play a sport with components of power and speed, and mix in the idea that a toned, muscular look is necessary at all costs. You may have a recipe for dangerous abuse of anabolic steroids.

Steroid abuse is generally considered far less common than the use of so-called recreational drugs, but many experts believe it is increasing among college and high school students. The National Institutes of Health’s ongoing Monitoring the Future study found in its 2004 survey that 270,000 eighth, 10th, and 12th graders nationwide (3.4 percent) admitted steroid use, and noted a 62 percent increase in use among

12th graders since 1991. A Texas A&M study cited in a multi-part Dallas Morning News special report into high school steroid use said that nearly 42,000 Texas students in grades seven through 12 (2.3 percent) had used steroids.

Much of the attention has focused on males, athletes in particular, but Congress held a hearing in the spring on females’ use of illegal performanceenhancing substances. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey suggested that 5 percent of high school girls have abused steroids. And when the Oregon Health and Sciences University assessed its steroid abuse-prevention programs in 13 Oregon high schools, it found twice as many female non-athletes used steroids as athletes, which researchers attributed to a desire to look thin yet fit.

What is a coach’s role in addressing steroid abuse? Are there right ways and wrong ways to talk about it? What’s a good way to raise the subject?

An answer might lie in Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA), a drug abuse-prevention program developed by OHSU and endorsed by federal agencies.

ATHENA is designed for female athletes and, like its male counterpart Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS), which is endorsed by the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention and cited in a 2004 federal law on steroids, it focuses not on the dangers of using steroids but on teaching positive alternatives.

ATHENA targets two major precursors to steroid abuse: disordered eating practices and depression, says Linn

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Goldberg, Professor of Medicine and head of the Division of Health Promotion & Sports Medicine at OHSU. “The program is designed to make girls understand that what they do affects how they feel, and teach them how to do things that can help them avoid depression, because depression is linked to substance abuse in girls,” says Goldberg.

ATHENA tackles disordered eating not with scare tactics, which Goldberg says studies show don’t work, but by presenting alternatives. “It provides tools to succeed,” he says. “We don’t talk about calories for girls. We talk about eating carbohydrates and protein—carbohydrates as fuel for their body for high-intensity exercise, protein for their muscle and bone strength, and calcium for bone strength and muscle activity. We tell them,

‘Here are the positive things you get, and this is what you need.’ We don’t say ‘Watch your calories.’”

The dangers aren’t ignored, but are presented less as a warning than as information.

“We tell them what really happens, both the positive and the negative,” Goldberg says.

“Steroids make you stronger.

We don’t deny that at all.

They make you faster. And they work more quickly than food and proper training. But proper training gets you where you want to go. We tell them the fastest way to get off a five-story building is to jump. If you’ve got a small safety net, you might hit it or you might miss it. It’s a great risk. Going down the stairs is going to take longer, but it’s the safest way.”

ATHENA can be worked into

a program on light practice days, with a team broken into small groups led by trained facilitators, says Wendy Stammer, Head Volleyball Coach at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Ore., one of the schools where the program was tested. Stammer believes it was effective at getting across appearance-acceptance messages, with athletes engaging in creative activities such as their own advertising campaigns to counter societal expectations.

Co-developed by Linn Goldberg, professor at Oregon Health and Sciences University, ATHENA tackles disordered eating in females by presenting healthy alternatives to steroids.

“At my high school, there have been problems with bulimia and anorexia, and it was really important for the players to hear what kinds of things are good to eat and what they should stay away from,” Stammer says. “Before, on many tournament days, they would bring in a lot of junk food. Now the girls are

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bringing healthy food that will give them sustained energy.

It’s not good for athletes to diet during the season, and they needed to hear that from somebody other than me.”

ATHENA works through a series of peer-to-peer activities, but coaches still have a role in preventing steroid abuse, whether working through a formal program or not. A key point for coaches, says Frank Uryasz, President of the National Center for Drug Free Sport, is to make sure you aren’t sending mixed messages.

Young athletes can misunderstand an admonition to gain strength, he says, especially if the coach doesn’t explain the right ways to achieve it and the risks of taking substanceenhanced shortcuts.

NCAA Honors D-II Pitcher

giate Women Sports Awards NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year.

When a pitcher finishes the season with a record of 32-1, compiling 20 shutouts and a microscopic 0.36 earned run average, she’s bound to garner some attention. Northern Kentucky University junior ace Krystal Lewallen did just that this spring, becoming only the second softball player to win the Honda Award as the Colle-

Lewallen led the NKU Norse to a record of 55-2, setting the all-time NCAA record for consecutive team wins (55) and dominating the Great Lakes Valley Conference in an undefeated regular season (46-0). In addition to the national award, the NKU career leader in wins (79) and strikeouts (836) was honored as a first-team All-

“The award is a tremendous honor for her, for our program, and for our university,” says Head Coach Kathy Stewart. “Krystal had a wonderful season, and she had a very good team behind her. I would hope that they all feel like they’re a part of this, because I know they are.”

Stewart says that with such an imposing force on the mound and the team on a roll from the start of the season, one of her main responsibilities was to keep the players mentally grounded. “Part of my job this year was consistently reminding the team that regardless of how well Krystal was doing or how many games we’d won, each day was a new opportunity for us to prove ourselves,” she says.

“We didn’t talk about the alltime wins record—our goal was to win every game we played, one at a time. We had nine players out there who needed to do their jobs and remember that just because ‘K’ was on the mound didn’t guarantee a victory.”

“That silence can be interpreted as approval for turning to various substances,” Uryasz explains. “We can educate with brochures, posters, and educational sessions, but I don’t know of any greater prevention tool than a strong non-use message from a coach.”

Uryasz says many athletes don’t have using steroids in mind when they first try to gain strength or alter their appearance. Instead, an athlete might take a protein or amino-acid supplement, such as creatine, and when it doesn’t show sought-after results, steroids become the next step.

“I’m convinced that dietary supplements are the training wheels for anabolic steroid users,” Uryasz says. “Many people don’t realize the connection between the use of supplements and steroids, but athletes will often use a host of dietary supplements before resorting to a steroid.”

For more information about ATHENA go to: www.ohsu.edu/hpsm/ ATHENA.html.

American, the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, and the MVP of the Division II Great Lakes Regional.

With 20 shutouts, a 32-1 record, and a 0.36 earned run average for the Northern Kentucky University Norse, Krystal Lewallen became only the second softball player to receive the Honda Award as the Collegiate Women Sports Awards NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year.

While the team’s unprecedented success and the accolades Lewallen received made for a great year, Stewart admits that this off-season has been bittersweet, since she learned shortly before the award ceremony that her star pitcher will be leaving the program. “K” has decided to finish her college career at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, fulfilling her personal goal of competing for a Division I school. “It was hard to leave my teammates at Northern Kentucky,” Lewallen told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

“But once I explained my reasons for wanting to play Division I, they were very supportive. They were happy for me and wished me luck.”

COACHING MANAGEMENT

13

Q&A

LU HARRIS-CHAMPER University of Georgia

Before Lu Harris-Champer came to Georgia, the Lady Dogs had a 115-123 record, with no Southeastern Conference championships or NCAA tournament appearances. In her five years as head coach, she’s transformed the program into a national contender, compiling a record of 259-93 (.736 winning percentage) with NCAA tournament appearances each of the last four seasons.

In 2005, Georgia finished one game short of the College World Series after winning its second regular-season SEC crown and an NCAA regional on its home field. The Lady Dogs were ranked ninth in the final USA Today/NFCA poll with a 55-15 record.

CM: How do you develop confidence among your players?

Harris-Champer: First, you look for athletes who are highly self-motivated.

Then, you put them into practice situations that will help them feel prepared for competition. You use video to show them they can be successful over and over again at whatever you ask them to do.

How much do you count on your captains to lead the team?

We don’t name captains. We let those roles develop on their own, and by the end of the season it’s clear who the leaders are.

A two-time SEC Coach of the Year, Harris-Champer had similar success at the University of Southern Mississippi, where she led the Golden Eagles to the 1999 and 2000 Women’s College World Series. Before that, she led the 1997 Orlando Wahoos to regular season and tournament titles while receiving honors as the Women’s Pro Fastpitch League Coach of the Year. In 1996 and 1997, in her first head coaching position, she guided Nicholls State to a pair of NCAA tournament berths.

A San Diego native, Harris-Champer played three seasons of softball at Western Illinois University, where she also served as an assistant coach after graduation. She is married to Georgia Assistant Swimming Coach Jerry Champer, and the couple’s twin daughters were born in August 2004. In this interview, Harris-Champer talks about setting high expectations, simulating game intensity, and balancing work and family.

happens, it’s important to recognize that you have to change. As a result, we’re as hard, if not harder, on our weakest players as we are with our strongest. We’re only as strong as everyone on the team, not just the top one or two athletes.

How do you develop your backup players?

They’re put in situations they’ll to have to face in a game. If I know an outfielder is good at running down balls, I’m not

just going to have a coach hit her fly balls. I’m going to have a batter hitting fly balls off a pitcher, so she can learn to read how the ball comes off the bat.

That way, when I put her in a game, she won’t feel like she’s never faced the situation before.

How do you get practices to match the intensity of a game?

Actually, we try to be more intense in practice. We try to make practices fast-

How do you help develop those leaders?

By putting them into situations where they can show their strengths and praising them when they do well.

How does your approach to the game vary from one year to the next?

It’s based on what our players are able to do. There was a time early last season when we had a lot of speed, and we were doing some great things with that speed. But by the time conference play started, we’d had some injuries, so we weren’t a fast team anymore—we were a power team. Our approach depends on the strengths of our team at any given time.

How do you make those adjustments during a season?

Sometimes you don’t have a choice.

When someone is hurt, you have to fill their shoes. When something unexpected

14

COACHING MANAGEMENT

En route to winning the Southeastern Conference championship, Lu Harris-Champer (right) discusses defensive strategy with pitcher Jessica Doucette and the Lady Dog infield.

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Circle No. 110

moving. They’re detailed, and every minute is accounted for. We also play music throughout practices, usually the Georgia band fight song CD, which helps keep our tempo up.

and when we played UCLA again in the regional, we did a much better job.

How do you approach your preseason program?

“We played UCLA and Cal State Fullerton early in the season and won one out of five games. We felt like our stomachs had been ripped out, but we learned where we needed to improve.“ Why do you schedule games against such difficult opponents?

That’s the only way we can succeed in the Southeastern Conference. The SEC is so tough that if we’re not tested early, we won’t know what changes need to be made. Last year was perfect example.

We played UCLA and Fullerton early in the season and won one out of five games. We felt like our stomachs had been ripped out, but we learned where we needed to improve. That led to a real attitude adjustment for the players,

We do more technique work at the beginning of the week and more scrimmaging at the end. That way, they can put into play the things they’ve worked on all week. I really believe that in times of high stress, like in a big game, players revert back to what they’ve always done.

So we push them in preseason to raise that level of play.

How do you help players deal with the high expectations that come with winning?

We set high expectations for our athletes in practice, in the classroom, and off the field. Hopefully, our expectations become their expectations.

You’ve drawn crowds of 1,000 and more. How does that fan support affect your players?

It’s fantastic, and it even helps us when we go on the road. I don’t think there’s anywhere we go where we feel intimidated. We play in a beautiful stadium, one of the nicest in the country, and we’re used to having large crowds.

How important is it for you to recruit within Georgia?

I think it’s very important. The school supports us in taking a nationwide approach, but I like to have as many players from the state as we can, because they understand what being a Georgia Bulldog is all about. They’ve grown up around it, and that helps with the heart and soul of the team. But it’s also important to have a good mix of people. In the pro league, I learned that athletes’ differences really end up being a team’s strengths. People who have

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Q&A played the sport in different areas of the country all have something special to bring to the table.

Will softball’s elimination from the Olympics have an effect on the sport?

A lot of girls dream of playing softball in the Olympics, but most of them compete because they love the game and secondly because they want to get a college scholarship. The Olympics and the pro league are wonderful, but our athletes need to go to college and get an education, so they can join the workforce and make a living.

After last season, your name was mentioned in connection with other coaching jobs. What made you stay at Georgia?

Just realizing how awesome Georgia is. One of the reasons I came here is because it’s great to see softball athletes who are provided with everything they need in order to succeed and graduate.

They get the same academic assistance, the same medical treatment, and the same type of travel as all the other athletes here. All the support that makes a

student-athlete’s life easier is available here at Georgia.

You have one-year old twins and your husband is an assistant swim coach.

How you balance family and work?

Number one, my husband is awesome.

Number two, we’ve learned to manage our time the best we can. Plus, we have supportive family members who come to town when we’re both on the road. We

I’ve grown a hundred times more compassionate. If I’d known how awesome kids are, I probably would have had them a long time ago. As a team, we still do the same things we’ve done before, and our daily routine hasn’t changed on the field. But for me, there’s now a line between family and work, and that’s made my coaching better. I don’t take work home anymore, and I get more work done in the time

“As a team, we still do the same things we've done before, and our daily routine on the field hasn't changed since my children were born. But for me, there's now a line between family and work, and that's made my coaching better.“ also have a great support staff here for both of us, and they do a fantastic job.

How have you changed as a coach since your children were born?

I have at school. That way, I’m able to appreciate my kids and enjoy being with my family. It makes me a happier person, and that makes me a better coach.

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Circle No. 113 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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HEART OF THE DEFENSE

At the University of Oklahoma, infielders like Savannah Long practice game-like situations to develop the mental preparedness needed for lightning-quick decisions.

COVER STORY

It’s the business end of the diamond. It’s the first line of defense. It’s where the action is. It’s the infield.

Today’s brand of softball demands a lot from infielders. With the emphasis on pitching and small-ball offenses, these four players are the heart of any defense. “I know that outfielders are the last line of defense, but usually 90 percent of the balls put into play in a fastpitch game are in the infield,” says Monte Sherrill, Head Coach at Central Cabarrus (N.C.) High School, a fourtime state champion. “So we put a high priority on fundamentals and being very sound and aggressive.”

Building a better infield requires a strong focus on fundamentals, practice sessions that train mind and body, and a solid strategy for creating teamwork.

BY DAVID HILL Building a good infield isn’t easy. A pitching staff can be founded on raw talent, catchers can be developed one-onone, and an outstanding outfield can be created from pure athleticism. But an infield is more complex. Each position is unique, and to be played well, each requires quick reflexes, agility, sound fundamentals, game knowledge, and the ability to react correctly in an instant.

As an added challenge, building an infield requires excellent teamwork, cohesion, and confidence. In this article, we talk to coaches about how they’ve turned diamonds in the rough into polished jewels.

The Physical Foundation The starting point for building a strong infield is getting athletes physically

ready. The physical base of infield play is smoothness, flexibility, and leg strength, so preseason preparation at the University of Oklahoma starts with lots of strength and conditioning. “Our goal with infielders is to make them look like the smoothest thing you’ve ever seen, like they’re gliding on ice,” says Head Coach Patty Gasso. “We work a lot on quick steps and reactions. A lot of what we do is aimed at making sure our legs are strong enough so that we can move quickly from a ready position.”

When players return from the weightroom, Gasso and her staff further develop their agility and quickness through wall-ball drills with tennis balls. This competitive game of ricochet improves footwork, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time. It also helps coaches know if more strength and agility work is warranted. “You can tell if a player is not jumping or is wasting a step,” Gasso says.

“It’s easy to see if somebody is behind because the movement is so quick.”

Quickness is a high priority for the aggressive, take-away-the-bunt defense of Central Cabarrus, and infielders drill for it daily. “At the beginning of practice, we spend 30 minutes on hand quickness,” says Sherrill. “We hit tennis balls at them like BB’s and bring them to the point where they’re fast enough to make the plays. Then gradually, we move to softballs.”

Jumping rope also helps with footwork, says Jim Huwar, Head Coach at Ambridge Area (Pa.) High School. To get sport-specific, he and his staff run two-ball drills, quickly rolling softballs across the gym floor while each player scoops and returns them with proper form, bringing the ball to her chest, cocking her throwing arm behind her head, and firing. “From there we go to backhand drills, where they take the ball in, cross over, plant, and push off,” he says.

But reaching and stopping a hard-hit ground ball isn’t the whole play. Accurate throws are also essential. Huwar lays the foundation through wrist-throwing drills that involve each player kneeling with her throwing elbow on her throwingside knee and flipping the ball to a part-

ner using only her wrist. The exercise trains athletes to throw the ball with the proper backspin and cocked forearm that help ensure accuracy.

Gasso recognizes that, especially in the infield, there often isn’t time to set up properly, so players are drilled in making quick, off-balance tosses. “We get them to throw at different angles to simulate the plays they’re going to have to make during a game,” she says. “In a game, the ball might ricochet off a pitcher’s glove, and we want them ready to react.”

Preparing the Mind Gasso’s emphasis on game-like situations in practice recognizes that there isn’t always time to use perfect form for a throw to first. The simulations also build mental preparedness to make the lightning-quick decisions infield play requires.

For Gasso, making situational practices effective begins with tailoring a plan to her athletes’ level of experience.

She finds that some of her freshmen are highly skilled but can be overwhelmed by all they have to learn, while others lack a sense of softball “street smarts.”

She starts during the fall practice period with chalk talks to lay the groundwork for on-field teaching sessions.

“Freshmen typically think softball is pretty easy,” Gasso says. “They don’t understand the amount of work that goes into it—scouting, strategy, having a game plan, how to execute, knowing each batter’s strengths and weaknesses.

It’s important to get them to take that next step in learning the game both athletically and mentally.”

Few high school coaches have the luxury of fall theory sessions, and must compress a lot of learning into a short period of time. Huwar starts discussing what-to-do-if-it’s-hit-to-me scenarios at the beginning of preseason practice.

But not everyone sees it as so crucial, reflecting a realization that for certain athletes, other parts of the game take priority.

David Hill is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at dhill@MomentumMedia.com.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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COVER STORY

“We don’t really go over situational plays until three or four days before our first scrimmage,” Sherrill says. With an extensive feeder system and pre-varsity teams, his athletes have typically already learned the basics, and he’d rather spend time on skills, agility, and quickness, which are critical to his team’s in-your-face defensive style, especially on the corners.

Similarly, Jeff Griffith, Head Coach at Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz., says his 2006 squad will be veterans, so there’ll be little more than a review early on. Still, he’s sure to cover the territory, if only as a refresher. “At the beginning of the year, we go through the basics—who’s responsible for a pop up, who has priority on a ball hit behind the third baseman, that kind of thing,” he says.

The basic thrust of situational practice is familiar: Imaginary scenarios are set up, and athletes are expected to learn who goes where, who backs up whom, and what to do if a base runner stumbles. The possibilities are endless.

W

hile middle infielders can improve their working relationship by sticking together through drills, another intrasquad relationship is key. “Your pitcher and infielders have to like working together,” says Pat Murphy, Head Coach at the University of Alabama. “If somebody makes a mistake, is the pitcher going to turn around and glare? Or is she going to turn around and say, ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get the next one!’

“I’ve seen a lot of really good pitchers who don’t have a good relationship with their infielders, and when the number-two pitcher comes in, the infielders play out of their minds for her because she gives to them,” he continues.

“You can have either a big negative or a big positive.”

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

To build a good rapport between the circle and the infield, Alabama coaches show examples of good and bad relations, often hauling out old videos of former pitchers who were unable to earn their team’s support. “Then we’ll show one of our former players who was great on the mound, and smiled all the time. We’ll say, ‘Who would you rather play behind?’ We go into the details of what makes a defense play behind a pitcher. It’s a huge key.”

BAD CIRCLE MANNERS

COVER STORY

But some coaches add a twist. Griffith likes to run miniature simulated games.

“We usually play three outs, then clear the bases,” he says. “And I use base runners, so it’s a base running drill, too.”

It’s possible, of course, to simply run an intrasquad scrimmage, stopping at every teachable moment, but this can take a lot of time that’s better spent on more focused activities. Gasso has found a compromise by running front-toss drills to batters, who are instructed to hit to a particular spot. “We’ll have runners at second and third, so our hitters work on angling down to advance them,” she explains. “Or we work on

To deal with this, some coaches emphasize realism and repetition to build familiarity and confidence in their infielders. “In practice, we try to get our defense to expect that every ground ball is going to be an out,” says Pat Murphy, Head Coach at the University of Alabama. “It’s a matter of trust—the kid who’s fielding it has to feel the trust of her teammates in the dugout. I really believe that’s transferable.”

Sherrill’s approach is to condition players to tension. “We run military-

style practices that are very structured, and if one person does not execute, everyone pays,” he says.

“The pressure of practice is as intense, if not more intense, than the games.

In this past year’s state championship game, we had situations where the opposing team had runners at second and third with no outs or one out, and we called time and had a little conference, and they didn’t feel the pressure. They said, ‘Hey, we do this every day in practice.’”

Whenever and however situational drills are conducted, the key is to help players understand the game’s nuances and how one snap decision can turn a game. hit-and-run and hitting behind the runner. At the same time, our infield gets to work on defense, so we accomplish two things at once.”

Whenever and however situational drills are conducted, the key is to help players understand the game’s nuances and how one snap decision can turn a game. “During and after practice, we sit down and talk to the kids and say, ‘Look, this is why you do this,’” says Huwar. “They need to understand why.

It’s not just, ‘You’re going to do it because we tell you.’ In years past, some players may not have known the rules and intricacies, but they’re learning more at a younger age, and we can build on that earlier.”

Mental preparation, however, isn’t merely knowing what to do. It’s also about building confidence, a key ingredient in the infield. The irony of softball, especially in today’s game, is that while a decisive play can occur in the blink of an eye, in the time between pitches an infielder can also lose confidence.

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COVER STORY

I

t’s one thing to be sure most ground balls in the infield will be outs. But what about line shots at the corners or seeing-eye dribblers up the middle? Can you teach highlight reel-worthy infield defense? Or is it a matter of raw talent and luck?

“I preach to my infield: Make the routine play all the time, and the spectacular play will take care of itself,” says Jeff Griffith, Head Coach at Cactus High School in Glendale, Ariz. “We don’t practice diving at balls or climbing the fence to steal a home run. If it happens, great. But we’d rather learn to make the routine play all the time.”

Other coaches practice diving and reaching in drills designed to reduce their players’ tentativeness. “We tell our kids, ‘If the ball is near you, then you have to give up your body to get to it,’” says

TO DIVE OR NOT TO DIVE?

Jim Huwar, Head Coach at Ambridge Area (Pa.) High School. “We do roll drills and bounce-the-ball drills where the kids get acclimated to reaching for a ball that’s three or four feet away. If it comes up in a game situation, they’re not going to think twice, because they’ve already done it in practice.”

Learning to dive in practice also helps a good infielder get better, says Pat Murphy, Head Coach at the University of Alabama. “Diving drills get players to reach beyond what they think they can do,” he says. “They don’t know if they’re going to get that ball, but if they try, they might. We ask for more each day at practice, to train them to go above and beyond.”

Difficult plays are more than sprawled-out dives for screaming liners. Short hops can tie up a good infielder, too, and that’s why they are part of practice at Central Cabarrus (N.C.) High School. “You can’t go out there and not practice a short hop to the glove-hand side and then say later, ‘Hey, you should have made that play,’” says Head Coach Monte Sherrill. “I want that covered. I want our players to expect the unexpected.”

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COVER STORY

Team Within a Team With an infield prepared physically and mentally, the next step is to make these athletes into a team. They must operate together, be comfortable with and trust one another, and have leadership.

While the catcher remains the leader of the overall defense, some coaches like to have another player take charge of the infield. Murphy is among those who see the shortstop as the leader. Others, though, see the second baseman as the best person to take on the role.

“She’s definitely the quarterback of our infield,” says Sherrill. “At the high school level, if there are five balls hit between the shortstop and second baseman, three of those are going to the second baseman. In bunt plays, the majority of the time the second baseman will cover the throw to first. With most pitchers today throwing to the outside corner, all defense flows through the second baseman.”

Whoever the leader is, it’s important that all the athletes work well together,

especially at the top of the diamond.

“The relationship between the shortstop and the second baseman is key.

There has to be a rhythm where both are on the same page and working together,” says Murphy. “Almost every day, we do a lot of shortstop-second base combination drills and feed drills for double plays. If each one knows how

drill together, they’re best friends. If there’s a problem, they discuss it with each other and then come to us and ask questions.”

Let Them Play Ultimately, the biggest team builder is to let players play. If they’ve been taught well, drilled until the routine is

While the catcher remains the leader of the defense, some coaches have another player—either the shortstop or the second baseman—take charge of the infield. far the other can go to get a ball, it helps a lot. They know each other, know where they’re going to go, who’s going to make the play, how they’re going to toss the ball, and whether it’s going to be overhand, underhand, or a flip.”

One way to build that relationship is to keep players paired. “Our middle infielders are together all the time,” Huwar says. “They throw together, they

easy, are familiar and comfortable with one another, and understand the game, infielders can largely coach themselves.

“It should be second nature to them,” says Gasso. “Our goal as coaches is to really feel like our infield can run itself.

If we’ve done our job right, we can sit back in the dugout and watch, and everything should go smoothly.” ■

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PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

A FRESH START At some point, most coaches have thought about quitting their jobs. How do you know when it’s time to find another school? And what do you do when you get there?

Y

OU’VE JUST FINISHED AN INCRED-

RICHARDORRSPORTS.COM

IBLY TOUGH SEASON and you’re

ready to throw in the towel.

The athletes didn’t seem motivated, their parents drove you crazy, and your athletic director was off playing golf whenever you needed a helping hand. You’re about to hand in your letter of resignation, but then again, you’re not really sure you want out. You do love coaching— working with the kids and the thrill of competition.

Ever have a season like that? Most all of us have at some point in our coaching careers. How do you decide whether it’s time to leave and start over?

I recently left the school where I’d been coaching for 16 years. It was a difficult decision, but one that was ulti-

BY LEM ELWAY mately in my best interest. It took a lot of reflection, thinking about my options, and getting ready for new challenges.

But here I am, at age 58, a rookie head coach in a new school with more energy than I’ve had in years.

What Went Wrong?

There are many reasons that might make a coach want to resign. Sometimes it is because a painful situation arose with parents. Maybe the time commitment has become too overwhelming.

For some, lack of support from administration and a shrinking budget are the impetus. Others just feel they’ve lost

their passion for coaching and are not sure why.

Before you turn in that resignation letter, it’s important to reflect on why you are thinking about calling it quits.

A critical and unemotional look at the situation is essential to making the right choice. This is the only way to figure out if you truly want to quit coaching altogether, if you should move to another school, or if you just need to change some of your strategies before the next season starts. Here are some areas to think about: Parents: When I started coaching, parents rarely dared to question my deci-

Lem Elway recently completed his first year as Head Baseball Coach at Black Hills (Tumwater, Wash.) High School. He is also Head Football Coach at Rochester (Wash.) High School, where he teaches special education. A member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame, he has coached sports at the middle school, high school, and college levels.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

sions and were quickly told to mind their own business if they did. Today, working with parents is a big part of the job, and it can run even a veteran coach ragged.

If you are thinking about moving to another school because of issues with parents, you should know that parents in another district are probably not going to be much different. Every team has parents who will question your decisions, overprotect their children, and not understand the greater good. The

simple truth is that you need to embrace working with parents if you want to continue coaching.

However, some schools are better at supporting their coaches through parent problems than others. If your current administration does not back you up in parental disagreements, you might want to look for one that will.

This issue can be especially sensitive when it comes to disciplining athletes who break school or team rules. One of

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

the reasons I left my former school was that I was verbally attacked after the administration disciplined five seniors from my team who were caught breaking the team no-drinking rule. Some parents of these student-athletes were relentless in trying to get me fired.

Although the administration backed me and I stayed at the school for another five years, the negativity took its toll.

Having a fresh start at a new school was what I needed to preserve my enthusiasm for coaching.

School Climate: Sometimes the environment of the school and athletic department make coaching difficult. A coach I know relocated after seeing his budget cut year after year and the administration not giving him the support he needed to do a good job. He found a position at a school with a strong athletic director and a community committed to high school athletics.

On the flip side, some coaches become frustrated with a climate that puts too much emphasis on winning. A new generation of parents who want the team to bring home a regional championship every year might not be your idea of a good time. If that’s more pressure than you want, then it may be time to say good-bye.

Time Commitments: Being a head coach today is much more time-consuming than it was 10 years ago. If you aren’t spending enough time with your family, you’ve got a very good reason to take a break from coaching. Whether you’re juggling childcare with your spouse or taking your kids on weekend college visits, there are things in your family life that you can’t afford to miss.

In most cases, you can return to coaching when the time is right. Even if your old job has gone to someone else, there will be opportunities to coach in just about every community. I’ve seen head baseball coaches leave their post, then return to coach the team’s newly formed softball team. I’ve also seen former head coaches return as assistant coaches with great success.

Mistakes Made: This is hard to do, but it’s critical that you think about the mistakes you’ve made that contributed to the negative situation. We all make mistakes, but only those who can analyze their missteps will grow from them.

Conduct a critical evaluation of yourself and write down what you could

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

have done differently.

For example, maybe you didn’t make your expectations clear enough at the beginning of the season. Maybe you are struggling with evaluating the talent on your team. Maybe your strategies weren’t well thought out. Maybe you haven’t found the right balance of being strict yet understanding with your athletes.

Maybe you tried to skirt parents’ questions instead of dealing with a situation.

Maybe you neglected to ask for help when you needed it.

Be honest with yourself about the mistakes you’ve made. And then be honest about figuring out your role in avoiding similar problems in the future.

Is Repair Possible?: With a complete understanding of what went wrong and your role in the problem, you next need to think about whether the situation can be repaired. If you feel that, by doing some things differently next year, you can avoid the same problems, then write down your goals for how you want to change and stay where you are. In some cases, you might also need to talk to people to repair any damage done.

If you honestly don’t feel the problems will go away no matter what you do, then hand in that resignation letter and think about your next step: Do you stop coaching altogether or look for a new position? To help make this decision, think about going to practice next sea-

son at a new school: Are you pumped up as you imagine yourself meeting new players (and parents)? Or would you be forcing yourself to get excited at that first meeting? If the former is true, then keep reading.

Putting Out Your Resume Before you decide to look for another job, understand that there is work to be done and decisions to be made. First of all, think about your parameters. “Is it possible to relocate or do I need to look for a job in the area? What are my financial needs? What are my family’s needs?”

Family considerations cannot be overlooked. Having a family partnership is critical on a short- and long-term basis.

In my recent coaching change, it was not until my spouse said she was ready to move that we made our decision.

Think about what you want in a job, as well as about your overall coaching goals. What has your current school taught you about job satisfaction? What has it shown you about finding a work environment that suits you? What have you learned about the qualities to look for in your next athletic director?

Once you know what you want, start researching and networking. I found it helpful to talk to other coaches at schools that had openings and in communities I was interested in moving to. I asked them about working with the athletic

director and other administrators, how problems with parents are handled, what type of students attend the school, and whether the coaches on staff get along.

Next, get your resume in order. Make sure all job-appropriate information is included, and provide a list of personal recommendations for employers to contact. Review your interview skills, making sure obvious questions have been studied and your answers practiced. Talk to others who have recently gone through the process for tips. For example, in today’s world, questions about handling parents and program philosophy are at the top of the list. Make sure you have practiced answers to a list of possible high-priority interview questions.

Finally, remember the two golden rules about changing jobs: Don’t leave a job until you have another one in hand, and don’t let everyone know what you are doing until you have relocation plans in place. This can be very hard, but is important in case you cannot find another job quickly.

New Coach on the Block Once you have secured a new position, plan to work hard to get off on the right foot. When taking leadership of a program, there is much to learn and communicate.

To start, establish relationships with as many people as you can:

SE E KING NEW CH ALLEN G ES Some coaches start over to find a new challenge. They want to “move up the coaching ladder.” If you find yourself dreaming about working with elite athletes, you may want to look into moving from high school to the college level.

Here are some positives of such a move:

Here are some negatives of moving up:

You can teach a higher level of skill.

■ You can sometimes be more influential with your student-athletes, since you become their parent away from home in many cases.

■ The travel can be exciting.

■ You’ll meet lots of interesting and dynamic people at the top of the profession.

■ You won’t have to take care of all the details of managing the team, as there are assistant coaches and support staff to do the things you prefer not to.

■ At most colleges, you won’t have teaching or administrative duties, so you can focus solely on coaching.

■ To start, the salaries can be very low. Assistant coaches and junior college coaches usually make less money than a new teacher-coach in any school district.

■ The time commitment is great, and the expectation is that you will work very long hours.

■ Time away from family due to travel and workload must be taken into consideration. One college coach I spoke with said he is home only two months out of the year due to the travel he does for recruiting.

■ Recruiting is a big part of the job, and is not what most people enjoy about coaching.

■

Before you decide, think about your goals and aspirations. Think about what higher levels of coaching offer. Talk to your family and others close to you. Know that perception and reality can be two different things.

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■ Meet with prospective athletes to introduce yourself and learn about their goals and objectives.

■ If possible, meet with the former coach of the team to get his or her perspective on the history of the program.

■ Meet teachers, counselors, and secretaries in the building to establish professional relationships.

■ Establish lines of communication with parents who are involved with your program in any way. Make sure there are multiple ways they can contact and communicate with you.

■ Meet with local radio and newspaper outlets to introduce yourself and facilitate ways to satisfy their needs.

■ Attend as many school and community activities as possible to show your support for other programs.

■ Meet with the booster club to get members’ sense of the program and begin to work on projects together.

■ Meet with “feeder” coaches to provide leadership, information, and support for their programs.

■ Talk to the principal and adminis-

tration about the issues they see as important.

As you talk with people, find out the history of the sport at the school and any significant issues from the past. This will give you an important perspective that will help guide your decision making. For example, understand why the former coach left and what people liked and disliked about him or her. Get a sense of whether the best athletes at the school are involved in your sport, and if not, why not. Find out how problems

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Here are eight questions you should be prepared to answer as a coaching candidate: Why should anyone hire you?

How are you different from other candidates?

■ What is your coaching philosophy?

■ ■

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have been handled in the past and how parents have responded.

It’s also a good idea to understand the coaching dynamics in your new school. As time passes, you can put your personal touch on the program to reflect your style, but to start, follow the standards set by veteran coaches. For example, if tidy uniforms are important to the coaches of other sports, make sure your kids are tucking in their shirts and looking sharp. If coaches are supposed to follow the lead of a booster

What can you offer to make a program better?

■ What are your strengths?

■ What are your weaknesses?

■ How do you handle problems with parents?

■ How do you deal with conflict?

■

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

club president, then don’t step on anyone’s toes.

Other things to find out: ■ Do the best athletes play multiple sports?

■ What is the success level of other sports at the school?

■ What outside influences in the community are related to athletics and your sport?

■ Do players participate in club sports during the off-season?

■ What are the expectations of your program from the athletes, school, and community?

If there are assistant coaches to be hired, work with your athletic director to get the best folks on board. If possible, have a veteran coach of another sport help you with the details of the program. If you’re hiring all new assistants, make sure to conduct thorough interviews and check references.

Start the season by communicating your expectations to athletes. Some coaches draw a line in the sand about rules, but when starting new, it often

works best to set some guidelines, and then adjust gradually. As a new coach, your rules might contradict the past, so you must use diplomacy to make the transition effective. Starting a new program means selling your procedures, expectations, and philosophy, which can’t be rushed if it’s to be done right.

In addition, don’t assume anything.

It’s easy to forget about all the little things that need to be addressed, but if you do, frustration and anxiety can result. For example, some new coaches like to work only with the younger players and think toward the future. Here at Black Hills, I elected to work with the seniors and make them the leaders. My attitude was that, as long as they hustle, provide enthusiasm, and are coachable, I would find a playing spot for them. My number one priority was to improve the attitude of the program, and I felt it would work best if the seniors helped.

Whatever you do, remember that how you handle seniors is important.

It’s also critical to explain your expectations to parents. A parents’ meeting

needs to occur a month or so before the start of the season, at which time you cover all aspects of your program’s operations, expectations, and procedures—including discipline. This can easily be the most important meeting for your program. It puts you in a proactive mode and opens the lines of communication. Parents must be encouraged to ask questions, and they should receive good, clear answers.

Starting over can be a painful or exhilarating experience. To make it a rewarding one, take the time to think deeply about your desires and your options. Then, have an organized, systematic approach, stay positive, and communicate well. The future is in your hands. ■ Versions of this article have appeared in other editions of Coaching Management.

For a look at Lem Elway’s previous articles in Coaching Management, search “Elway” at our Web site: www.AthleticSearch.com.

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THE LATEST BUZZ

WWW.IMAGESOURCE.COM

BY LAURA SMITH

hen consumed, it triggers changes in the same area of the brain activated by nicotine, cocaine, and heroin. Used regularly, it leads to tolerance and addiction.

Attempting to discontinue use prompts painful withdrawal. Many of your players may be using it, and in fact, you probably had a dose of it today yourself.

Caffeine. Eighty to 90 percent of American adults consume it every day, and student-athletes on college campus-

Whether it’s consumed to enhance performance or as part of the daily diet, caffeine can be a negative for today’s competitive athletes. es are no exception. Increasingly, high schoolers are rivaling adults in their caffeine use, downing sodas and visiting coffee shops for frozen or sweetened caffeinated drinks. In addition, many student-athletes turn to the drug to enhance their athletic performance.

Certainly, concern about caffeine use pales in comparison to the use of substances like steroids and ephedra.

But heavy consumption can have some very real downsides for student-athletes’ health and performance. And while there is laboratory evidence that caffeine enhances performance, athletes who use it as an ergogenic aid need to

be educated about the risks and realities of competing under its influence.

The Daily Grind When student-athletes become daily caffeine users, particularly with heavy use, both their health and performance may suffer in ways they aren’t even aware of. One of the biggest risks is that caffeine use disrupts sleep, and studentathletes are often sleep-deprived to begin with.

Laura Smith is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. She can be reached at ls@MomentumMedia.com.

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“High school and college students are notorious for not getting enough sleep, and especially when they are athletes, it’s absolutely essential that they get enough rest to repair muscle tissue and perform optimally,” says Laura Juliano, a caffeine researcher and Assistant Professor of Psychology at American University. “Caffeine increases the length of time it takes to fall asleep and decreases total sleep time.”

It doesn’t require downing a double espresso right before bed to see the effect, either. Studies have shown that consum-

tives to be aware of. First, since caffeine increases the production of stomach acid, large amounts can induce an upset stomach or acid reflux. Second, while caffeine is no longer believed to be a diuretic, most caffeinated beverages are not particularly good sources of hydration. If they replace water or sports drinks in an athlete’s diet, chances of dehydration increase.

Last but not least, student-athletes who use caffeine daily will build up a tolerance, gradually needing more and more to achieve the same effect. They’ll

It doesn't require downing a double espresso right before bed. Studies show that consuming even a moderate amount early in the day can reduce the quality and quantity of that night's sleep. ing a moderate amount of caffeine early in the day can reduce the quality and quantity of that night’s sleep.

Another concern involves caffeine’s ability to produce anxiety. Again, the effect does not require huge doses. Starbucks reports that its 16-ounce coffee contains 400 milligrams of caffeine— the exact amount researchers administer in the laboratory to induce anxiety, according to Juliano. “There is already a lot of anxiety in the lives of most student-athletes,” she says. “And caffeine is going to magnify it.”

A student-athlete who has an exam looming, a paper due, and a game coming up may down a mug or two of coffee to make it through the day, then attribute feelings of stress and anxiety to the workload. “In reality, caffeine is probably making them feel much worse, but they don’t realize it,” says Juliano.

Daily consumption of coffee and colas also deprives the body of calcium, according to Barbara Lewin, a nutritionist based in Fort Myers, Fla. “Coffee and colas are high in phosphorus, and the body requires a certain phosphorus-tocalcium ratio,” Lewin says. “If your phosphorus intake is high, and you don’t ingest enough calcium, your body will pull calcium from your bones. Most student-athletes don’t get enough calcium in their diets as it is. Often, when I look at a student-athlete’s daily calcium intake alongside their use of coffee and colas, they are in a negative calcium balance.”

There are two other nutrition nega34

COACHING MANAGEMENT

also develop dependence and feel like they need caffeine to function normally. “When it comes to chronic caffeine users, it’s often difficult to separate the effect of the drug from the effect of not having the drug,” Juliano says. “In other words, they may think caffeine makes

them feel and perform better, but in reality, it just keeps them from feeling bad from not having it.”

Few sports nutritionists advise college athletes to avoid caffeine altogether. It’s simply too pervasive an ingredient in many foods and drinks. But how much is too much?

“If a student-athlete does not want to be physically addicted to caffeine, he or she needs to use well below 100 milligrams a day, which means drinking only one caffeinated soft drink or a very small cup of coffee a day,” Juliano says.

For student-athletes who find that recommendation unrealistic, nutritionists advise that they keep their daily intake under 300 to 400 milligrams a day. While this amount does cause dependence on the substance, other side effects, such as anxiety, sleeplessness, and digestive disturbance, generally don’t occur. Staying under 400 milligrams requires limiting intake to about two cups of coffee or three caffeinated soft drinks a day.

Caffeine & Performance Beyond consuming coffee as part of

KICKING CAFFEINE For student-athletes who need to lower their caffeine intake, it’s essential to develop a strategy, because withdrawal symptoms can hit harder than they expect.

Caffeine researcher and Assistant Professor of Psychology at American University Laura Juliano and her colleague Roland Griffiths recently conducted a review of existing literature on caffeine withdrawal. “One of our most important conclusions was that caffeine withdrawal is clinically significant,” she says. “Some people become so ill that they mistake the withdrawal for the flu. It’s important to take caffeine withdrawal seriously.”

Juliano suggests helping studentathletes cut back by letting them know what to expect. “Explain to the student-athlete that whenever you use a drug regularly, your body makes a series of adjustments,” she

says. “When your body doesn’t get the drug, it is forced to go through a period of readjustment—and that can significantly interfere with performance in school and athletics.”

Leah Moore Thomas, Sports Nutritionist at Georgia Tech, advises student-athletes to reduce caffeine gradually. She first has athletes tally all the sources of caffeine they typically use, especially hidden ones like coffee-flavored yogurt or caffeine-containing medications.

“Then I ask them to reduce it a little at a time,” she says. “If caffeine is present at three meals a day, I have them replace it at one meal with juice or water or a decaffeinated soda or coffee. Once they do that for a while, I ask them to try including caffeine only once a day, and then go to every other day. My goal is for our studentathletes to reach a level of use where if they don’t have caffeine for a day, they don’t feel any adverse effects.”

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their daily routines, many athletes are turning to caffeine as an ergogenic aid.

“The prevalence of caffeine as a performance aid is something I’m seeing more and more,” says Josh Hingst, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach and Sports Nutritionist at Florida State University.

ies, is probably yes—but with some big caveats. “There is a wealth of information to suggest that caffeine allows people to exercise harder and longer,” says Lawrence Spriet, an exercise physiologist, caffeine researcher, and Professor at Canada’s University of Guelph. “As athletes get tired, they are better able to

”I don‘t see student-athletes taking caffeine pills, but I do see them drinking more caffeinated beverages before games. And I've had more athletes ask, ‘If I drink coffee before my game, is it going to help me?’”

“I don’t see student-athletes taking caffeine pills, but I do see them drinking more caffeinated beverages, especially the so-called energy drinks, before games,” agrees Leah Moore Thomas, Sports Nutritionist at Georgia Tech.

“And I’ve had more athletes ask, ‘If I drink coffee before my game, is it going to help me?’”

The answer, according to recent stud-

maintain focus and level of effort with caffeine. Caffeine also reduces perceived exertion, so athletes report that they don’t feel like they are working as hard.”

In laboratory studies, caffeine’s stimulant effect also seems to boost awareness, vigilance, and alertness, particularly during long-term exercise bouts. However, although caffeine may boost performance in laboratory tests, questions

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remain when trying to apply those findings to actual competition. “When you introduce all the variables that are involved with team sports, it becomes much harder to measure whether caffeine has improved an individual athlete’s performance,” says Spriet.

If caffeine can boost performance, should softball coaches encourage student-athletes to use it? When it comes to high schoolers, absolutely not, says Spriet. “I do not recommend caffeine use with developing individuals,” he says. “In fact, if it were up to me, it would be banned for athletes under 18.”

Juliano agrees. “From a chemical standpoint, we don’t know whether caffeine affects a developing central nervous system differently from an adult central nervous system, because that research cannot be done for ethical reasons,” she says. “We know that the brain is still developing, and that caffeine affects brain neurotransmitters, but beyond that, we just don’t know.”

In addition, advocating that high school athletes use caffeine to perform

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better may put them at increased risk for trying other, and more dangerous, ergogenic aids. “Telling a 14- or 15-yearold athlete that caffeine supplementation is an okay idea sends a dangerous message,” says Lewin. “It opens them up

to the idea of a quick fix, of taking a pill to become a better athlete. Can it lead to abuse of other performance enhancers? We don’t know for sure, but it’s certainly an issue to be aware of.”

It’s also important for high school

coaches to send the right message to their athletes regarding caffeine. “We know that children and adolescents are using more caffeine than ever before,” Juliano says. “They are a huge share of the market for soda and energy drinks.

D O E S C A F F E I N E D E H Y D R AT E ?

For many years, the idea of “caffeine as a diuretic” was common wisdom. But recent research suggests that, at least in this respect, caffeine has been getting a bad rap. Lawrence Armstrong, Professor at the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory, published a study in 2002 debunking the dehydration myth.

“We took 59 healthy college males and studied them during 11 days of controlled caffeine intake,” Armstrong says. “One group took no caffeine, a second took three milligrams per kilogram of body mass, and a third took six milligrams per kilogram of body mass. We evaluated them on 20 hydration indices, and the results across all three groups were virtually identical.

“The amount of water retained by the body from a caffeinated beverage is virtually identical to the amount retained from a

non-caffeinated beverage,” Armstrong continues. “There is no evidence that caffeine dehydrates the body.”

Other studies have found similar results, prompting researchers to conclude that any increases in urine output after consuming caffeine are not a result of the caffeine, but of the water typically ingested along with it.

Sports nutritionists, however, are quick to point out that caffeinated beverages still should not be the hydration source of choice for athletes. “Dehydration is such a huge issue for student-athletes,” says Leah Moore Thomas, Sports Nutritionist at Georgia Tech, “that the message still needs to be, ‘Caffeine itself may not dehydrate you, but colas and energy drinks are not designed to properly hydrate you, and they should not be your major source of fluids.’”

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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It’s critical to educate them that caffeine is a drug, that it causes physical dependence, and that there are much better ways to achieve more on the field.”

Information & Education With older student-athletes, a message that combines information about caffeine’s risks with education about using it safely may be a more realistic approach. “Once athletes are in college, many of them are going to use it as an ergogenic aid,” Spriet says. “So someone needs to be there to say, ‘If you are going to use it, here are some guidelines so you don’t harm your body.’”

Hingst agrees. “I think the message for college athletes needs to be, ‘There are a lot more important things to consider when you’re trying to improve your performance, like nutrition, hydration, training, and rest. But if you are going to use caffeine in an attempt to

boost your performance, here is how to do it safely,’” he says.

Education on the safe use of caffeine as an ergogenic aid needs to include the following factors: Dose: Research indicates that doses of three to five milligrams per kilogram of body weight will provide a performance effect without health risks. “For a 70-kilogram (154-pound) athlete, three milligrams per kilogram is only 210 milligrams of caffeine,” Spriet says. “You can easily get that from two cups of coffee.”

Athletes who ingest too much caffeine before a game are more likely to see a performance detriment than a benefit, from caffeine-induced headaches, anxiety, stomachaches, and focusing problems. They may also approach the caffeine limits set by the NCAA, which require athletes to have less than 15 micrograms per milliliter of urine.

Source: Spriet advises against using

BY THE NUMBERS Student-athletes who ingest 100 milligrams or more of caffeine per day will develop caffeine dependence and experience withdrawal symptoms if they discontinue use. Those who ingest more than 400 milligrams per day are likely to experience anxiety, sleep disturbance, digestive problems, and other side effects. Below is a list of commonly used products along with their caffeine content.

Product

Serving Size

Typical Caffeine Content (mg)

Coffee (brewed) Coffee (Starbucks) Coffee (espresso) Coffee (decaf) Tea (brewed) Tea (bottled, iced) Soft drink (caffeinated) Jolt Cola Energy drinks (typical) Red Bull Coffee ice cream Coffee yogurt

6 oz 16 oz 1 oz 6 oz 6 oz 12 oz 12 oz 12 oz 8.4 oz 8.45 oz 8 oz 8 oz

100 400 40 4 40 20 40 71.5 80 80 50 50

Stimulants (typical) Vivarin Weight loss products/ Sports supplements (typical) Dexatrim Natural Stacker 3

1 tablet 1 tablet

100 or 200 200

2-3 tablets 80-250 1 caplet 80 1 caplet 250

The amounts were obtained from Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook, Fourth Edition, published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, with permission by authors Laura Juliano and Roland Griffiths.

To help studentathletes pinpoint their exact caffeine intake with an interactive calculator, direct them to the National Sleep Foundation’s Web site at: www.sleepfoundation.org.

energy drinks, since they typically contain many other ingredients not regulated by the FDA. He believes the safest source is simply coffee. “For an adult athlete, one to three cups of coffee before a game, depending on the athlete’s weight, is very safe and is likely to provide them with a performance benefit, without adding sugar or other ingredients,” he says.

Timing: In general, caffeine should be consumed a half-hour to an hour before the start of a game. “The blood level of caffeine is maximized one hour after it’s taken, but effects start to show up by 30 minutes,” Spriet says.

Tolerance: Athletes who use caffeine as part of their daily diet are less likely to see a performance benefit from using it prior to exercise. “To avoid building up a tolerance, an athlete needs to abstain from caffeine for a few days prior to taking it before a game,” Lewin says.

Testing: “Advise athletes to try it during practices or workouts before using it during a game,” Hingst says. “They need to have some experience using it first to see how they respond.”

Mixing It: Perhaps most importantly, advise student-athletes to be very aware of the ingredients in any other supplements they are taking. Combining caffeine and other stimulants often found in dietary supplements can put an athlete at higher risk for a sudden arrhythmic death.

Even with new research on caffeine and performance available, nutritionists still recommend downplaying its role to athletes. “When athletes ask me about boosting performance with caffeine, I ask them, ‘What have you done to improve your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and recovery meals? How is your hydration, training, and rest?’” Lewin says. “Depending on their sport, their individual response, and a host of other variables, caffeine may give them a slight boost. But it is not going to make up for not having these foundational pieces in place.” ■

A longer version of this story appeared in Training & Conditioning, a sister publication to Coaching Management.

It can be accessed by searching “caffeine” on our Web site: www.

AthleticSearch.com.

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Disney’s Softball Spring Training provides athletes programs that include on-field practice time, use of weight room, games with officials, hotel and theme park packages for all team members, and more. For additional information, visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex online, or call to speak with a member of the softball team.

Circle No. 504

Game-On is a new sports field soil conditioner that will not break any team’s budget, but it will provide excellent results. It’s a lightweight, expanded-shale product that absorbs over 20 percent of its weight in water. Game-On is more durable than clay and does not break down into fine particles. Game-On is manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, and is available in bags or in bulk.

Circle No. 507

Fair-Play Scoreboards 800-247-0265 WWW.FAIR-PLAY.COM Fair-Play makes it almost as easy to score a game as it is to watch one with its new MP-30 scoreboard controller.

The sleek hand-held controller includes a simple touchpad to control scores,

Game-On Red, the newest product by Game-On, is an infield topdressing with a brick-red color that gives your field a finishing touch for that Major League look. This topdressing gives balls a more consistent bounce, and the deep red color allows infielders to see the ball more easily. Game-On Red is available in bags or in bulk.

Circle No. 508

Softball Facilities Kodiak Sports, LLC 303-632-9334 WWW.KODIAKSPORTS.COM Kodiak Sports provides high-quality, foam-padded sports turf for use at indoor baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and multi-purpose training facilities. Its foambacked turfs are manufactured according to the highest-quality standards in the industry, providing teams with a great look and superior quality. Kodiak Sports also provides nationwide installation services for its line of synthetic turf products.

Circle No. 509 M.A.S.A., Inc. 800-264-4519 WWW.MASA.COM Coaches won’t have to worry about players risking injuries while practicing sliding and diving skills when they use the Slide-Rite. The Slide-Rite is designed

with a Cordura two-inch thick foam cushion that serves as a top-sliding sheet. It secures to the field, but releases when players slide, creating a smooth, safe slide.

The Slide-Rite’s durability allows for daily use, not just occasional use.

Circle No. 510 Pro’s Choice 800-648-1166 WWW.PROSCHOICE1.COM Pro Mound® packing clay from Pro’s Choice® is the choice of professional teams, universities, municipalities, and youth leagues worldwide.

When used on the mound and in the batter’s box area, the clay forms a solid sub-surface foundation that allows the pitcher and batter to dig in and establish firm footing without creating large wear holes. Pro

Mound installs quickly, and more importantly, it lasts. Experience safer playing conditions and reduced mound and batter’s box maintenance by choosing Pro Mound. For more information, call Pro’s Choice.

Circle No. 511 For premium performance and a color that will set your field apart, choose the Soilmaster Select Series from Pro’s Choice. It’s scientifically engineered to meet daily maintenance challenges, giving your field a professional look. Soilmaster Select is available in four distinct colors—red, green, brown, and charcoal—and its uniform granules manage moisture to alleviate compaction, keeping your field in top playing condition. Pro’s Choice delivers a full line of field products for conditioning soil and infields to help topdress infields, quickly dry puddles, and revitalize turf.

Circle No. 512

Circle No. 128 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Softball Facilities Partac/Beam Clay 800-247-BEAM WWW.BEAMCLAY.COM Partac®/Beam Clay® is a supplier to every Major League Baseball team and over 150 minor league teams, more than 700 colleges, and thousands of towns and schools from all 50 states and from countries around the world.

Partac/Beam Clay makes special mixes for infields, pitcher’s mounds, home plate areas, red warning tracks, infield conditioners, and drying agents. The company also offers over 200 other infield products, including regional infield mixes blended for every state and climate from bulk plants nationwide.

Circle No. 513 Profile Products, LLC 800-207-6457 WWW.TURFACE.COM Turface® offers a complete line of infield conditioners featuring the newlypatented Pro League®. Manufactured with smaller, uniform particles, Pro League is the only patented calcined-clay infield soil conditioner. It creates a superior sliding and fielding surface. Pro League is unmatched in drainage and absorption qualities for maximum rainout protection. It outperforms crushed aggregates by absorbing more water and conditioning the infield soil. The preferred soil conditioner of many Major League groundskeepers, Pro League is designed to increase safety, playability, and drainage for baseball and softball infields at any level.

Circle No. 514 For more than 40 years, Profile Products has been the leading manufacturer of soil modification products, including mound clay products and the Turface® line of infield and sports-turf conditioners. Patented Turface Pro League® conditions infield soils for exceptional moisture absorption, increased safety, and optimized athletic performance. Profile Products also offers Turface MVP®, which eliminates compaction, bad ball hops, and rainouts

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on skinned infields; Turface Quick Dry®, designed to absorb excess water and become part of the infield mix; Turface Gray and Red, infield conditioners manufactured in colored tones for a non-glare surface that offers greater ball visibility; and Turface Mound Clay, the clay used to build mounds on leading Major League fields.

Circle No. 515 Promats 800-678-6287 WWW.PROMATS.COM Promats®, one of the most innovative names in the wall padding industry, is proud to present its new line of photoquality digital graphics. Schools can show their team spirit with clarity like never before with photo-quality logos up to 40 feet wide.

And, with a cost significantly lower than traditional graphics, Promats can provide breathtaking logos to suit any budget. Contact Promats about its new Digital Graphics CD-ROM for more examples of its work.

Circle No. 516 Promats® utilizes SKYDEX cushioning technology for its wall padding—the same super high-impact material that Nike, Burton, and Airwalk use to create some of the best footwear products on the planet. SKYDEX materials are engineered using highly durable thermo-plastic polymers molded into spring-like shapes.

No foams, gels, pressurized air, or encapsulated air bags are used to create SKYDEX cushioning.

This is the highest level of player protection of any field wall padding on the market today.

Circle No. 517 Red Diamond by Moltan Company 800-264-5826 WWW.MOLTAN.COM For every level of baseball and softball fields, from youth to the professional leagues, Red Diamond CC Conditioner® and Drying Agent® provide a safe, professional, and playable infield-skinned surface. The Quantum

Turf Technologies’® manufacturing process transforms a unique blend of 100-percent natural clays into premier professionallysized calcined clay conditioners.

These conditioners are used throughout the sports turf industry for the daily maintenance of infieldskinned surfaces, but may also be used in any new construction or major renovation project as well.

Circle No. 518 Red Diamond RBI Conditioner® and Drying Agent® are manufactured to meet the needs of professional groundskeepers, college and high school coaches, and parks and recreation sports turf managers. The Quantum Turf Technologies’® manufacturing process creates 100percent natural earth with dark red professionally-sized conditioners. Red Diamond RBI Conditioners provide unrivaled surface coloration, promote safety, and improve the moisture management of any infield-skinned surface or mound and home plate areas.

Circle No. 519 SPI Nets, Inc. 866-243-6387 WWW.SPINETS.NET SPI Nets is a full-service net building facility. The company carries a complete line of quality practice nets for baseball and softball training, all of which are produced in the U.S. The company makes quality nylon batting cage nets, protective practice screens, impact netting, and barrier netting, all fully customizable. SPI Nets also offers fullservice installation and accessories to complement your practice nets.

Circle No. 520 Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. 800-336-2468 WWW.BALLYARDPRODUCTS.COM Hilltopper, from Stabilizer Solutions, offers a unique combination of longlasting binders and natural clay that produces a flexible, stable compound

Softball Facilities for mounds and home plate areas.

Hilltopper provides optimum cohesion right out of the bag. It does not need water—just spread and tamp, and it’s ready to go, with no mud or dust.

Installation and repairs take half the time of traditional clay products.

Circle No. 521

Your One-Srtocep!

Sports Sou

TXI/Diamond Pro 800-228-2987 WWW.DIAMONDPRO.COM Diamond Pro offers a complete line of professional groundskeeping products: infield conditioners, calcined clay, mound and home plate clay, bricks, marking dust, and infield and warning track mixes. The company offers fast and convenient delivery. Diamond Pro’s vitrified red clay infield conditioner is available in bulk nationwide, and is easy to handle and to apply. Truckloads are available in 10-, 15-, and 24-ton loads that save you both time and money. Create an all-around safe and professional infield playing surface for your team.

Circle No. 522

Other New Products TITAN

• Colored Benches & Bleachers • Field Maintenance Equipment • Chain Link Winged Backstops • Custom Netting & Batting Tunnels

And More!

Call for Your Free Catalog

800-244-4457 DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED • FAX 800-381-5882 Circle No. 129

Vantage Products Intn’l 800-244-4457 WWW.VPISPORTS.COM VPI now offers the Big Bubba Professional Portable Batting Cage.

The Big Bubba is one of the leading choices for high school, collegiate, and professional baseball programs—at considerable cost savings. The heavy-duty aluminum construction, easy portability, and collapsible design make it the perfect backstop for any level. It is 18’W x 22’D x 12’H and collapses to only five feet high. Its unique dolly assembly at the rear and 16-inch pneumatic wheels make relocation simple.

Untitled-1 1 Circle No. 523

Circle No. 130 COACHING MANAGEMENT

43

YOUR “ONE-STOP SOURCE” FOR AMERICA’S LEADING BASEBALL SURFACES & SUPPLIES!

THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE . . . SINCE 1922 A SUPPLIER TO EVERY MLB TEAM, OVER 150 MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS, OVER 700 COLLEGES, PLUS THOUSANDS OF TOWNS & SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE. SPECIAL MIXES FOR INFIELDS, PITCHER’S MOUNDS & HOME PLATE AREAS.

REGIONAL INFIELD MIXES AND RED WARNING TRACKS FOR EVERY STATE & CLIMATE FROM BULK PLANTS NATIONWIDE! PLUS INFIELD CONDITIONERS: IF TOO HARD AND POORLY DRAINING!

THE REDDER, LESS DUSTY, MORE UNIFORM INFIELD CONDITIONER & DRYING AGENT FOR CONSISTENT INFIELD CUSHION IN WET OR DRY WEATHER!

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY CIRCLE NO.

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Adams USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Ballgirl Athletic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Beacon Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 BPHL Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Challenger Industries . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Disney’s Wide World of Sports . . . . 15 eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Fair-Play Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Fergo Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Finch Windmill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Game-On Field Conditioner . . . . . . 16 Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Glove Radar/Swing Speed Radar . . 49 Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Kodiak Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Louisville Slugger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . . . 48 MGA Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Moyer Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 NeuEdge Sportswear . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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558 . .

560 . .

Adams USA (bases) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adams USA (Helmet/Faceguard) . . . . .

Aer-Flo (The Bunt Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aer-Flo (Wind Weighted tarps) . . . . . . .

Ballgirl Athletic (Cita Sleeveless) . . . . .

Ballgirl Athletic (Dazzle Racer/Short) . .

Beacon Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BPHL Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Country Stone (Infield Topdressing) . . .

Country Stone (Warning Track Mix) . . .

Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Disney’s Wide World of Sports . . . .

Dynamic Team Sports . . . . . . . . . . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fair-Play Scoreboards (BA-7109-2) . . .

Fair-Play Scoreboards (MP-30 controller) . .

Fergo Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Finch Windmill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Finch Windmill (study) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Game-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Game-On (Red) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gatorade (Endurance Formula) . . . . . . .

Gatorade (Nutrition Shake) . . . . . . . . .

Glove Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Goldner Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Grand Slam Pitching Machine . . . . .

Kodiak Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Louisville Slugger (catcher’s mitt) . . . .

Louisville Slugger (Fastpitch Catalyst) .

M.A.S.A. Products (Jugs Softball) . . .

M.A.S.A. Products (Slide-Rite) . . . . . .

Master Pitching Machine . . . . . . . .

MGA Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Moyer Sports (jackets/bags/visors) . . .

Moyer Sports (uniforms) . . . . . . . . . . .

NeuEdge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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NFCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 PalmScout (Inside Edge) . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Partac/Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 PIK Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Pro’s Choice Field Products . . . . . . 20 Promats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Quickswing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Red Diamond RBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Redfield by Country Stone . . . . . . . 24 Russell Athletic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Schutt Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Sports Chalet Team Sales . . . . . 22-23 Sports Products Consultants . . . . . 45 Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Stabilizer Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Stalker Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Stromgren Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 The Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Turface Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Vantage Products Int’l. . . . . . . . . . . 43 Zingbat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

® DIAMOND PRO IMPROVES DRAINAGE & ENHANCES COLOR!

IF TOO SOFT & DUSTY!

STABILIZER® & HILLTOPPER® FOR FIRM, YET RESILIENT, PLAYING SURFACES

TO QUICKLY DRY INFIELDS! The Original & Most Absorbent is Now NEW & IMPROVED GRANULAR

OVER 200 OTHER INFIELD PRODUCTS! Premium & Standard in 6 Colors!

Protective Safety Covers for Chain Link Fence WALL PADDING • WINDSCREEN • RAIL PADDING TAMPERS • DRAG MATS • RAKES HOLLYWOOD® BASES • FIELD MARKING MACHINES BATTING PRACTICE COVERS • RAIN COVERS PERMA-MOUND™ PADS • MOUND BRICKS SAFE “T” MATT™ BATTER’S BOX PADS TYPAR® GEOTEXTILES & TURF BLANKETS ON-DECK CIRCLES WITH TEAM LOGOS PERMANENT FOUL LINES & MUCH MORE!

FOR INSTRUCTIONS & BROCHURES

www.BEAMCLAY.com

800-247-BEAM

908-637-4191 / FAX 908-637-8421 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NJ 07838

“The best infield mix I’ve ever used.”

— GEORGE TOMA Circle No. 131

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PRODUCTS DIRECTORY PAGE NO.

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PalmScout (Inside Edge) . . . . . . . . . . .

Partac/Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PIK Products (Swift Stik) . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Systems (Power Program) . . . . .

Power Systems (Power Throw Balls) . . .

PowerLung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pro’s Choice (packing clay) . . . . . . . . .

Pro’s Choice (Soilmaster Select) . . . . . .

Profile Products (Turface MVP®) . . . . .

Profile Products (Turface Pro League®) . . .

Promats (digital graphics) . . . . . . . . . .

Promats (wall padding) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Quickswing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Red Diamond (CC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Red Diamond (RBI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Russell Athletic (Double Play) . . . . . . .

Russell Athletic (Line Drive) . . . . . . . .

Schutt Sports (bats). . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Schutt Sports (Batter’s Helmet) . . . . . .

SPI Nets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Chalet (DNA Batters Helmets) . .

Sports Chalet (uniforms) . . . . . . . . . .

Sports Products (Personal Pitcher) . . .

Sports Products (RadarWatch) . . . . . .

Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stabilizer Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stalker Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stromgren (ankle supports) . . . . . . . . .

Stromgren (compression shorts) . . . . . .

Swing Speed Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Vantage Products Int’l. . . . . . . . . . .

Zingbat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

54 51 42 47 50 49 50 41 41 42 42 42 42 46 42 42 52 52 50 51 42 46 49 53 47 46 47 42 47 51 53 46 52 43 45

Hitting & Pitching Aids Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 WWW.WINDWEIGHTED.COM The Bunt Zone™ color-coded infield target system shows batters not only exactly where to place bunts, but more importantly, where not to bunt.

The yellow zone is for bunting for a hit and the green zones are for sacbunting. Batters should never bunt in the red zone up the middle. The Bunt Zone’s tough vinyl-coated polyester mesh lasts for years, as will its visual training techniques.

Circle No. 524 Zingbat™ 866-ZINGBAT WWW.ZINGBAT.COM Zingbat™ has introduced the new “trainer” series of the Zingbat line.

This economically-priced version of the regular “pro” series Zingbat is ideal

for youth players. This new trainer allows the batter to learn basic swing mechanics. The “composite Zingbat trainer” comes in one length and weight (30 inches, 17 ounces), while the aluminum “pro” series can be customized to meet specific length and weight requirements. Call today for a free instructional CD or video.

Circle No. 525 BPHL Sports 888-865-1736 WWW.PITCHERSPLATE.COM The Ultimate Pitcher’s and Catcher’s Plate™ is a new training aid being used by top professional, collegiate, high school, and youth baseball and softball programs across the country.

The plate provides a great visual aid for pitchers by highlighting the corners, while at the same time acting as a positioning

tool for the catchers. The plate makes bullpen sessions more meaningful and productive.

Circle No. 526 Finch Windmill 866-258-2727 WWW.FINCHWINDMILL.COM Jennie Finch’s father, Doug, a pitching and hitting instructor, invented this training device when Jennie was 10 years old. It provides adjustable resistance throughout a circular range of motion. A typical workout consists of overhand and underhand motion, on the left and right sides. An independent eight-week study found an average velocity increase of 3.25 mph among those who used the product.

Softball players young and old, from youth leagues to national championship teams, have reaped the rewards.

Circle No. 527

NOW YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN PITCHING MACHINE! SAVE $130 ON THE PRO TRAINING SPECIAL! Featuring Our Exclusive “Pitch Isolation Training”™ What You Get....A Complete Training Package Without Comparison!

• Personal Pitcher Pro® w/Fast Balls, Curve Balls, Sliders, Autofeed, & a 2 Year Warranty!

• Hitmaster Grobat® Training Bat w/Variable Length & Weight (feels like your game bat, but with a Sweetspot Simulator™) • Tripod, 4 Dozen Balls, 4-Hour Battery, AC Adapter/Charger • Pro-Style Batting Gloves & FREE Webglovs (catching practice)

AND Finally, Something NO ONE ELSE HAS! Pitch Isolation Training™ Chris Richard, MLBPA, the first user of the Personal Pitcher, hit his first ML pitch for a HR in 2000. He’s been instrumental in approving these products GUARANTEED to improve your game!

Only the PRO Personal Pitcher allows you to accurately control the type and location of the pitch, so you can ISOLATE your problem pitch and ELIMINATE it!

Visit Our Website to Order: www.personalpitcher.com SPORTS PRODUCTS CONSULTANTS, INC.

or Call 800-4PITCHER (800-474-8243)

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Circle No. 132 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Hitting & Pitching Aids Swing Speed Radar 888-542-9246 WWW.SWINGSPEEDRADAR.COM The new Swing Speed Radar™ from Sports Sensors, Inc., is a small, inexpensive microwave Doppler radar velocity sensor that measures the swing speed of baseball and softball players. The Swing Speed Radar helps players to develop optimum bat speed for distance, quickness, and bat control for consistent ball contact. The Swing Speed Radar provides real-time velocity feedback that assists players, coaches, and instructors in measuring performance improvement and trouble-shooting swing mechanics. This product is also great for golfers.

Circle No. 528 Glove Radar 888-542-9246 WWW.GLOVERADAR.COM Turn any ball glove into a radar gun with Glove Radar® from Sports Sensors, Inc., now featuring improved sensitivity.

Glove Radar aids in developing players’ throwing skills.

Glove Radar “sees” through the glove and measures the speed of the ball as it approaches the glove. It easily attaches to a baseball or softball glove and is worn by the receiver of the ball, or by multiple partners in non-game situations. It utilizes Doppler radar like conventional handheld radar speed guns—but performs accurately at any throwing distance.

Circle No. 529 Grand Slam Pitching Machine 800-GRANDSLAM WWW.AGRANDSLAM.COM The Grand Slam develops hitters’ hand-eye coordination. Its self-feeding reservoir shoots golf ball-sized Wiffle® balls every six seconds, guaranteed to hit the strike zone—unlike other per-

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sonal pitching machines. Hitters standing 16-20 feet from the Grand Slam can experience pitches that appear 95 mph. (Pitch speed is adjustable.)

Great for indoor/ outdoor station work. The Grand Slam is endorsed

by University of Tennessee CoHead Coach Ralph Weekly. The package includes 48 golf ball-sized Wiffle balls and a lifetime guarantee. Get more from your practice, make your hitters better.

Circle No. 530 M.A.S.A., Inc. 800-264-4519 WWW.MASA.COM Jugs Softball is one of the most widely used softball pitching machines in the world. A pneumatic wheel’s realistic underhand release point throws fastballs from 15-60 mph along with risers and drops.

Its 360-degree swivel base with angle adjustment throws pop-ups, grounders, and fly balls. The digital speed readout allows the machine to throw the exact speed required. Jugs Softball’s portable, easy-to-handle design sets up in minutes, and uses leather, dimpled, and any variety of 11and 12-inch softballs.

Circle No. 531 Master Pitching Machine, Inc. 800-878-8228 WWW.MASTERPITCH.COM The “Iron Mike” pitching machine features a throwing arm that lets batters see a full wind-up before the ball is pitched, allowing them to better develop the fundamental skills used when facing a live pitcher. This capability makes the “Iron Mike” the preferred pitching machine of

professional and amateur players and coaches. All machines are self-feeding, include a remote control, and carry a manufacturer’s warranty.

Circle No. 532 Quickswing, Inc. 877-GO-SWING WWW.QUICKSWING.COM Give your swing the edge. The Quickswing’s innovative design promotes a short, quick, compact swing, which is essential for effectively hitting a baseball or softball. The Quickswing improves hand-eye coordination, reflexes, muscle memory, and timing. It can be used indoors or outside and can be adjusted to varying degrees of difficulty and heights. The Quickswing is used by Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins and endorsed by Hallof-Famer Paul Molitor.

Circle No. 533 Sports Attack 800-717-4251 WWW.SPORTSATTACK.COM The Hack Attack Softball Pitching Machine allows hitters to see the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, acceleration, and release.

It signals hitters when to stride and shows the angle of release, providing a “live arm” sense of timing and location.

It throws from fastballs, risers, and drops to knuckleball change-ups and right- and left- handed curves by simply changing the speed of the wheels using three dials.

Circle No. 534 Sports Products Consultants 800-474-8243 WWW.TIMIT.COM The new, patented Timit RadarWatch™ measures the speed of a pitch from any location on the field or in the stands—even on someone warming

Hitting & Pitching Aids up in the bullpen.

With a default distance up to 60 feet, it eliminates the need to position oneself behind the catcher as a person would with a radar gun. The Timit RadarWatch keeps pitch counts, displays the runner’s time to first or the catcher’s release time to second, and captures the speed of a pitch in mph, all at the same time.

Circle No. 535 The Personal Pitcher™ from Sports Products Consultants helps players at any level develop muscle memory, bat speed, and handeye coordination.

Because it mounts on any standard camera tripod and is safe to use indoors or outside, it is the perfect tool for pregame warm-ups, hitting stations, and extended batting practices. The machine holds up to 40 golf ball-sized Wiffle™ balls that are automatically pitched at six-second intervals.

Circle No. 536 Sports Tutor 800-448-8867 WWW.SPORTSMACHINES.COM The HomePlate Triple Softball programmable pitching machine from Sports Tutor simulates any pitch that batters are likely to face. It can throw a 70-mph riser, a 50-mph drop pitch, a curve, and a slider with only seven seconds between pitches. Store up to eight different pitches in each of the eight different programs. Pitches can be thrown either sequentially for specific hitting drills, or randomly to simulate game conditions. The HomePlate Triple Softball machine holds up to 40 12inch dimpled softballs in its hopper.

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Stalker Radar 888-STALKER WWW.STALKERRADAR.COM/ SPORTS_SPORT.SHTML The ultra high-performance Stalker Sport radar gun precisely measures the speed of a baseball as it leaves the pitcher’s hand, and also reads the speed as it crosses the plate. These speeds can differ by up to 12 mph. The Stalker Sport is three times more powerful than other sports radar guns and can accurately clock pitches from over 300 feet away. A new double-capacity battery handle is available, providing up to 40 hours of use between charges.

All Major League Baseball teams use the Stalker Sport.

Circle No. 538 Swift Stik 877-845-7845 WWW.SWIFTSTIK.COM Swift Stik makes your hitters better.

This lightweight training bat allows hitters to take hundreds of extra swings through underloading. Swift Stik sharpens hand-eye coordination, builds muscle memory, helps increase bat speed, teaches hitters to hit the “sweet spot”—which is adjustable—and prevents lunging and over-swinging.

Swift Stik is endorsed by University of Tennessee CoHead Coach Ralph Weekly and is used by most major universities and many professional teams nationwide. Get more and better swings from your station drills.

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Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Company News

Hilltopper Mixes Help Create Professional-Looking Fields

Hilltopper® Infield Mix is a premium water-shedding soil compound. It incorporates long-lasting polymers and coatings with natural clay, sand, and crushed stone mixes to produce a flexible yet stable all-weather surface for today’s best-performing softball infields. Even after wet weather, no mud forms. In dry conditions, the field plays consistently as though it has been watered and worked. Hilltopper is dust-free and fan-friendly, which makes stadiums look more professional and reduces the amount of loss of infield material. Since Hilltopper is an allinclusive product, there is no need to stockpile or to add field conditioners.

Its rich color looks great and provides a welcome color contrast between the ball and non-glare surfaces.

Hilltopper Mound Clay is manufactured to provide optimum cohesion without adding water for application or maintenance. It is used in high-traffic areas such as batter’s boxes, mounds, and home plate areas. Just tamp right out of the bag—no water needed.

Used by: University Of Arizona, Hillenbrand Stadium, Tucson, AZ University Of Oklahoma, Norman, OK Oklahoma State, Stillwater, OK University Of Texas El Paso, El Paso, TX University Of Kansas, Lawrence, KS New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM San Diego State University, San Diego, CA Utah State University, Logan, UT Cal State Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA University Of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. 33 SOUTH 28TH ST. PHOENIX, AZ 85034 800-336-2468 INFO@STABILIZERSOLUTIONS.COM WWW.BALLYARDPRODUCTS.COM COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Team Equipment Adams USA 800-251-6857 WWW.ADAMSUSA.COM The BH40-OS Batting Helmet and SB64 Softball Faceguard are Americanmade and NOCSAE approved products.

They’re lightweight and comfortable for all age groups. The BH40-OS uses the same polycarbonate material used to manufacture football helmets, which allows for advanced ventilation, keeping the athlete cool.

The “One-SizeFits-Most” liner provides a wider range of fit for all age levels. The SB-64 Faceguard, with improved vision design, is made specifically for softball and is available in several colors.

Circle No. 540 The Adams USA-BOLCO 175-MLB Major League Base and the 110-DBL Molded Double First Base now have a limited lifetime warranty. BOLCO Bases, a division of Adams USA, are superior in durability, quality, and

economy. They’re designed with the finest materials that make them washable and waterproof, and will retain their shape.

These bases are resilient, absorb impacts, permanently white, and long-wearing. Adams USABOLCO Bases are one of the best buys for teams’ budgets.

Circle No. 541 Finch Windmill 866-258-2727 WWW.FINCHWINDMILL.COM An independent eight-week study

by Penn State University found that the Finch Windmill training device increased pitchers’ velocity an average of 3.25 mph.

Improvements were seen as early as two weeks and as late as six weeks. Data indicates that this machine appears to be effective in recruiting muscles of the

shoulder, upper arm, forearm, abdomen, back, thigh, and lower leg. For more information about the Finch Windmill’s training techniques, see the video online.

Circle No. 542 Louisville Slugger 800-282-BATS WWW.SLUGGER.COM The TPS Bionic catcher’s mitt (model FPS204) from Louisville Slugger is a fastpitch catcher’s mitt with a doublepost open web and Velcro™ strapped closed back, and is made with patented Bionic technology. The Louisville Slugger line of Bionic catcher’s mitts has orthopedicconfigured pads located in the interior portion of the glove. Placing these pads behind the existing pad in the glove allows for an additional layer of protection to help absorb the ball’s force.

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Team Equipment The eight- and 10-ounce Fastpitch Catalyst from Louisville Slugger TPS features multiple layers of aerospace grade graphite and Sglass fibers, which are embedded in a specially designed toughened epoxy resin. Each layer is precisely positioned at an angle determined by Louisville Slugger’s exclusive computer-designed pattern, resulting in a bat with the optimum combination of performance and durability. The eight-ounce Catalyst is offered in 32”, 33”, and 34”. The 10ounce Catalyst is available in 31”, 32”, 33”, and 34”.

Circle No. 544 Sport Chalet Team Sales 800-250-4923 WWW.BASSCO.COM Sport Chalet Team Sales has teamed up with Schutt Sports, known as one of the industry leaders in softball protective equipment, to introduce DNA Batters Helmets. This line of helmets features a one-size-fits-all dual-density foam liner, as well as the state-of-theart Schutt DNA SKYDEX 3010 helmet,

which protects against glancing blows and provides optimal ventilation to keep players cool. For a custom look, add the new ProGuard™ 3000 batter’s guard and feature your team colors with Pro-Gloss™ paint. Visit online to receive your 2006 catalog, featuring a full line of softball footwear, apparel, and team equipment.

Circle No. 545 MGA Sports 480-241-3717 WWW.SPORTSMGA.COM MGA Sports offers a unique opportunity for college, high school, and club coaches to become sports equipment dealers, selling within their circle of teams, friends, and contacts. With MGA, coaches receive factor y pricing on equipment from manufacturers such as Acacia Sports,

Mighty Grip, Anderson Bats, Mikasa Sports, and Schutt Sports for resale.

MGA custom-designs each program and helps coaches start their businesses by offering marketing plans and drop-shipments to customers.

Circle No. 546 Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM Develop dynamic upper-body strength with weighted Power Throw Balls™.

These durable balls are official softball-size and come in three weights— seven-, 14-, and 21-ounces— so athletes can gradually increase their weights to meet their training challenges. Power Throw Balls are color-coded by weight and consist of a rugged vinyl shell and filling. An instruction manual and VHS or DVD are also available, as are baseball-sized balls. Contact Power Systems for more information.

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IT’S A DOPPLER RADAR DOUBLE PLAY! Developing Hitting and Throwing Skills Has Never Been So Convenient or Affordable!

GLOVE RADAR ® is the ideal aid for developing the throwing skills of infielders, outfielders, pitchers, and catchers. Use it for training, tossing, warming-up, or just having fun!

Easily attached to virtually any baseball or softball glove, GLOVE RADAR’s accurate to within 1 mph of radar guns costing considerably more.

Its low cost, compact design, and remarkable versatility make GLOVE RADAR ® the smart choice for teams and individual players.

From the inventors of the Glove Radar,®the NEW Swing Speed Radar ™ determines your optimum swing speed for your best distance, quickness and bat control/ball contact. You can determine swing and bat characteristics that achieve the best results. The Swing Speed Radar ™ features simple one-button operation and a large LCD display. Rugged, compact design makes it convenient to carry and use.

It’s not how hard you swing, but how well you swing!

SPORTS SENSORS, INC. P.O. BOX 46198 CINCINNATI, OH 45246-0198

Works great for golf, too!

For more information, call toll-free: 1-888-542-9246.

Or, visit our websites at: www.swingspeedradar.com or www.gloveradar.com

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Team Equipment Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM

PowerLung, Inc. 800-903-3087 WWW.POWERLUNG.COM

Schutt Sports 866-4 SCHUTT WWW.SHUTTSPORTS.COM

The Baseball/Softball Power Program from Power Systems is a 12-week training program designed to bolster the performance of baseball and softball athletes using the necessary equipment to develop speed, agility, and explosiveness. The program includes: the Pro Agility Ladder™; the six-pound Power Med. Ball™; the Lateral Stepper™; the VersaDisc™; a large Power Chute™; one Power Throw-Ball™ set; a nylon carry bag; the Power Program Training Manual; and a choice of VHS or DVD. Contact the company for more information on other products and programs.

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“The PowerLung program allows our athletes to compete at their highest level,” says Johnny Long, of the University of Tennessee. Why? Because under-trained breathing muscles restrict an athlete’s performance. Stronger breathing muscles mean stronger core body muscles for greater hitting power, improved pitching endurance, and faster recovery. Use PowerLung to improve your athletes’ training, competition, and recovery. Contact PowerLung now for a free copy of “The Importance of Respiratory Muscle Training for Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscles” white paper and a PowerLung Specialized Training Program.

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Schutt® introduces its most innovative fastpitch softball bats ever, designed with double wall construction and cutting edge Trebon™ 100-percent composite materials.

Schutt bats are precision-engineered using the latest FEA software to be some of the lightest, strongest, most durable, and well-balanced bats on the market today. To find out more information on the new line of Schutt bats, please visit online. Schutt Sports: The Gear That Makes the Game™.

Circle No. 550 The new Schutt® DNA™ SKYDEX™ 3010 Batter’s Helmet is one of the most innovative pieces of protective equipment introduced into the sport.

Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Premier Baseball Service Provider

• Steel Buildings • Radar Guns • Hitting Mats • Wall and Pole Padding • Pitching Machines • Synthetic Sports Turf • Team Equipment • Cage and Backstop Netting • Indoor Sports Facility Construction • Nationwide Installation

COACH...

Sell Sports Equipment From Your Home or Office...

• A program designed just for coaches • Work part or full time • MGA will help you get started

• We can drop ship to your customer • Help in your market plan • Help to set you up at tournaments in your area

“Call for a free consultation or quote” Kodiak Sports, LLC 19952 E. Harvard Ave. Aurora, CO 80013 Phone: 303-632-9334 • Fax: 303-632-9335

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www.kodiaksports.com

Call Bill Gately at 480-241-3717 Schutt • Anderson Bat • Acacia Cleats And More!

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

kodiakCM137.indd 1

For More Details Go To: www.sportsmga.com

8/23/05 10:14:04 AM

Team Equipment By using SKYDEX technology to replace all of the foam inside its helmets, the Schutt DNA SKYDEX 3010 is more comfortable, better fitting, lighter, and impact-protective. It offers one of the best total packages of protection, comfort, fit, and appearance. Visit Schutt online to get more information. Schutt Sports: The Gear That Makes the Game™.

Circle No. 551 Stromgren Supports 800-527-1988 WWW.STROMGREN.COM The Model 329 Heel-Lock Ankle Support emulates a professionally taped ankle, providing excellent support and eliminating costly taping. It’s not bulky, is easy to put on, and fits comfortably in either the left or right shoe. The Spandex™ sock applies

comfortable and even compression to the foot, and the permanently attached heellock straps help control severe ankle eversion and inversion. This ankle support is available in black or white.

For more information call toll-free, or visit us at online.

Circle No. 552 Goldner Associates, Inc. 800-251-2656 WWW.GOLDNERASSOCIATES.COM Goldner Associates has been a leading supplier of medals, pins, and patches for 40 years. The company can create custom designs in any size or shape and stock items are also available. Looking for an item with your team logo? As a top50 distributor, Goldner offers a full line of promotional products, including

team caps and T-shirts, trophies and awards, fundraising items, giveaways, and much more.

Circle No. 553 Inside Edge Scouting Services 800-858-EDGE WWW.INSIDE-EDGE.COM Inside Edge has worked with Major League coaching staffs for over 12 years. From this experience comes PalmScout, a pitch charting and reporting tool now available for softball coaches at all levels of play. Want to give your players better feedback, and know your opponents’ weaknesses and tendencies? Just ask Sue Enquist of UCLA or Jay Miller of Mississippi State how PalmScout has worked for them.

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Moyer Softball ANY COLOR COMBINATION

GUARANTEED TO NEVER PEEL OR CRACK

USA FLAG ON JERSEY NO CHARGE #’S & TEAM NAME DYED DIRECTLY INTO FABRIC

• Uniforms starting at $49.00 • Choice of Microweave Polyester Dyna-Dry or Polyester Dazzle Call for free color catalog 1-800-255-5299 ext. 6 See us on the web at www.moyersports.com Circle No. 139 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Uniforms & Apparel Ballgirl Athletic 877-268-7778 WWW.BALLGIRLATHLETIC.COM

details about this offer and to find out more about all Fergo products.

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The Cita Sleeveless, one of the most versatile jerseys by Ballgirl Athletic, is made from a lightweight, breathable, closed-hole mesh, with V-neck styling in a choice of solid or colorblocked shoulder and side panels. It offers the best in performance, fit, and comfort for the female athlete. Teams may also design it online to their unique color combination. The Cita Sleeveless is shown with the “Dazzle the Team Short”. For more information, contact Ballgirl Athletic.

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Moyer Sports USA 800-255-5299 WWW.MOYERSPORTS.COM

Ballgirl Athletic continues to be the team uniform preferred by many female athletes. The “Dazzle the Team Racer” and “Dazzle the Team Short” are designed with performance, fit, and comfort in mind. The racer back has modified V-neck styling and quarter-inch binding around the neck and armhole.

The pull-on short has mesh side panel, contrast white piping, “b” logo, and a five-inch inseam. For a full catalog, contact Ballgirl Athletic, or visit online.

Circle No. 556 Fergo Athletics 888-OK-FERGO WWW.FERGOONLINE.COM Fergo Athletics is an apparel manufacturer that passes huge savings directly to teams. It custom-designs athletic apparel for high schools, colleges, clubs, and recreational leagues in every sport. As part of it dedication to schools, Fergo will meet any quote or bid in price, quality, and style and then write your team, school, or club a 10-percent royalty check on the total order. Call the company for more

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Moyer Sports USA offers a complete line of custom uniforms in 100-percent microwave polyester Dyna-Dry or polyester Dazzle. Sublimation printing allows you to choose any color combination, and the numbers and logos are guaranteed never to peel or crack. Many colorful designs are available and your Moyer uniforms will never be discontinued.

Circle No. 558 Moyer Sports also offers a full line of stock and custom jackets, warmups, bags, and visors.

Custom tackle-twill and Swiss-embroidery services are available through the company’s stateof-the-art lettering facility.

Circle No. 559 NeuEdge Sports 800-486-2788 WWW.NEUEDGESPORTS.COM NeuEdge Sports is a domestic sportswear manufacturer, specializing in state-of-the-art custom sublimated uniforms. The company’s custom-dyed uniforms feature a wide variety of graphics and lettering, guaranteed never to crack, peel, or fade. Jerseys are available in long and short sleeve, sleeveless, tank, and fastback.

The entire process is done in the NeuEdge manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. This allows rapid turnaround time and a hands-on level of quality. Please visit the company Web site to see a complete lineup of beautiful, custom-dyed NeuEdge uniforms.

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Russell Athletic WWW.RUSSELLATHLETIC.COM Worn by top collegiate softball teams, including the University of South Carolina, the Double Play jersey and short combination makes for a stylish and functional uniform.

It is made with 100-percent double-knit nylon fabric that can withstand years of sliding and diving. The sleeveless jersey enhances ease of movement and features contrasting sleeve inserts for added style. The shorts include contrasting side inserts, belt holes, and a 6-inch inseam.

Circle No. 561 Bases loaded, down by two, the pressure’s on. No sweat. The Line Drive jersey and short combination from Russell Athletic is a high-performing softball uniform with a textured pebble-knit fabric that wicks sweat away from your body, keeping you dry, light, and comfortable when the game is on the line. Made with one of the softest fabrics available, the Line Drive also features stylish athletic trim on the neck, sleeves, and legs.

Circle No. 562 The Game, LLC 877-840-4547 WWW.2THEGAME.COM The Game introduces the new Game Visor, made especially for the fastpitch softball market. The Game Visor is available in both ladies’ and unisex fit and may be fully customized for any fastpitch team. A minimum of 18 pieces is required and no fees are charged for setting up or tape. Game Visor is the official headwear supplier of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

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Uniforms & Apparel Stromgren Supports 800-527-1988 WWW.STROMGREN.COM

Sport Chalet Team Sales 800-250-4923 WWW.BASSCO.COM

Dynamic Team Sports 800-437-6223 WWW.DYNAMICTEAMSPORTS.COM

The models 1363 and 1364 Low Rider Women’s Softball Sliding Shorts provide athletes with comfortable but maximum compression to support muscle stability and keep protective pads in place. Hip and thigh areas in both the fiveand seven-inch inseam selections are protected with anti-microbial padding, and the Hydro-Flex moisture-wicking system keeps players dry and cool. The Low Riders are designed with a Coolmax gusset panel for feminine hygiene. Models are sold exclusively through teams’ distributors throughout the U.S. For more information call toll-free or visit online.

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Sport Chalet Team Sales has expanded its game-ready uniform collection for 2006. New products from Under Armour, Nike, Russell Athletic, Intensity Athletics, and Adidas can be custom-lettered and delivered in 14 working days.

All uniforms contain performance fabrics and cutting-edge designs to outfit your school, travel, or league team in the latest advancements in athletic apparel. Visit online to receive your 2006 catalog, featuring a full line of softball footwear, apparel, and team equipment.

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Dynamic’s Elite Series is a revolutionary line of custom uniforms, sure to make your team stand out above the competition.

All the artwork, logos, and numbers are sublimated into the garments’ lightweight, breathable fabric. This eliminates the heavy, sticky silkscreens that can peel, crack, or fade over time. You pick the colors for your own unique look. Call the company for a full catalog.

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Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

The Ultimate Pitcher·s and Catcher·s Plate

TM

LOCATION = DOMINATION

• Purchased & used by 2005 Division I Softball National Champions • Purchased & used by 2005 Division I Baseball National MAKE BULLPEN Champions SESSIONS MORE • Used by 4 of the top 5 teams PRODUCTIVE!! in the Final 2005 Div. I Baseball www.pitchersplate.com National Rankings BPHL Sports, LLC • Used in 2005 Professional Spring Training 1-888-865-1736 Our team was among the Àrst collegiate programs to use the Pitcher·s Plate. Its impact was seen immediately. In my 20 years as a college coach, never have I had a better instructional tool for pitchers and catchers. The Pitcher·s Plate gives pitchers a clear idea of where (and where not) to pitch. Catchers can easily develop good habits in regards to setting-up for pitches by using this marvelous instructional tool. We use it daily, and I recommend it to everyone.

Scott Whitlock, Head Softball Coach, Kennesaw State University The Pitcher·s Plates are a must for developing pitchers. We use them everyday in our bull pen sessions. The Plates give the pitchers an exact spot to focus on and the catchers an exact area where to set up. These plates are portable, great for using in our “short box” drills and when we travel.

Jamey Shouppe, Associate Head Baseball Coach, Recruiting Coordinator & Pitching Coach, Florida State University Circle No. 140

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More Products eFundraising.com 866-825-2921 WWW.MAGFUNDRAISING.COM Earn more profits with less effort with eFundraising’s Online Magazine Fundraising Program. Get all the tools you need to run a successful fundraising campaign online, including your free personalized Web site, complete with magazine store.

Supporters from coast to coast can purchase magazine subscriptions online—they’ll save up to 85 percent off the newsstand prices on over 650 magazine titles while your group earns 40-percent profit. For more information, call eFundraising toll-free or visit it online.

Circle No. 567 The Gatorade Co. 800-88-GATOR WWW.GATORADE.COM Gatorade Nutrition Shake is a balanced nutritional supplement that’s ideal for

use as a high-energy meal replacement, or a pre-event or between-meal snack.

Gatorade Nutrition Shake contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it’s great for athletes who want to perform at their best and need to supplement their diet with a convenient, balanced, and nutritious product.

Gatorade Nutrition Shake is available in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

Circle No. 568 After years of extensive research, scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute have developed Gatorade Endurance Formula for athletes’ longer, more intense workouts and competitions.

Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with a five-electrolyte blend containing nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to more fully replace what athletes lose in sweat when fluid and electrolyte losses become substantial.

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Medals, Pins & Patches Something for everyone!

National Fastpitch Coaches Association 662-320-2155 WWW.NFCA.ORG The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professionalgrowth organization for fastpitch softball coaches at all competitive levels of play. The non-profit association was incorporated in 1982 and today has more than 4,300 members. College, high school, and travel ball coaches enjoy the many benefits of the NFCA, including 16 issues of Fastpitch Delivery, the NFCA’s newspaper, and discount member prices to the NFCA’s National Fastpitch Coaches College and NFCA National Convention.

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Web News Wind Weighted Rain Covers Featured on Aer-Flo Site

Custom & Stock Items • Custom designs created by you • Up to 7 colors on • Any size – any shape custom patches, • Up to 5 colors on medals, price patches 50%-100% includes drape ribbon, event embroidered card and poly bag • No setups or die charges • Stock medals for speedy • Minimum order 100 pieces delivery • Delivery in 3-5 weeks

Aer-Flo’s redesigned Web site includes pictures, user stories, specifications, and prices for the company’s line of unique, patents-pending sports covers, such as the selfballasted Wind Weighted® Baseball Tarps and Bunt Zone™ Infield Protectors. More sports products will be introduced in the coming months, all of which are U.S.A.-made.

www.aerflo.com Customize Your Team’s Uniforms Online at NeuEdge.com NeuEdge’s Web site now makes it easier to order stock and custom sublimation-dyed uniforms. Clickable images showcase styles, fabrics, and easy-to-read size charts. Popup windows display in-depth product profiles, ordering information, and close-up views of the uniforms. The Custom Color Selector button allows users to custom make uniform designs, showing exactly how they’ll look.

www.neuedgesports.com Web Site Addresses Topdressing Needs

800-251-2656 In TN: 615-244-3007 Fax: 615-244-5937 www.goldnerassociates.com kbond@goldnerassociates.com

231 Venture Circle Nashville, TN 37228

Turfco’s easy-to-navigate Web site offers detailed product information, specifications, and images of the company’s line of topdressers and material handlers, including the large-capacity topdresser Mete-R-Matic XL and the innovative CR-10 WideSpin broadcast topdresser and material handler. User testimonials discuss how Turfco products increase efficiency and can help achieve better results.

www.turfco.com Circle No. 142

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Coaching Education for Fastpitch Softball Coaches #LASSES AVAILABLE ON PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM DEFENSE AND STRATEGY RUN PRODUCING OFFENSE AND STRATEGY

ADVANCED ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS POSITION PLAY AND PRACTICE TEAM MANAGE MENT GAME DAY COACHING

CASES IN COACHING AND COACHING OBSERVATION AND PRACTICE Whether you¡re a seasoned coach or relatively new to the fastpitch coaching ranks, here¡s your chance to learn the sport in a whole new way. With each course, the National Fastpitch Coaches College takes one aspect of the game and thoroughly covers it in a classroom setting. Interaction with instructors and colleagues provides you the opportunity to learn the game¡s intricacies and empowers you to take your team to the next level.

How to teach, not just what to teach; Ways to connect with your athletes and get more out of them; What it takes to develop the leader within you; How to add more numbers to the win column through in-depth exploration of advanced tactics and strategies; Tips to prevent burnout and stay on a path to spirited coaching.

#HECK FOR A ,OCATION .EAR 9OU /HIO 3TATE 5NIVERSITY /CTOBER 5NIVERSITY OF !LABAMA .OVEMBER (AMLINE 5NIVERSITY .OVEMBER $E0AUL 5NIVERSITY .OVEMBER #ARIBE 2OYALE 2ESORT /RLANDO .OV $EC 4EXAS 7OMAN S 5NIVERSITY *ANUARY 4UFTS 5NIVERSITY *ANUARY 3AN $IEGO 3TATE 5NIVERSITY *ANUARY -T (OOD #OMMUNITY #OLLEGE *ANUARY /KLAHOMA #ITY /KLAHOMA *UNE *UNE

See the NFCA web site <http://www.nfca.org> for more info or call 662/320-2155 to have a brochure mailed.55 Circle No. 143

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Company Q & A

eFundraising Sets the Pace When It Comes To Fundraising The founder and President of eFundraising, Eric Boyko, graduated from McGill University with a degree in accounting, and in 1997 earned his CGA title. Always the entrepreneur, Eric strives to develop and manage his young corporation by combining the structure of a large organization with the philosophy and dynamic team spirit of a newly established company. In 2000, Eric led the venture capital financing and sale of eFundraising to ZapMe! for $27 million. He then went on to negotiate a deal to be acquired by QSP Reader’s Digest in 2001.

Why should a non-profit group choose eFundraising over other fundraising companies?

We offer a large selection of proven fundraising programs, as well as competitive profit margins on ALL our products. We also have a great team of experienced fundraising consultants and friendly customer service representatives available throughout the entire fundraising process, to help clients choose the right program, answer all their fundraising questions, and respond to their needs.

If a group decides to choose eFundraising, how do they go about starting their fundraising campaign?

Once our clients have had a chance to look through the information offered in our free Fundraising Guide, a fundraising consultant will contact them to discuss their fundraising needs and to answer any questions they have.

Clients can also call 1-866-461-1016 for more information about any of our programs. They can then place an order over the phone and start raising money for their group.

How long has eFundraising been in business?

eFundraising.com 205 W. SERVICE RD. CHAMPLAIN, NY 12919 866-461-1016 INFO@EFUNDRAISING.COM WWW.EFUNDRAISING.COM

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eFundraising was established as the Universal Fundraising Group in 1991 and has become one of the leading figures in the North American fundraising industry. My vision was to create a business whose purpose was to provide non-profit groups with a large selection of quality fundraising products at competitive prices. And that mission has been accomplished: eFundraising has already helped thousands of students, educators, athletes, communities, and other non-profit groups raise millions of dollars by providing personalized ways to achieve their specific fundraising goals.

How does QSP Reader’s Digest fit in?

In May 2001, eFundraising was acquired by QSP, a subsidiary of Reader’s Digest. This partnership has allowed eFundraising to add over 100 years of traditional know-how and expertise to our cutting-edge fundraising technology and experience.

Can you tell us a little more about QSP Reader’s Digest?

QSP is the fundraising division of Reader’s Digest. Since 1964, QSP has helped students raise over $2 billion in profits for enrichment programs and worthwhile projects that are essential to a meaningful, well-rounded education. As for Reader’s Digest, everyone recognizes that name, especially from its flagship publication, Reader’s Digest Magazine, which is sold in more than 60 countries.

What about your relationship with World’s Finest Chocolate?

QSP has a longstanding partnership with World’s Finest Chocolate, and is the fundraising industry’s exclusive distributor of WFC products. So when we joined QSP Reader’s Digest, we were able to benefit from that alliance. For over 50 years, WFC has helped schools and non-profit organizations raise over $2.5 billion in profits, which is unmatched in the fundraising industry.

Where do you see eFundraising in the future?

Right now, we are working on establishing alliances with relevant companies that can help us broaden the scope of our market. Our goal is to reach as many non-profit organizations as we can and help them reach their own goals. We are the world’s leading fundraising company and we want to make sure we stay that way.

GAMES ARE WON OFF THE FIELD.

Fields may have boundar ies.

Commitment and dedication don’t.

Athletes who know that are Russell Material. Just like the 500 NCAA® Division I teams we outfit every day.

Visit us at www.russellathletic.com.

©2005 Russell Athletic, a division of Russell Corporation.

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