Coaching Management 17.9 by Momentummedia

Coaching Management VOL. XVII NO. 9

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P O S T S E A S O N

Selling Your Program Body Weight Training

MIND GAME

Bringing mental training into focus

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CONTENTS

Coaching Management Softball Edition Postseason 2009 Vol. XVII, No. 9

LOCKER ROOM

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 NFHS moves the pitching plate … A home away from home … Solutions for the budget crisis … Raising cancer awareness … University of Florida tries Twitter … One for the record books.

COVER STORY

Mind Game

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By sharpening focus, teaching visualization, and building confidence, coaches give their players a mental edge.

RECRUITING

In Their Dreams

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Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Jeff Annis, Head Coach at Gustavus Adolphus College, talks about teaching fundamentals, building a winning program, and balancing his work as an adaptive physical education teacher.

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Strength & conditioning

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Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

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The Coaching Management softball edition is published in October and December by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada.

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Coaching Management

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Going the Distance

postponing the game, Head Coach Guy Fridley came up with an innovative solution to launch the best season in program history: head west.

In 2006, high school teams in Florida moved the pitching rubber three feet farther away from home plate. Last season, Oregon joined the experiment. Now, after debating the issue for more than 10 years, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has made it official: By 2010-11, high schoolers will pitch from 43 feet.

Through previous relationships, Fridley had contacts in the Glendive, Mont., Parks and Recreation Department, as well as in the Dawson Community College softball program, also located in Glendive. With one phone call, Dickinson State had found a new home. “They were 100-percent accepting from the get-go and happy to have us,” Fridley says. “After that first trip, they said to just call whenever we needed a field and they would get it done.”

“We think it’s going to be very good for the game,” says Mary Struckhoff, NFHS Assistant Director and Liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “More players will have the opportunity to be involved in each play—not just the pitcher and catcher. Putting more balls in play is going to enhance the skill development of the defenders and make the game more exciting.” Data from both Florida and Oregon showed slight gains in almost every offensive category with the longer pitching distance. Pitchers in Florida and Oregon averaged four fewer strikeouts per game than pitchers in other states, with a slightly higher percentage of walks and errors, and no significant difference in game time or injuries.

As it turned out, the Blue Hawks did need the field again. Just as the remnants of the first storm began to dissipate, Mother Nature dropped another 18 inches of snow on Dickinson. When all was said and done, Fridley’s squad made five trips to Glendive and played only four games on its own home field.

Data from experiments in Florida and Oregon show slight gains in almost every offensive category with the longer pitching distance. Above, pitcher Brittany Reeves takes Crater High School to its third straight Oregon 5A Softball Championship. switch in 2010. Softball programs that currently use a staked-down pitching plate will be able to alter their fields with little expense. For programs that use a cement pitching plate, the relocation process is more complex, but can still be done in a few hours for relatively little cost.

State associations have two years to implement the new rule, and Struckhoff expects most schools will make the

“It’s going to take a little while for everyone to get used to the change,” Struckhoff says. “But from what we’ve seen

For step-by-step instructions on how to relocate a cement pitching plate, go to the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org and type “softball pitching plate relocation” in the search window.

Coaching Management

in Florida and Oregon, we’re confident players will make the adjustment, and over time, this will become a non-issue.”

Snowed Out In North Dakota, spring is a time of melting snow and muddy ballfields. Like other northern programs, Dickinson State University has learned to jump-start its season with a trip to the Sun Belt. But when the Blue Hawks returned last March from the Tucson Invitational, they found 15 inches of new snow on campus and their home opener in jeopardy. Rather than simply

“I can’t give enough credit to the people of Glendive, who not only gave us the opportunity, but came out to watch our games,” Fridley says. “They wanted to see some good softball, and they did.” The weather also wreaked havoc on Dickinson State’s practice schedule. More often than not, the team was relegated to its indoor facility. While the space is big enough to fit a full infield, it’s not ideal. “You can only do so many things inside, and a lot of it gets repetitive,” Fridley says.

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OLIVIA BUCKS/THE OREGONIAN

Overall, coaches felt the experimental rule helped restore the balance of offense and defense. “In general, we’ve seen the rule give offenses a fighting chance,” says Struckhoff. “Having more balls put into play goes a long way toward leveling the playing field.”

While the team generally played in front of approximately 300 fans in Dickinson, Fridley estimates only 15 or so made the trek out to Glendive, which is about 100 miles away. But that doesn’t mean the Blue Hawks were without a homefield advantage.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD “More than anything else, I had to keep my players motivated. “It was all about being creative,” he continues. “Usually, we play two live games a year indoors, but this season we probably played two a week. It helped keep players excited about coming to practice. They didn’t expect the same thing every time they walked through the door.” Fridley believes the extra time spent indoors and on the road brought his players closer together. That team camaraderie contributed to the squad’s 42-5 record, 28-game win streak and third place finish in the NAIA National Tournament. “Traveling so much really helped our girls get to know one another outside softball,” he says. “It toughened us mentally and made it

easier when we hit the road for the national tournament.”

everything in terms of prepping the field.”

its programs, UVM officials felt they were left with no choice.

Despite the lack of home games, the extra road trips didn’t put a dent in the athletic department’s budget. Many of the usual road trips were scheduled to be home this year, which meant making the trek to Glendive replaced an eight-hour journey to Dakota State University, for example.

Next season, Fridley hopes the snow ends earlier and the team can return to playing in front of its home fans. But if necessary, he’ll gladly return to Glendive. “Our kids really handled the adversity in the best possible way,” he says. “We didn’t lose a single conference game, and we didn’t lose a game in Glendive, either. If we’re not going to lose a game, maybe we should go back there every year.”

Around the country, high schools, colleges, conferences, and associations are working hard to avoid the same fate. Last spring, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Head Coaches Committee sent a letter asking the NCAA Division I Leadership Council to explore ways to help schools cut costs instead of cutting teams.

“It balanced out, and we ended up spending the same on travel as we did the previous season,” Fridley says. “We weren’t over budget because we weren’t making trips to the eastern part of our state or to South Dakota. Our long drives were an hour and 15 minutes this year, rather than six or eight hours. Also, the people in Glendive didn’t charge us for use of the facility and took care of nearly

Hard Choices This spring, the worst-case scenario became reality for the University of Vermont. Coaches and players were told that baseball and softball would be cut at season’s end. Without the money to fund all

“It’s scary when schools don’t have any money and are forced to make these tough decisions,” says Lacy Lee Baker, Executive Director of the NFCA. “We want the NCAA to be aware that the softball community is here, and we don’t want to be overlooked. We understand cost-cutting measures need to be made, but we’re asking that they be fair.”

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Baker says NCAA officials are discussing where to make cuts, and she expects the Division I fall competition season will be eliminated at some point, though teams will continue to be allowed to practice. But not all Division I conferences are waiting for direction from the NCAA. Several, including Conference USA, the Southern Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference, will see fewer teams at their championships.

Pacific West schools into three “pods,” divided by regions. The system allows teams to play imbalanced schedules, with more games against other schools in their pod, rather than following the traditional home-and-home format. Athletic directors in the conference have also adjusted schedules for all sports in the 2009-10 school year to allow for afternoon games on “weekend getaway dates,” which will help reduce lodging costs.

maximum number of regular season softball contests from 40 to 36, while also decreasing the number of contests needed to meet sponsorship requirements from 25 to 20.

The Division II Presidents Council is sponsoring a proposal that would reduce the number of regular season games in eight sports, including softball. The proposal would keep softball’s regular season contests at the maximum of 56, but eliminate the tournament exemption, which allows teams to count multiple games played in one day as a single contest date.

Division III is following suit. A proposal currently awaiting review by the Management Council would reduce the

The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) also cut its seasons by 20 percent for all sports except

On the high school front, state associations have begun to reduce their maximum number of regular season contests. Most recently, Delaware joined New York in shaving season schedules for all sports except football.

SKY HAWK PHOTOGRAPHY

In the meantime, several conferences have taken measures into their own hands, including Division II’s Peach Belt Conference, which is allowing softball and baseball teams to schedule no more than 50 regular season contests. Conference officials maintained the decision was made not only to help member schools contain travel costs, but also to stay in accordance with Division II’s “Life in the Balance” initiative, which urges member institutions to consider how much time student-athletes devote to athletics.

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Strike Out the Right Way It started with an idea, a twohour car ride, and a napkin. Tippecanoe (Ohio) High School Head Coach Charles Tackett and his wife were traveling to visit his mother, who lost her battle with breast cancer last year, when they began brainstorming ideas to raise money and awareness for the fight against cancer. “I wrote all our ideas on a napkin in the car because I didn’t have a piece of paper,” says Tackett. “At the time, softball teams in the state were not doing anything to promote cancer awareness. I wanted to create something our sport could do to raise cancer awareness and give back.”

If approved, every game would count toward the 56 maximum. The proposal will be voted on by the membership at the 2010 NCAA Convention in January, and would become effective in the 2010-11 school year.

The Pacific West Conference is taking a different approach, approving a scheduling format aimed at reducing regular season travel costs. The scheduling system, which will go into effect in 2010-11, groups

football and cheerleading, but a lawsuit citing Title IX forced the association to unanimously rescind its decision at an emergency meeting in July. The suit, filed by the Florida Parents for Athletic Equity (FPAE), claimed that by exempting the largest male sport, the cuts disproportionately affect female athletes.

The thoughts scribbled on that napkin became STRIKE OUT CANCER and HIT IT HARD, a program run for the past two seasons by the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (OHSFSCA). Participating teams dedicate one game to promoting cancer awareness. Fundraising activities are held during the game, and the proceeds are donated to the team’s charity of choice. High school varsity teams account for most of the participants, with j.v. teams and one college team also chipping in.

To reduce expenses, NCAA Division II’s Peach Belt Conference is allowing teams to schedule no more than 50 regular season contests. Above, third baseman Laura Voyles leads conference champs North Georgia College and State University to the semi-finals of the national tournament.

Tackett sent a letter to interested coaches that included a donation sheet, order forms for shirts, a letter to players explaining the event, and a list of steps to take in plan-

Coaching Management

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD ning the event. “When you’re in-season, sometimes coaching your team consumes you,” says Tackett. “So we broke the program down into steps to make it as easy as possible for

coaches and players to integrate it into their routines.” Tackett said many coaches selected a parent to head the local operation. Many schools

As its contribution to STRIKE OUT CANCER and HIT IT HARD, Ohio’s Tippecanoe High School hosted an eight-team tournament, complete with special pink T-shirts and a logo designed by a Tippecanoe student who lost her mother to cancer.

donated to traditional cancer foundations, but some got creative. A Columbus high school gave over $5,000 to a local woman with cancer, another school raised funds for an organization that produces wigs for patients undergoing chemotherapy, and Tackett’s team donated to a local hospice. On game day, some teams held hit-a-thon events where players solicited donations based on how far they hit each ball. One school set up lawn chairs behind home plate and sold VIP seats for $20 each along with a classic ballgame meal. Another game was played with pink bases and balls, and when two teams had their fundraising game rained out three times they took to the gym and held a wiffle ball game. Each team wore STRIKE OUT CANCER and HIT IT HARD

t-shirts with a logo designed by a Tippecanoe student who lost her mother to cancer. Tippecanoe contributed by hosting an eight-team tournament and sold luminarias for their Friday night games. Tackett publicized the events by contacting newspapers, posting announcements on coaching Web sites, and contacting the American Cancer Society, which set up an information tent at the tournament. He also sent a letter and a scarlet and grey shirt to Ohio State University Head Football Coach Jim Tressel, who wrote back to say he would wear the shirt around town and spread the word about the event. “Before I retire from coaching I’d like to raise $1 million,” says Tackett, who saw 53 teams raise over $25,000 in 2008, and more than $30,000

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in 2009. “It’s going to get bigger every year and we can reach that goal, though it may require contacting more schools and getting more states and colleges involved. Not only is this program helping raise cancer awareness, it’s helping people in need who are battling cancer, and the response had been amazing.”

For more information about STRIKE OUT CANCER and HIT IT HARD, go to: www.ohsfsca.org and click on the “Strike Out Cancer” link, or e-mail Coach Tackett at: cetackett@tippcity.k12.oh.us.

All A-Twitter When University of Florida Head Coach Tim Walton and his team traveled to the NCAA Division I Women’s College World Series, he was able to instantly communicate his excitement with the team’s fan base. And when the team had a police escort home from the airport on its return to Gainesville, Walton was able to let those same fans know just how much he appreciated their support. The communication with Florida fans comes courtesy of Twitter, which calls for users to write short messages (140 characters or less) answering the question, “What are you doing?” The messages, called tweets, are posted on the sender’s

Twitter page and sent to users who have signed up to “follow” them. Tweets, which often contain links to Web pages or pictures, can be posted and read from mobile devices like cell phones or on the Web at: Twitter.com. Users can also send direct messages to specific followers or allow only approved followers to view their posts. With Twitter, Walton can provide up-todate information on his thoughts. “I use it as a tool to update our fans and alumni and make them feel they’re part of our program,” Walton says. “We want to give them an opportunity to see what a day in our softball life is like.” Walton opened his Twitter account in April, just before the team left for the College World Series. In a very short time, he had over 600 followers. With no prior twittering experience, Walton taught himself the technology on the fly. “I put up some pre- and post-game tweets on our bus ride to and from the games and during team meals,” he says. “I probably did three or four posts a day that week, which took less than 10 minutes a day.”

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Gator fans appreciated the access, and let Walton know about it. “I got tons of responses,” he says. “And it was a very diverse network that included family, friends, fans, and other coaches. I heard

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Within weeks of starting a Twitter account, University of Florida Head Coach Tim Walton gained an audience of over 600 followers. “I got tons of responses,” he says. “And it was a very diverse network that included family, friends, fans, and other coaches. I heard from a lot of people I normally wouldn’t correspond with by e-mail.”

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THe CHampiOnS find COaCH nemO a lot of people wouldn’t The from University ofI normally Tennessee

correspond with by e-mail.” Karen & Ralph Weekly – Co Head Coaches Division I College World Series In addition to accessing Walton’s tweets, Gator fans 2007 can follow the3rd, team2nd) on a page 2005, 2006, (3rd,

run by the school’s sports information department. That site provides in-game Ralph & Karen Weekly have the Lady Vols updates and linkstransformed to program happenings into a formidable Southeastern Conference thatand alsonational appear on contender.To follow Head Coach Tim Walton, the team’s Webofsite. 7 year record at Univ. Tennessee: 376-117-1 go to: Twitter.com/ Ralph wa an Olympic Gold Medal Coach in 1994-2000. ufcoachwalton. So far, the NCAA has Hissaid international record: 130 15, that using Twitter To follow the Uni in recruiting including is 13permitgold medals. versity of Florida ted as long as coachteam, go to: es do not violate Twitter.com/ rules prohibiting com“Coach Nemo is an excellent teacher and innovator. He thoroughly understands the entire hitGatorZoneSBall. ments about specific ting process and has developed outstanding hitting aides that will make you a much better hitter. recruits. But Florida Ralph & Karen transformed Ladyhitting Vols into a WeWeekly use hishave products daily the on our circuits at theisUniversity of Tennessee.” not using Twitter formidable Southeastern Conference and national contender for recruiting, and–Walton advises coaches 7 year record at University of Tennessee: 376 - 117 - 1 Coach Ralph Weekly Ralph was an Olympic Gold Medal Coach in 1994 - 2000. to consult their department’s compliance His international record: 130 - 15, including 13 Gold medals office for guidance on the dos and don’ts nemO’S SpeedofHthis iTTing prOgram iS THe reCipienT new technology. emO S ulTi iTTing ee “Coach Nemo is an excellent teacher and innovator. Of THe #1 new prOduCT Of THe year award. “You don’t want to get yourself in trouHe thoroughly understands entire hitting process Hearthe THe SwiSH Of THe ble overNemo’s a tweet,” he says. “If you have This includes Speed Training Bat, three and has developed outstanding hitting aides that will BaT Off T He innOvaTive doubts about something, don’t post it. If Tee. instructional videos and his new Triple Hitting make you a much better hitter. We use his products daily you think it could be wrong, it probably is. BruSH Tee!

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on our hitting circuits at the University of Tennessee.” This is a complete training program following a speed circuit -Coach Ralph Weekly “Forusing example, one thingdrills I wonder about bat This multiple innovative training format underloading to increase is how the NCAA will classify the direct hitting tee with unique speed and reaction time. Infunction the words of Dr. McDowell messaging of Twitter,” Walton and brush design allows you to Dr. Noebe at B&N Sports, “Your product is one of the few continues. “That’s one of the technolhit the inside, outside, and Nemo’s Multi-Hitting Tee ogy’s coolest tools, but what’s the difproducts that can truly be used for baseball and softball. It middle pitch with one simple ference between a direct message andwork!” really does adjustment, giving you instant an e-mail? Right now, I don’t know the This multiple hitting tee with muscleinnovative feedback. The hitting answer, so I don’t even mess with it.” practice possibilities areto hit the unique brush design allows you unlimited. Walton is also careful to post sparingly inside, outside, and middle pitch with one and isn’t one to tweet frivolously about Coach Weekly states: “You may tell anyone that we use them adjustment, giving youIinstant muscle his day-to-day chores. But recently, he (Multi-Hittingsimple Tee) daily and really believe in them. think made one exception. “We went out fishThe you have a great softballfeedback. mind. I really likehitting the triplepractice tee. It ing on the 4th of July and I caught a really helps the players stay on the swing path longer.” possibilities are unlimited. shark, which I thought was pretty cool,” he says. “So I tweeted about it.”

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HIllsBoro, or 1-503-848-7889 One For The Record Books Lasting over four hours, a game in Kansas between Lansing and Basehor-Linwood High Schools provided a performance for the ages. Believed to be a state record for the longest high school softball game, the contest, which ended 2-1 in favor of Lansing, featured 61 strikeouts and a host of sparkling defensive plays. Basehor-Linwood Head Coach Susan Mayberry says what made the game special was the courage and focus displayed by players from both teams. “It wasn’t

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD a game of sloppy play or terrible hitting that made it go so long,” she says. “It was two teams playing as well as they could, with both defenses making tremendous plays and two pitchers stepping up to determine the outcome. Lansing’s win was truly earned.” A pitching duel throughout, the game ended when Lansing senior pitcher Brittney Lang drove home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 23rd inning. Finishing with 40 strikeouts, Lang’s mitt-popping fastball served as a stark contrast to the off-speed offerings of Basehor-Linwood’s Sheby Pierce. Like Lang, Pierce pitched every inning for her team, and Mayberry was especially proud of the way Pierce kept pace with Lansing’s dominating starter. Mayberry, who didn’t use any

subs during the game, says the focus exhibited by Pierce and her teammates was a testament to their mental toughness and physical fitness. She says a big reason for her players’ exceptional endurance is their commitment to offseason conditioning. “Even though they were exhausted, their play wouldn’t have led you to believe that,” she says. As the game progressed, Mayberry says her team realized the importance of executing every play, and she talked to them about taking greater risks. “There became a heightened realization that we needed to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself,” she says. “So we tried to take the extra base and force outfielders to make throws.” As the game moved into extra innings, a buzz began to cir-

culate and spectators started showing up at the field, eventually tripling the crowd’s size. “It’s a small town, so when word got out that there was an incredible game going on, people began wandering by the field,” says Mayberry. “It was funny to see a regular season game turn into such an event.” After the game, spectators realized they had been a part of something special. “We had parents of our players go over and shake hands with parents from Lansing,” Mayberry says. “And some of the Lansing parents came over and hugged our kids. It really was great to see.” The days immediately following the game were a struggle for the Basehor-Linwood players. Noticing their exhaustion, Mayberry held abbreviated practices and kept her ace, Pierce,

from throwing for a few days. “It took us seven to 10 days to recover from that game both physically and mentally because it was so intense,” Mayberry says. “Even though we won the next few games, we looked flat. It wasn’t until our senior night that we really got back on track.” Although her players were disappointed to lose, those emotions were tempered by a sense of satisfaction in knowing they had performed their best. “It was an incredible thing to be part of, and looking back, the way we played the game trumped the disappointment,” Mayberry says. “Sure, we would have been ecstatic to win. But our kids were proud of the way they played and proud to be part of a game that will be re-told and re-lived for years to come.”

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Q&A

Jeff Annis

Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College began its softball program in 1980. But until Head Coach Jeff Annis arrived in 2006, the Gusties had never won 30 games in a season. Then, in Annis’s first year, they won 31 games, followed by 32 wins in 2007, 30 in 2008, and a school record 42 in 2009, when the team finished third in the NCAA Division III Tournament. After entering the NCAA Midwest Regional as the seventh seed, Gustavus outscored its opponents 41-14 as it sprinted to a 4-0 record and earned the program’s first trip to the Division III Softball Championship. Once there, the Gusties knocked off the University of

CM: Why did you step down as Head Coach at Maple River High School? Annis: After 22 years, it was time. My daughter was about to come up through the program, and I wanted to let her do her own thing. I thought I’d eventually return to coaching at the high school level, or that I could help someone’s college program after I retired, just doing some of the little things a head coach doesn’t have time to do.

Texas-Tyler in their first game before dropping a tight contest to Messiah College, the eventual national champions. But Annis’s squad battled back, winning two of its next three games to claim third place. Prior to joining the college ranks, Annis spent 22 seasons as Head Coach at Maple River (Minn.) High School, where he led the team to three state titles and continues to work as Activities Director and an adaptive physical education teacher. He also served as President of the Minnesota Softball Coaches Association (MSCA) from 1991 to 1993, and has been named MSCA Coach of the Year three times. In this interview, Annis discusses turning around the Gustavus Adolphus program, balancing his many duties, and critical issues facing softball.

in the evening, so there aren’t too many conflicts.

fundamental skills than we would if we had been able to get outside right away.

Is it challenging to coach a warm weather sport in Minnesota? It actually helps because I’m a fundamentals coach. Going back to my high school days, the years we had long winters were also the years we played our best ball, because we spent more time practicing

What is your coaching style? Offensively, I like to be aggressive on the bases. We have to be able to bunt and move the ball. Before they step into the batter’s box, I want players to assume they’re getting to first base. They should be thinking about how they’re going to

How did you end up at Gustavus Adolphus? The summer after I stepped down at Maple River, the athletic director at Gustavus asked if I’d be interested in the position. I had been pretty successful in high school, and the assistant coach at Gustavus, Mark Wiest, put a bug in the athletic director’s ear to call me. So I talked to them to see what the job entailed. Then we compared schedules, and I talked to my principal and the administration at Maple River. We thought it could work out, and it really has. How do you balance your responsibilities at the high school and college? It’s a matter of being organized and managing my time well. With technology today, much of my organizational work can be done online or through e-mail. The spring season, in late April and early May, is when things really get busy. Because of the weather, we’re constantly canceling games, calling officials, and reworking the schedule. My high school job runs until the end of the school day, and my practices at Gustavus usually start

Coaching Management

Shortstop Rachael Click led the 2009 Gusties in batting average (.456), RBIs (53), home runs (16), hits (62), total bases (127), and on-base percentage (.541).

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get to second. It’s the same mentality when they’re on first base. Second is a given— the question is how they’ll get to third. I want to push the envelope on the opposing defense. It’s very simple. I convince my

“If a ball is hit to us, I expect us to make the play. If I ask you to bunt, I expect you to get the bunt down, and if I send you home, I expect you to give 100 percent. We want to play the game the right way, play it hard, and have fun.” players all they have to do on the bases is run. But the defense has to field the ball, throw it accurately, catch it, and place the tag on the runner. It’s pretty clear which job is more difficult. Defensively, we talk about giving the opposing team three outs per inning. If we do that, we’re going to be fine. If we have errors, throw the ball around, and give the

other team a free out, we won’t. Did you change your style when you transitioned from high school to college? I haven’t changed a whole lot. I tried to take the same style of play and practice with me. We had a lot of success at Maple River, so there was no need to change. The biggest difference is that I now have multiple players at each position who are more than capable. The challenge here is trying to keep everybody sharp. How have you changed your game management skills to give everyone playing time? You pick your spots. Kids are going to be happy if they can have a little individual success while we succeed as a team. I talk to the kids and let them know where they stand and what I’m looking for. I try to find places for them to be successful—maybe in a pinch-hitting or pinch-running situation. There are always ways to get kids into games and give them playing time. Every time we go out on the field, we play a

doubleheader. Two years ago, I had five outfielders who were capable of starting. The centerfielder always played both games, and the other four alternated. They were also available for pinch-hitting roles, or to come in if someone got hurt or was having a tough day. What is your recruiting philosophy? I recruit athletes and don’t worry too much about positions other than pitcher and catcher. I’ve always told kids, “If you can hit, you’ll play. Once you get to the college level, you’ll have plenty of time to develop your skills defensively.” A few years ago, I had five players in my starting lineup who were catchers in high school. One played catcher and the others were at first base, third base, left field, and right field. Is that something you discuss with players when you’re recruiting them? Definitely. It makes them feel good about themselves, because I tell them they’re being recruited for their athletic skills. I also tell them the story of our former shortstop, Rachael Click. She played third base in high school. When she came here, we didn’t

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Q&A have a shortstop, so Rachael took over and became an All-American. I tell recruits they might be great playing second base in high school, but they might be All-Americans in the outfield in college. What was the key to the team’s deep postseason run in 2009? All the stars lined up. We really didn’t change much of what we had been doing. When everyone’s working together, which we all were, anything can happen. When we went to regionals, the coach of the team we played in the first round called us the best seventh-seeded team in the country. We really just walked through regionals by playing solid defense and having great pitching performances. It reassures you that softball is truly a game of fundamentals. What advice did you give your team as you prepared for the championship? I told them over and over again that we worry about Gustavus, not the other teams. We weren’t supposed to win any games at regionals and we walked through them. Now, we’re playing Texas-Tyler, and they’re the highest-ranked team left in the tourna-

ment. But we don’t play for them, we play for Gustavus. If a ball is hit to us, I expect us to make the play. If I ask you to bunt, I expect you to get the bunt down, and if I send you home, I expect you to give 100 percent. We want to play the game the right way, play it hard, and have fun. What goes into your work as an adaptive physical education teacher at Maple River? I work with 10 to 12 kids per week who have mental or physical challenges, or even discipline problems. It’s very rewarding. Every day, it amazes me what these kids can do. When they do things they haven’t done before—something as simple as catching a ball—they think it’s the greatest thing ever. I take those stories back to my softball players all the time. I tell them, “Sometimes you guys complain about this or that, but look at these kids.” That allows my players to appreciate what they have. What are the biggest issues facing softball?

We’re not in the Olympics, which is clearly not a good thing. Softball certainly deserves to be in the Olympics. There’s been a different silver medalist in the last four World Cups, so parity is coming around. The U.S. isn’t dominating as much as we used to, because other countries are rising to our level. Another thing that concerns me over the long haul is that kids are starting to play at such a young age and traveling all over the country. I’m worried about burnout. They travel everywhere, playing 50 or 60 games in a given summer. Whether it’s still going to be fun for them when they get to college is up in the air. What does the future hold for Gustavus softball? I hope we’ve arrived on the national scene. This past year was an unbelievable experience for our kids, and it truly was something they’ll always remember. We just want to keep building. The kids got a taste of the College World Series. Now our challenge is to continue getting there. It doesn’t have to be a once in a lifetime event—other teams go there year after year.

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As the lone senior on the 2009 Fresno State Bulldogs, Haley Perkins demonstrated mental toughness to lead the team both on and off the field, batting .330, fielding .964, and winning her fourth Academic All-Western Athletic Conference honor. Photo by Scott H. Chandler.

COVER STORY

argie Wright has had many memorable seasons in her years as Head Coach Fresno State University, including one that culminated with a national championship in 1998. But when recalling the team that best displayed mental toughness, she talks about last year’s squad. “We had a young team that faced nine All-American pitchers in our first 15 games,” says Wright. “It was tough for our players to feel confident when they went up to bat. We regularly talked about our team goals to keep perspective, and the last third of our season, it really paid off. We realized we could hit any pitcher we faced.” Wright refused to allow the team to make excuses, and the Bulldogs rallied from a near .500 record to capture the Western Athletic Conference championship and make their 28th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. “If I had said, ‘It’s okay to fail because you’re facing an All-American pitcher,’ we never would have finished where we did,” Wright says. “They would not have developed the confidence needed to overcome adversity.” When all else is even, the team that is mentally stronger wins. From maintaining focus to using visualization to having confidence, players need to practice mental skills with the same dedication they devote to honing their physical skills.

“Performance fluctuates on a pitch-bypitch basis,” says Aaron Weintraub, a performance consultant and mental skills coach. “The reason is not because the athlete’s physical skills change from one pitch to the next. The fluctuations come from mental attributes.” Clearly Confident The first step in building mental toughness is committing to help your players become confident enough to play every game at the highest level. And confidence begins by training players to choose the experiences to keep at the front of their minds. “A lot of athletes believe confidence comes from their past experiences,” says Weintraub, who has consulted for the University of Houston and the University of Texas-Arlington. “Your experiences don’t give you confidence—the way you think about them does.” At Tufts University, Head Coach Cheryl Milligan uses verbal cues to help players gain confidence. “Our players come up with a catch phrase that helps them feel invincible at stressful times,” she says. “One of our catch phrases last year was, ‘I will not be intimidated, I am the intimidator.’ We want them going to the plate thinking they’re the best hitter in town, even if they’re batting 0-for-14.” Kyle Garratt is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: kg@MomentumMedia.com.

GAME

BY KYLE GARRATT

By sharpening focus, teaching visualization, and building confidence, coaches give players a mental edge.

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Coaching Management

COVER STORY

In addition to positive self-talk, Milligan keeps statistics to provide every player with a way to draw from her positive past. “Our pitchers fill out forms to track their pitches in practice,” she says. “How many were strikes? How many hit the glove exactly where they were supposed to? We keep those so we can go back and say, ‘Look at all the good work you’ve done this year.’” Athletes can also use reminders of their greater attributes. “My players create a confidence resume listing the strong parts of their game,” says Jen Croneberger, Assistant Coach at Ursinus College, former Head Coach at Unionville High School in Philadelphia, and Mental Game Coach for the National Pro Fastpitch League’s Philadelphia Force. “Many players surprise themselves with how many things they’re good at, and I have them read their lists before each game.” Croneberger also builds confidence with pre-game pep talks. “I print out five words for each game that represent what we need to focus on,” she says. “After batting practice, we meet in the locker

room and I give everyone the five words. One phrase was, ‘We are always stronger together.’ It gets all of us on the same page mentally.” Drawing confidence from successful experiences can be helpful, but bumps in the road are inevitable. You must teach your players how to build confidence from their mistakes as well. “Confidence has a lot to do with how athletes perceive others’ feelings about them,” says Croneberger. “Athletes are so concerned about what others think, but 90 percent of people don’t think a teammate who made an error is stupid. They think, ‘What can I do to rally my teammate?’ So I assure the girls people aren’t beating them up over a mistake.” Coaches can help players move past their errors, but Wright takes a tough minded, less-is-more approach to help her players grow. “Confidence is gained through maturity,” she says. “Young people today are coddled a lot more than I was. If their child fails, parents are ready to hug them and say, ‘It’s not your fault.’ “But how does anyone develop con-

fidence when they never face the reality they made a mistake and need to figure out how to get beyond it on their own?” Wright continues. “If you are not coddled, you have to face up to them yourself.” Finding Focus Focus during a game is a delicate balance of being locked in, without thinking too much. “I ask athletes, ‘Have you ever been in the zone? If so, what were you thinking about?’” says Weintraub. “Most players say, ‘I wasn’t thinking about anything.’ That’s the right answer. “If athletes perform their best when they’re not thinking about anything, does that mean they’re digging into the box and saying, ‘Don’t think?’” he continues. “No. The best way to avoid over-thinking is to focus on one thing, and that one thing for a softball player is the ball.” By focusing solely on the ball, players eliminate the distractions of competition. “Play the ball, not the player,” says Milligan. “An opponent might be an AllAmerican, but if she hits a ground ball, it’s just a ground ball.”

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COVER STORY

In refining their focus, athletes also need to learn what not to concentrate on. “I talk about controlling the controllables all the time,” says Croneberger. “I

ligan. “When our players lose focus or become frustrated, we tell them to take their glove off for a moment. But when they put their glove back on, it’s time to

it’s coming in,” says Bob Gillespie, Head Coach at Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J. “They say the pitch type and location—‘slider, low’ for instance. It has helped our girls go from feeling they can’t hit a pitch to thinking the pitcher can’t get them out.” By voicing their thoughts, athletes force themselves to stay focused in the moment. “We have a drill in which batters talk the entire time they are up,” says Clint Myers, Head Coach at Arizona State University. “From the moment they step in the box, they have to think out loud, even if it’s simply to say, ‘Breathe, relax.’ As they practice, it becomes second nature and they get in the habit of thinking about the right things.”

“Confidence has a lot to do with how athletes perceive others’ feelings about them. Athletes are so concerned about what others think, but 90 percent of people don’t think a teammate who made an error is stupid. They think, ‘What can I do to rally my teammate?’ So I assure the girls people aren’t beating them up over a mistake.” equate it to being in a boat. If you take all the things outside your boat and put them in your boat, you’re going to sink. You have to keep the stuff that’s outside your boat outside, and only focus on what you can control.” Sometimes the issue is knowing when to focus. “A player can’t be focused for the entire two hours of a game,” says Mil-

play. That’s their cue that they’re back and 100-percent focused.” Concentration is a skill just like batting or fielding, and skills need to be practiced. The best way to fine-tune players’ ability to focus is to work it in with other tasks. “We do a drill almost every practice where the batter calls out the pitch as

Reasonably Relaxed Enabling players to handle game pressure is one of the biggest keys to finding the optimal mental state where they are most likely to succeed. Keeping prac-

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COVER STORY

tices competitive helps players feel more relaxed come game time. “That’s why we practice every possible play that could happen in a game,” says Wright. “People tense up when they face something they’re not used to. Pressure is part of competition, and we constantly tell players, ‘This is what you’ve been waiting for—to be the one who moves the runner into scoring position.’ “It doesn’t just come down to that moment though,” she continues. “Everything leading up to that moment determines the outcome. If players understand how well prepared they are, it’s a lot easier for them to relax.” Relentless drills aren’t the only way to help players relax. Teammate support and routinely checking the team’s pulse can make an impact. “Before we hit the field, we spend half an hour talking about where we are mentally,” says Croneberger. “There have been times when players have said, ‘I’m really struggling at the plate and my confidence is gone.’ It’s amazing to see their teammates light up and say, ‘Me too.’ It

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Coaching Management

reminds them they’re not alone, and it’s calming to know they can figure it out together.” Preparation is key, but even the most diligent athletes are not immune to nerves. That’s why it’s important to have tools to combat competition stress. “The easiest way for players to gather themselves is to think about something positive, regain their confidence, and transfer it to the next pitch,” says Weintraub. “I encourage them to focus on an object or place that is always available at their home park and on the road. If it helps, they can write something on their shoe. But it’s essential to first recognize that something is wrong and they need to gather themselves.” Simply hearing a coach’s voice can have a positive affect, too. “One of my athletes wanted to listen to my voice before a game because it was calming,” says Croneberger. “We wrote out the script of how she wanted the game to go and I read it, recorded it, and she put it on her iPod. She listened to it before each game.” Whether you use an external trigger or

not, a large part of relaxing is sparking the proper thought process. “When the tying run is at third base, what do you want your hitter thinking about?” asks Myers. “Most people think about getting the hit, but we just want our players to think about having the best at-bat they can. Understand that if they think only about getting a hit, they try harder and not necessarily smarter. Being smarter means focusing on the process of quality.” Visualize Victory Most players dream of getting the big hit or striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh. So why not take those fantasies and use them to improve performance? Visualization requires much more discipline than the average day dream, but when done right, it can be very beneficial. “Imagery is the one skill elite athletes consistently tell me they used more as they got older and wish they had used earlier in their career,” says Weintraub. “The mind doesn’t differentiate between a vividly imagined experience and a real

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COVER STORY

experience, so it is possible to convince your body it has done something it actually hasn’t.” Teams Weintraub has worked with have found success using a pregame ritual similar to one used by soccer legend Pele. “Before each game he would go through the same images in his mind,” says Weintraub. “First, he saw himself as a child playing soccer on the beach. He wanted to recapture that youthful enthusiasm. Second, he would imagine a highlight reel of his greatest plays to feel confidence. Third, he would envision himself and his team executing that night’s game plan in that night’s stadium.” Croneberger also uses visualization as part of her team’s pregame routine, with as many details as possible. “I have them make up a whole script of how they want the game to go,” she says. “Before my high school athletes got off the bus they closed their eyes and I would say, ‘Feel the grass under your cleats, what it smells like, what the sun feels like on your neck.’ I took them through every piece of being there because that’s how you become

present.” Game day isn’t the only time to emphasize the details. “If players are hitting off a tee in practice, 90 percent of their work needs to be mental,” Myers says. “We want them to think about their breathing, state of arousal, and emotional anxiety. See who you are hitting off, track the pitch right to the tee, and visualize your game swing in practice.” Visualization is more helpful for some than others, but a commitment to imagery can help everyone succeed in a game that preys on mistakes. “I do a lot of drills without a ball,” says Wright. “I give players a situation and hit an imaginary ball. They can dive, field the ball, they can do whatever they want as long as they see themselves being successful.” Freedom From Failure It is often said that softball is a game of failure. But, while getting past mistakes is essential, Wright doesn’t care for the traditional odds. “You have a 50-percent chance to succeed or fail at anything in life,” Wright

says. “You take your first at-bat, which has a 50 percent chance of success, and you view that as an opportunity to succeed.” Myers sends a similar message to his players and reminds them that when the ball leaves their bat or hand, it is out of their control. “The fear of failure is greater than the actual failure,” he says. “You can throw the perfect pitch or take the perfect swing, but that doesn’t guarantee you the perfect outcome. The more you perform the process right, the greater chance you have of being successful.” A central theme for Croneberger is that players are present and self-aware. At the beginning of the season, she has each new player fill out a seven-page self assessment to help them better know themselves and understand how they react to adversity. Never is that message more important than after a mistake. “One of my tag lines is, ‘Be here now,’” Croneberger says. “In recovering from mistakes it is easy for us to harp on what we shouldn’t have done. Instead of staying in the past, realize the most important part of this game is always the next pitch.”

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Milligan and Wright make handling missteps a team effort. “Good or bad, we expect that you don’t carry your at-bat into the field,” says Milligan. “We’ve all worked hard, especially the kids on the bench who aren’t given a chance to get the records, and we owe it to them to respect every ball

another teammate and have them discuss their reactions and how they could have handled a situation better. “I am not going to say a mistake is okay because it really isn’t,” she continues. “If you put a kid in your lineup and prepare her completely, she has to take responsi-

ness from the start, Croneberger was able to capitalize on every opportunity for improvement with her 2005 Unionville team, which had won one game in the two seasons before her arrival. “They didn’t know how to win games,” she says. “They didn’t believe they could. I took them through the different stages of knowing and consciousness, from ‘I think’ to ‘I might’ to ‘I believe’ to ‘I know’ to ‘I will.’ “I remember a game when we were up by one run and we allowed the other team to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs,” Croneberger continues. “Not for a second did I believe we were going to lose that game, and I knew the players felt the same way. By observing their composure and how they communicated with each other, I knew they believed 100-percent they could get out of that situation. They did, and in that moment I realized that we might not have been the better team, but mentally, we were stronger.” n

“I have them make up a whole script of how they want the game to go. Before my high school athletes got off the bus they closed their eyes and I would say, ‘Feel the grass under your cleats, what it smells like, what the sun feels like on your neck.’ I took them through every piece of being there because that’s how you become present.” that’s pitched. It’s powerful when one of our leaders says, ‘This isn’t just about you or what you did that last at-bat.’” “I may stop practice and ask a player how she could have handled that failure better,” adds Wright. “If she doesn’t have an answer, her teammates can volunteer a suggestion. Or I pair her up with

bility for her actions. I tell her, ‘The play is over. This is what you need to do next time, and you’re going to get this chance again.’” Until the last out of the season, there’s another pitch to throw, another at-bat, and another chance to fine-tune the mental game. By focusing on mental tough-

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RECRUITING

IN THEIR DREAMS

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By learning the skill of selling your program. BY Dan Tudor

chris gash

ne of the most challenging aspects of being a coach today is that you have to be good at so many different things. You need to be upto-date on the latest training techniques, able to communicate well, organized, in tune with kids, and full of new ideas. If you’re a college coach, you also need to be a first-rate salesperson. A salesperson? Yes. To effectively recruit the student-athletes you want in your program, you must learn the art of selling.

Your first thought is probably, “No way! Sales is the last profession I’d enter.” But I’m not talking about becoming the pushy car salesman who sold you your Ford Focus. I’m talking about understanding how to sell a Cadillac to even a reluctant buyer. You may not like to think of recruiting as selling, but it is. You are trying to convince a young person to choose your school over others. You are promoting yourself as a great coach and parent figure. If you don’t use effective sales techniques, you are entering the recruiting game without a gameplan.

Buyer’s Market Business author and sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer has a saying: “People hate to be sold, but they love to buy.” That’s a great thing to remember when you’re recruiting student-athletes. Ask yourself this question: What is it I’m selling, and is that what they really want to “buy” from me? A common answer to the first question is “a scholarship” or “my college” or “our program’s successful history.” While those are all adequate answers (and answers most of your competition would give), they aren’t the best answers.

Dan Tudor is the founder of Selling for Coaches, a program designed to help coaches improve their recruiting, marketing, and communication skills. He conducts personalized on-campus workshops for colleges across the country and can be reached at: www.SellingForCoaches.com.

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RECRUITING

It’s a little like asking a car salesperson what they’re selling. If they answer, “I’m selling a car,” I would guess they’re a mediocre salesperson. On the other hand, successful salespeople will answer the same question by saying, “With gas prices going through the roof, I’m selling my customers on great-looking cars that get fantastic gas mileage, which saves them lots of money.” As a college coach, you’re selling the dream of competing at the college level. Or the dream of having college paid for and getting a great start to a successful life. Or the dream of being wanted and appreciated for all of the hard work and sacrifices endured to get to this point in their athletic career. A key to signing recruits is finding out what your prospect’s dream is. If you can discover what they want to buy, you can offer it for sale. When it comes to approaching indi-

vidual prospects, I find that today’s college coaches tend to have one standard approach, which doesn’t vary much from athlete to athlete. But every recruit— just like every customer in the business world—is different. They have different needs and motivations. In sales, these are called “hot buttons”—the things that get a customer’s attention and cause them to buy. Coaches who don’t take personalized approaches with athletes, and don’t take the time to understand why an athlete would choose their school, are probably going to be unsuccessful when it comes to consistent recruiting success. Don’t get me wrong—you’ll still sign recruits. Probably even enough to fill your roster and be competitive year in and year out. However, you will never really understand why one athlete responds to your message and another doesn’t. And odds are, the one who doesn’t respond will be the one you really, really want.

Getting To Know Them For coaches to make the most of their time with a prospect (whether it’s an hour with an entire family or 10 minutes over the phone), they usually talk. A lot. They talk about their college. Their team. Themselves. They spew facts, figures, statistics, winning percentages, and more. Going back to the car example, an average car salesperson would make the most of their time by quoting engine size, horsepower, stereo features, and on and on and on. If I’ve jogged a memory or two of a past agonizing car buying experience, good. Remember how you felt? If you’re like me, you probably just wished the guy would stop talking long enough for you to look at the car. Let’s compare that to professional, successful car salespeople. They ask questions right off the bat. They spend time getting to know their customers— what their needs are, what their wants

BEST QUESTIONS When trying to connect with a prospect, the more they tell you about themselves, the closer you get to really knowing how to recruit them. How do you get them talking? The key is asking open-ended questions that will provide more than a yes or no response. Here are some suggestions: What prompted you to consider our program? How they answer allows you to find out what they’re thinking and why they’re thinking it. You can then use that information to further the recruiting process. It’s a great question to begin to understand their dreams, and can easily lead to lots of good follow-up questions. Listen to their answers carefully, and find ways to point out why their interest is justified.

What are your expectations of our program? You’re looking for a “to-do” list here. From this question, prospects may tell you exactly how to recruit them, and exactly what would cause them to choose you as their college coach.

What thought process will you go through to determine your college choice?

What challenges does the recruiting process create for you and your family? This is what I call a wildcard question. It might yield very little information, or you might get a wealth of insight into the family dynamics associated with the stressful recruiting process. It’s also a question that will frame you, the questioner, as someone who is concerned about the entire family.

What are the best parts of the recruiting process?

Their answer to this might be an important key in uncovering your prospect’s “hot buttons.” Once they tell you the best things about the process, make sure your recruiting efforts touch on those positive aspects.

You may have to press your prospect on this one, since they probably haven’t verbalized it to anyone before. You’re trying to see who else is involved in the decision, how serious they are about assessing different options, and specific things they will be looking for in a program.

What other items should we discuss?

What are your thoughts right now in terms of where you want to continue your athletic career?

Make sure they give you specifics. Ask follow-up questions to their first answer. You can simply say, “And then what?” over and over again until you get to the real source of their decision—a school’s major, the coach, their parents’ input, their coach’s input, or even what kind of uniforms you have. The bottom line is that you’ll know what their decision rests on.

This one takes a little guts, but can yield a gold mine of information. It’s important to note that you aren’t asking them for a commitment. You’re just asking for their “thoughts” at that moment. That’s a big difference, and should give your prospect enough wiggle room to feel comfortable answering honestly.

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Let your prospects bring up anything that is on their mind. This is a great question to prompt them to talk about any concerns so that you can address them as soon as possible.

How will you make your final decision?

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RECRUITING

are, and how the car is going to be used day to day. They listen to the answers and then mold their sales approach to the specific customer. Coaches who struggle at recruiting are often too busy rattling off facts and figures. Instead, they should be doing more listening than talking. When I work one-on-one with coaches to help them develop winning recruiting strategies, I recommend they try to talk only 20 percent of the time when they are engaging a prospect over the phone or during a visit. (See “Best Questions” on page 22 for examples of how to get prospects talking.) Of course, the questions shouldn’t only be for the prospect. Coaches need to make multiple pitches when recruiting a prospect. Not only do you have to connect with the athlete, you have to connect with the athlete’s parents. Furthermore, you’re probably going to need to sell to the athlete’s high school coach, too. Along with asking questions, you can get to know your prospect by looking for clues around them. The first thing good salespeople do when they walk into a new

client’s office is take a mental inventory of the surroundings. They notice any pictures on the wall, whether the desk is messy or organized, and if a hobby is evident. Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as noticing a picture and asking them about it. Or taking note of the trophy that sits most prominently in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Use it as a way to ask them about the tournament they won it in. What was the competition like and what spurred the athlete to play well? You also have to find out what the prospect’s hesitations might be. Every athlete has some objection to what you’re offering, from “I don’t think you play a competitive enough schedule” to “Other coaches said I’d play sooner if I signed with them” to “Your school is too far away.” If you don’t ask recruits what their reservations are, you won’t know—and you’ll be clueless about why they don’t sign with you. If you do ask, you can address their concerns. Even if you can’t change the fact that your school is far away from their hometown, you can talk about how your

team is a family away from home and how your current athletes stay in touch with their families. Think back to a prospect you lost to a competitor last year. Do you know why they didn’t sign with you? I do. You left an objection unanswered. Addressing nine out of 10 concerns isn’t good enough. Every objection has to be answered, and you need your prospect’s assurance that it has been answered well. Asking questions and noticing their surroundings not only helps you build a personal sales approach, it tells the prospect you care about them. And the two need to constantly be intertwined. In Your Court Even though you want to tailor your approach to each individual prospect and let them do most of the talking, that doesn’t mean you give up control of the recruiting/selling process. In fact, the opposite is true. It’s important that as the coach, you guide the prospect through an orderly, planned, systematic process. That begins

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RECRUITING

with getting to know each other, then talking about why your college and program is best suited to their needs and goals. You can also use what’s called “trial close” techniques throughout the sales process. That means asking questions like, “When you sign with us, do you have any requests for a specific dorm or roommate?” Controlling the process means gently directing the conversation toward the outcome you desire. A key to the whole formula, of course, is then “asking for the sale.” However, many coaches neglect to do this very simple thing. In my opinion, once you find an athlete who you know you want for your team, it’s never too early to ask if they are ready to commit to your program. If you’ve built trust, gained an understanding of the athlete’s needs, and successfully addressed any objections, the next logical step is to ask for the sale. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll get a positive response. One tactic that usually backfires, however, is using threats to get their commitment. When you tell a prospect, “We’ll

need you to give us a yes or no by Wednesday or else the scholarship is off the table,” you’ve come on too strong for today’s athlete. It’s also poor form to use threats—or any negative response—if the prospect’s answer is, “No thanks.” Recently, an article detailed the story of a very well-known sports program that black-balled a local high school coach when a prized recruit chose an out-of-state school instead of the local university. All this did was build a bad name with people the college coach should be counting on for “sales leads.” Instead, what if the coach sent a letter of congratulations to that athlete and their family (and high school coach), wishing them best of luck in the future and thanking them for the chance to speak with them? That leaves the kind of impression that will help a coach have future sales success. Plus, if the athlete ever thinks of transferring to a different school, the coach who congratulated them will be the one they remember. Act like the professional you are, and lose with grace. Good salespeople do it all

the time. It will pay off for you later on, and more than that, it’s the right thing to do. Be Natural By now, I hope I’ve convinced you to embrace the strategies of the best salespeople in your recruiting plan. But you may wonder: Can these ideas mesh with who I am and what I’m about? Definitely. Coaches need a firm understanding of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to recruiting, and must approach their prospects in a manner that seems genuine. Being “real” with a prospect is the key to connecting, and the best way to do that is to be aware of your own unique sales personality and how it is viewed by the prospects you are recruiting. This approach is not about changing your style or your personality. It’s about having a process for recruiting that leads to the best results. It’s about finding your own natural sales approach and letting it flourish. n A version of this article has appeared in other editions of Coaching Management.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

POWER PLAY No weightroom? No weights? No problem! Have players harness the power of their own body weight to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.

RICHARD ORR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

BY tim koba

oday’s high school athletes work their bodies extremely hard. Some play one sport year-round, often competing in many games over short periods of time. Others juggle the demands of multiple sports, with little rest and recovery between seasons. Athletes who ask so much from their bodies need a functional training program to prevent injuries and improve performance. Many of these athletes

display poor movement patterns, which can cause muscle imbalances that over time will lead to chronic pain, making it difficult to train and compete. In my work with high school athletes, it is clear that most are not getting the training they need to counteract these effects. Fortunately, strength training doesn’t have to mean piles of weights and rows of machines. Athletes already carry around everything they need to complete an effective strength training program—their own body weight. Using

a system of basic exercises that harnesses body weight for resistance, athletes can correct poor movements and improve coordination, which will ward off injuries and lead to gains in strength and power. Why Body Weight? Many coaches ask me, “Can’t athletes build adequate strength just through the work they do in sport practices?” The answer is no. When athletes move their bodies only in ways demanded by their sport, they don’t develop other impor-

Tim Koba is an Athletic Trainer and Strength Coach in the Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance Department at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y. He works with high school athletes on injury management and prevention as well as performance enhancement. He can be reached at: tkoba@cayugamed.org.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

tant muscles and movement patterns. This hinders their ability to make performance gains and can lead to injury. I am amazed at how few high school athletes can do a correct pushup, let alone hold a plank for more than 10 seconds. This shows a lack of upper-body and core strength that could lead to back, hip, and knee pain. In compensating for the weaker core muscles, other muscles have to work harder to generate force and stabilize the body. Athletes who have poor strength and power are also going to display limited performance on the field.

BODY WEIGHT WORK When designing a body weight program, it is important to include a variety of exercises aimed at improving different types of activity and areas of the body. At right is a list of areas that should be covered in a typical program, along with descriptions of exercises that work the specific areas.

Another concern is muscle imbalances, which occur when muscles on one side of a joint are stronger than those on the other side. Forces placed on that joint become uneven, compromising the strength of the full musculature. Take the case of female athletes, who are more susceptible to non-contact ACL tears than males. We know that their hamstrings and hips are typically not as strong as their quadriceps and that this imbalance sets them up for injury. By using squats, bridges, airplanes, Russian hamstrings, and side planks to train the hamstrings and hips, we can strengthen

Sample Body weight Program

Dynamic warm-up x 15 yds Choose from monster walks, knee grabs, walking quad stretches, heel walks, toe walks, inch worms, alligators, forward lunges with rotation, side lunges, and drop step lunges.

Strength and power x 20 seconds on, 10 off Choose from squats, pushups (knees are allowed if athletes are not strong enough to do regular

ones yet), pushup box walks, squat thrusts, vertical jumps, scissor jumps, skaters, one-leg squats, mountain climbers, airplanes, and one-leg hops.

Speed and agility warm up x 15 yds Choose from high knees, butt kicks, power skips, shuffles, carioca, bounds, one-leg bounds, board jumps, one-leg broad jumps

Speed and agility x 20-40 yds Box runs: forward, side, backward, side x 3

Sprints x 3 Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle turn and sprint x 2/each way

Shuttle runs x 2 Core x 30 sec. This may include 90-90 crunches, v-up crunches, side planks, planks, bridges, and Russian hamstrings (2 x 12)

Exercise descriptions

Airplanes

Monster walk

Stand on one leg with arms out to your side, with your back perfectly straight and a slight bend in your knee. Pivot on your hip and move upper and lower body together until you make a T and then return to start.

Also known as soldiers or Frankensteins, the back is straight, arms in front, kick right leg up to left hand with knee straight, then kick left leg up to right hand.

Mountain climbers

Get into a pushup position and move side to side while maintaining good form with back flat.

Get into pushup position and drive your right knee to your left shoulder while maintaining good posture. Return your leg to the start and change legs.

Inch worms

Pushup box walks

With knees straight, bend over and put hands on the ground and walk into a pushup position. While keeping knees straight walk, feet back to hands, and repeat

Get into pushup position and take two arm walks forward, two to the right, two back, and two left.

Alligators

these weak links. Current research shows that female athletes who follow a specific training plan are at much lower risk for sustaining an ACL injury. Other studies demonstrate that ankle injuries are reduced by following a similar training program. We also know that a lot of injuries are caused by poor biomechanics, which go hand in hand with muscle imbalances. By observing and correcting improper mechanics in the controlled environment of body weight training, athletes learn proper form, which translates into improved performance. For example,

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Russian hamstrings Get on your knees with a partner holding your legs down, with your hands at your sides, slowly lean

your body forward and when there is a stretch on your hamstrings, pull yourself back up. To increase difficulty, go all the way down and push yourself back up.

Scissor jumps Lunge forward then jump straight up in the air and change feet, landing in a lunge position with your opposite foot forward.

Skaters Jump laterally to your right leg, absorb the landing and quickly jump to your left and land on your left leg.

Squat thrusts Start standing up and then quickly drop your hands to the ground, kick your legs behind into a pushup position, then return to start.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

training with jumps will not only improve lower leg power, it will ensure athletes learn to land in the proper way. What many athletes like best about body weight training, though, is its ability to improve coordination. By continually practicing and perfecting a drill, we groove that motion and improve our ability to perform it. By having athletes train vertical jumps, squats, lunges, and pushups, we create a high carryover effect to the diamond. Project2 Improved control, movement efficiency, and strength enable athletes to reach their peak performance and maintain it throughout the season. In the case of maturing athletes, improving coordination is also a great way to help them adapt to the changes in height, weight, and body structure. Program Design When designing a body weight program, the first step is to identify goals for the season and what aspects of performance you want to improve. You can then build your program around those desires. For example, if your goal is increased power and explosiveness, then you should spend a larger amount of time on plyometrics and recovery. If you are more concerned with strength and strength endurance, spend more time on circuit training. If the goal is speed or agility, choose locomotive exercises like lunges, broad jumps, and single-leg work. Regardless of your specific goals, if you work with younger athletes, it is a good idea to keep the exercises simple and the number of drills low so that they can become proficient at performing them. Every session should start with a dynamic warm up, then move into the strength and power exercises and continue with conditioning drills and core work as needed. Athletes should perform the routine three to four times a week during the off season and preseason, just like any other strength program. (See “Body Weight Work” on page 26.) Decrease volume during the sport season, but keep intensity high to produce the desired effect. Athletes may perform the strength routine two times a week, doing only one set per exercise and concentrating on form and explosiveness with every repetition. The in-season goal is for athletes to maintain strength and power while limiting fatigue.

Whether in-season or out, it works well to stagger workouts to improve different areas on each training day. One day may be a speed day for training acceleration and maximum speed, where running drills take priority. Another day may be a power day, where athletes do a lot of jumping and stationary exercises. The first few training days should focus on technique, not the number of sets and reps. It’s critical that athletes be able to show proper form when per1/28/08 3:39 PM Page 1 forming squats, lunges, pushups, jumps,

and landings before progressing to more complex exercises. Once athletes demonstrate proficiency with simple exercises, start to increase the intensity and difficulty of the routine. For example, in addition to vertical jumps, have athletes perform one-leg vertical jumps or one-leg broad jumps. They can also perform one-leg squats, one-leg lateral jumps, and staggered pushups. Performing exercises on one leg or with one arm requires more core strength, balance, and stability and will

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aid in injury prevention as well as making each limb independently strong. To improve explosiveness, have athletes do a combination of vertical jumps, broad jumps, and ankle hops. Ask them to perform each exercise with maximal effort, and as they improve, decrease the time between repetitions and sets. This is an effective means of training one-time power, like an explosive jump to snare a line drive as well as sustained power to beat a throw home in extra innings. You also need to think of how to progress the program over time to make sure athletes avoid hitting plateaus. There are multiple variables that can be manipulated to keep the training dynamic, such as increasing the number of exercises, increasing sets and repetitions, decreasing recovery time, and increasing the difficulty of exercises. If you have athletes performing circuits of five different exercises like the squat, pushup, lunge, plank, and calf raises, add or swap out one exercise per round, such as a crunch, or jump, or even a one-leg balance. This way, athletes never get too

used to a routine because the exercises are constantly changing. Large Numbers If you have lots of athletes participating in the training, or there is a wide range of strength capabilities, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to design a program to fit varying needs. This ensures everyone gets the most out of the workouts and no one is being pushed beyond their capabilities. One easy method is to structure workouts by time. Instead of having athletes perform a set number of repetitions, have them perform the exercise for a set time period. Stronger athletes will be able to perform more repetitions, making sure they are properly overloading their system, while athletes who are not as strong can do fewer repetitions, yet still work just as hard. The key is that everyone is exerting the same effort, but at different tempos. Weaker athletes start slow and controlled and work toward improving their recovery time between sets. Stronger athletes work on performing the exer-

cises quickly, and building additional strength and endurance. Another way to train large numbers of athletes is to break them into groups and develop contests. By having athletes go head to head, you will ensure that they are working at their maximum ability. You can hold individual drills to see who can do the most pushups in 30 seconds, or who has the highest or farthest jump. Relays also work well, either straight ahead or over an obstacle course. This way, athletes work on both speed and agility and their teammates will push them to do their best. Utilizing a body weight training approach for performance enhancement is a very effective way to improve strength, power and recovery. Teaching younger or inexperienced athletes proper technique can increase movement efficiency, decrease injury risk, and prepare them for more difficult strength training programs. Whether you are working with individuals or teams, body weight training is a great tool to add to your program. n

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Two Levels of Light Susquehanna University is an NCAA Division III school and a member of the Landmark Conference. It is located in picturesque Selingsgrove, Pa. Susquehanna’s

Lopardo Stadium/Stagg Field features lighting by Universal Sports Lighting. Two levels of light provide 50 footcandles during football games and 20 footcandles for intramurals and track use. Universal Sports Lighting • 217-648-5201 • www.uslnet.com Circle No. 517

Prevent Sliding Injuries Soft Touch “progressive release” bases are designed to flex and absorb energy as a player slides into the base. In the case of uncontrolled slides, the “progressive release” action allows the base to flex until enough force is applied to “pop” the base free from its mount, unlike a stationary base. Soft Touch Bases • 866-544-2077 www.softtouchbases.com Circle No. 518

Give Them More Display even more game-specific information with a 10-inning scoreboard from Fair-Play that is 26 feet long. Designed for the serious softball fan, the top row of this model includes at-bat, ball, strike, out, and hit/error indicators. This model is designed with LED digits and indicators for long life and economical power consumption. Ask about Fair-Play’s new line of wireless controls. Round out the package with field identification and display advertising. Fair-Play: It All Adds Up. Fair-Play Scoreboards • 800-247-0265 • www.fair-play.com Circle No. 519

For Masterful Mounds Pro Mound® Red is the latest addition to the Pro’s Choice roster. This premium mound clay boasts a deep red color and offers many of the same benefits for mounds and batter’s boxes as Pro Mound packing clay. It bonds to form a solid subsurface that allows players to dig in and establish footing without leaving holes, and it will hold up season after season. Pro’s Choice 800-648-1166 • www.proschoice1.com Circle No. 520

Avoid Glare and Spill The baseball field at the LaPlata County (Colo.) Fairgrounds features a Universal Sports Lighting system that maintains 50 footcandles of light in the infield and 30 footcandles in the outfield. Following IES design criteria, this field has a system that can provide consistent levels of light throughout its lifespan. The lighting system is environmentally sensitive—it includes internal controls that provide outstanding spill and glare control. Universal Sports Lighting • 217-648-5201 www.uslnet.com Circle No. 521

Circle No. 127

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Coaching Management

CoachesNetwork.com 12/30/08 11:38:50 AM

Reach the Next Level

HIT TING & PITCHING A IDS

Watch the Arm

More than Speed

To help hitters and slap hitters develop and hone their mechanics and timing, Fastball Sports has added an important new feature to the pitching machine: a simulated live-arm throwing motion. Like other machines, the Motion Pitching Machine delivers a variety of pitches, but it also does more. With every throw, the hitter sees a fastpitch motion, realistically timed with the speed of the pitch. It allows hitters to train with a pitching machine yet benefit from the all-important timing trigger of a live-arm throwing motion. Fastball Sports • 281-398-4329 www.fastball-sports.com Circle No. 525

Easier to use than a radar gun, the RevFire measures the spin of pitches as well as the speed. Adopted by college teams and clinics across the country, coaches report dramatic results—pitchers throw a more effective breaking ball when they receive spin rate feedback. The RevFire is quickly becoming standard equipment among high school programs, private instructors, and serious pitchers. Visit RevFire online to learn more. RevFire Corp. 866-414-3040 • www.revfire.com Circle No. 528

For Any Hitting Philosophy The Louisville Slugger Instructo-Swing was developed to help hitters improve swing mechanics and technique. Included with the IS-5000 is a new drills DVD designed to showcase the power of perfecting the swing with the help of the Good Habit Bars and Angle Adjustment feature. Hitters can learn any hitting philosophy and use the Instructo-Swing to develop a swing that produces line drives, ground balls, and fly balls that carry. GameMaster Athletic • 859-746-9800 www.sluggerupm.com Circle No. 526

Your Complete SoFtBAll SupplY HeAdquArterS

Go “Skill-Specific” Muhl Tech Baseball & Softball offers equipment to make your practice time more productive. Since 2001, the company has been developing a line of “skillspecific” training equipment that gives hitters instant feedback with every swing. The products are designed to withstand heavy use during high school and college team practices. Muhl Tech also offers its own line of batting cages and screens, sold direct to save you money. Muhl Tech • 888-766-8772 www.muhltech.com Circle No. 527

We specialize in secure online sales of sporting goods and sports equipment for individuals, teams, and schools. Netting Baseballs Bags Bats

Gloves Field Equipment Mounds Softballs

Bases & Plates Batting Cages Pitching Machines Training Aids / Books / Videos

Quick service and quality products are our trademark. In business since 1993, we have 10,000 customers and would be honored to add Y-O-U. Most orders shipped within 24 hours by UPS. Come join our team and play BetterSoftball!

800-997-4233

www.BetterSoftball.com A Division of BetterBaseball.com

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Coaching Management

HIT TING & PITCHING A IDS

Reach the Next Level

Recognized for Excellence Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program was the recipient of the 2000 B&N Softball Number One New Product of the Year award. This program includes Nemo’s Speed Training Bat, three instructional videos, and now his new Triple Hitting Tee. Coach Nemo released his fourth instructional video, “Increase Your Bat Speed with Combo Drills,” in January 2008. This is a complete training program following a speed-circuit training format that uses underloading drills to increase bat speed and reaction time. Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program • 503-848-7889 www.speedbat.com Circle No. 529

It Throws Them All With the Hack Attack softball pitching machine, simply adjust the wheel speed dials to throw fastballs above 80 mph, risers, drops, right- and left-handed curves, screwballs up and in to right- and left-handed hitters, and knuckleball changeups. This machine has a unique three-wheel design that provides complete ball vision, lifelike timing, and pinpoint accuracy for college and serious high school athletes. Sports Attack 800-717-4251 • www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 530

curves, screwballs, and knuckleball changeups. The exclusive three-wheel vision allows the hitter to see the ball clearly, just like with a live pitcher. At 75 pounds, it easily fits into a compact car, even a Mini Cooper. Sports Attack 800-717-4251 • www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 533

Instant Feedback Why is the Advanced Skills Tee from Muhl Tech used by more than 2,000 high school and college programs? You get instant feedback with every swing. Its unique forward arm and outside barrier help develop a nice swing path and keep the hands inside the ball. The tough polyurethane construction will give you years of worry-free use. Try one this season, and if you don’t like it, Muhl Tech will buy it back. Muhl Tech 888-766-8772 • www.muhltech.com Circle No. 534

Push-Button Convenience

The HomePlate Softball programmable pitching machine 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. Programmed pitches can be thrown sequentially for specific hitting drills, or randomly to simulate game conditions. Choose the auto-feed model, which holds up to 40 12-inch dimpled softballs, or the hand-feed model, starting at $4,995. Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 • www.sportsmachines.com Circle No. 531

Batting practice just got easier. With the TriplePlay you simply push a button to choose the type of pitch you want. It can automatically throw risers, sinkers, curves, drop curves, screwballs, and drop screwballs. The pitch speed is adjustable from 35 to 70 mph in five-mph increments, and it is digitally displayed. The softball is visible from the time it leaves the feeder’s hand until it is pitched, allowing hitters to more naturally time the pitches. TriplePlay also uses a threewheel pitching mechanism for greater accuracy. Two large transport wheels make it simple to move to and from the field. A baseball model is also available. Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com Circle No. 535

Upgrade What You Have

It Keeps Tossing

Program Your Pitches

Would you like to add a live-arm throwing motion to your current Jugs pitching machine? Fastball Sports also offers the J-Mo Jugs fastpitch motion attachment. It mounts on a standard Jugs machine in just a few minutes and, using a variable speed control drive, seamlessly delivers a realistic windmill motion with every pitch. The J-Mo converts an ordinary Jugs pitching machine into a full-blown fastpitch motion machine. Fastball Sports • 281-398-4329 www.fastball-sports.com Circle No. 532

This One Goes Anywhere

The Wheeler Dealer automatic toss machine allows hitters to train their swing and hand-eye coordination whenever and wherever they want. The toss height can be set anywhere from one to six feet, and frequency can range from one to six seconds. This battery-powered unit holds up to 20 baseballs or 16 softballs and requires virtually no setup time. It’s constructed of rugged steel and highimpact ABS plastic for durability, and is protected by a five-year warranty (two years on the battery). Athlonic Sports • 800-545-8004 • www.athlonic.com Circle No. 536

The Junior Hack Attack softball pitching machine from Sports Attack is designed to develop serious young players. With a quick turn of the dials, this machine can throw fastballs above 60 mph, risers, drops, right- and left-handed

Coaching Management

CoachesNetwork.com

Case study

How a Proven Winner Gets the Most from Practice Time Penny Siqueiros, former coach and player at Florida State University, was appointed the first Emory University Head Softball Coach in the summer of 1998. In 11 seasons at Emory, Siqueiros has amassed a career record of 345-117 with three Softball World Series appearances, three NCAA regional championships, eight NCAA tournament berths, and three conference titles. Entering the 2010 season, she ranks 10th among all active NCAA Division III coaches for best career winning percentage (.747). Siqueiros has directed the Eagles to eight seasons of 30 or more wins. She and her assistants were named University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009. They were honored as the NCAA Division III Regional Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2002, 2006, and 2007, and they have been honored four times as their conference’s Coaching Staff of the Year. How has the game of fastpitch softball changed in recent years? The game of fastpitch has improved annually—pitchers are better coached, better trained, and significantly stronger. Collegiate hitters these days rarely see non-breaking pitches, which makes demand for a quality hitting approach an important element of the game. How have you kept up with the changes? Offensively, the Hack Attack pitching machine has made a big difference in our hitters’ approach. It has challenged them—its velocity has shortened their backswings, which has resulted in a quickened swing and improved mechanics. Additionally, the accuracy of this evolutionary pitching equipment has eliminated any fear of being struck by an errant pitch. Maintaining a high level of success consistently over the course of 11 years has required creating a practice environment that duplicates what’s expected during postseason competition. I discovered that using the Hack Attack in inter-squad games was indispensable. It places our hitters in situations that are like what they’ll see in the postseason—in other words facing pitches that exhibit power, movement, and accuracy. Additionally, the Hack Attack is a very portable piece of equipment. It takes little time and limited physical exertion to move it from all areas of the complex, making the Hack Attack a very user-friendly tool for running an efficient and organized practice. A seven-inning simulated game can be played in less time due to the accuracy and portability of this equipment, so more can be achieved in a shorter amount of time. These concentrated scrimmages enable us to incorporate the element of game-like play into practice more frequently.

CoachesNetwork.com

The Hack Attack has become a key ingredient in improving softball performance at Emory. It can aid other programs that want to keep up with the growth of the game. There are more competitive collegiate teams than ever, with improved pitching and increased defensive capabilities. The three-wheel Hack Attack is not only keeping up with the game, but it is actually becoming an important factor in its growth. In my case, it has helped my team stay ahead of the pace. How does the Hack Attack differ from other pitching machines you have used? From a day-to-day practical view, the machine has been amazing. It is very easy to operate. The three-wheel design allows me to change pitches simply and effortlessly. Other machines have required awkward adjustments of cantilevered, unbalanced throwing heads. The Hack Attack is rugged and heavy enough to absorb the recoil of overpowering speeds, yet it rolls easily on and off the field or any place required on the field. I or any of my players can move it as required. The rolling wheels and balanced design combine to make it the most portable and functional pitching machine available.

Sports Attack P.O. Box 1529 Verdi, NV 89439 800-717-4251 Fax: 775-345-2883 info@sportsattack.com www.sportsattack.com

Coaching Management

Director ies

Advertisers Directory

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132. .Adams USA/Trace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 124. .Athlonic Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 121. .Bannerman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 127. .Beam Clay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 128. .BetterSoftball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 119. .California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . 23 133. .CoachesNetwork.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 113. .Cocoa Expo Sports Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 105. .Diamond Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 130. .Extra Innings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 102. .Fair-Play Scoreboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 110. .Fastball Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 122. .Game-On Field Conditioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 114. .GameTime Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 108. .HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 129. .Hot Glove . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 112. .Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 123. .Louisville Slugger UPM (GameMaster). . . . . . . . 28 120. .M.A.S.A. Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 116. .Muhl Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 126. .MyTEAMBOOK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 106. .Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program. . . . . . . . . . . . 8 101. .Pro Look Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 117. .Pro’s Choice Field Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 107. .Qualite Sports Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 125. .RevFire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 115. .Ringor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 111. .Screen2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 109. .Soft Touch Bases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 118. .SPI Nets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 131. .Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 103. .Sports Tutor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 100. .Universal Sports Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

Products Directory

Circle Company No.

Page No.

Circle Company No.

Page No.

540. .Adams USA (Trace catcher’s gear) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

527. .Muhl Tech (training equipment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

500. .Adams USA (Trace Women’s Chest Protectors). . . . . . . 29

529. .Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program. . . . . . . . . . . 34

536. .Athlonic Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

552. .Power Systems (Airope) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

505. .Bannerman (Diamond Master). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

547. .Power Systems (Jumbo Reflex Ball). . . . . . . . . . . . 38

516. .Bannerman (groomers) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

550. .Pro Look Sports (reversible jerseys) . . . . . . . . . . . 38

511. .Beam Clay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

543. .Pro Look Sports (Softball) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

541. .BetterSoftball (9 Hole Pitchers Pocket). . . . . . . . . . 37

520. .Pro’s Choice (Pro Mound® Red) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

545. .BetterSoftball (Bullet L Jr. Screen) . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

512. .Pro’s Choice (Soilmaster). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

556. .California University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . 39

513. .Qualite Sports Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

557. .Cocoa Expo Sports Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

528. .RevFire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

515. .Diamond Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

544. .Ringor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

519. .Fair-Play (10-inning scoreboard). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

558. .Schedule Star. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

508. .Fair-Play (MiScore). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

546. .Screen2Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

532. .Fastball (J-Mo Jugs fastpitch motion attachment) . . . . . . 34

548. .ShopExtraInnings.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

525. .Fastball (simulated live-arm throwing motion). . . . . . . . 33

518. .Soft Touch Bases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

507. .Game-On (DiGeronimo). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

514. .SPI Nets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

526. .GameMaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

530. .Sports Attack (Hack Attack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

509. .GameTime Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

533. .Sports Attack (Junior Hack Attack) . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

555. .HighSchoolSports.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

531. .Sports Tutor (HomePlate). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

542. .Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

535. .Sports Tutor (TriplePlay). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

502. .Jaypro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

549. .Unique Sports Products (Hot Glove). . . . . . . . . . 38

503. .M.A.S.A. (Atec Arm Pitching Machine) . . . . . . . . . . . 29

521. .Universal Sports Lighting (LaPlata County) . . . . . 32

510. .M.A.S.A. (Osborne screens and nets). . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

517. .Universal Sports Lighting (Susquehanna U.) . . . . . 32

551. .M.A.S.A. (Rip-It) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

501. .Woodhaven Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

534. .Muhl Tech (Advanced Skills Tee). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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Outfit Your Program

TE AM EQUIPMENT

Advanced Protection Trace, known for excellence in the softball industry, now offers catcher’s gear. The leg guard has Bolistic Mesh on the wings, extra ankle protection, hard shell knee and shin protection, and adjustable back straps, and it is extremely lightweight. This leg guard, made exclusively for females, also has an added feature—a removable CoolMax lining pad that’s machine washable. Trace is a division of Adams USA. Adams USA • 800-251-6857 • www.adamsusa.com Circle No. 540

More Than a Screen BetterSoftball’s 9 Hole Pitchers Pocket practice screen is ideal for evaluating a pitcher’s accuracy. The nine pockets provide a range of targets that help pitchers improve and evaluate their accuracy around the strike zone. It’s like having a catcher that tells you exactly where each pitch was thrown. BetterSoftball.com • 800-997-4233 • www.bettersoftball.com Circle No. 541

Essential Knowledge A full-color offering, the Sports Injuries Guidebook is an authoritative, quick reference guide to over 130 injuries, including ligament sprains, muscle strains and tears, fractures, and internal injuries. Rely on the guidance of 25 leading sports physicians and therapists, with easy-to-find entries that include descriptions of common causes, injury identification cues, explanations of symptoms, full-color anatomical illustrations, treatment options, and a plan for returning to action quickly and safely. Human Kinetics 800-747-4457 • www.humankinetics.com Circle No. 542

Just What You Want Pro Look Softball is where tradition meets innovation. Combine the latest in materials technology with the unique ability to create any style uniform for one low price, and you get an unmatched uniform ordering experience. Pro Look uniforms are so good that they are backed with a four-year manufacturing warranty. Call today for your free custom design mock-up. Pro Look Sports • 800-PRO-LOOK • www.prolooksports.com Circle No. 543

Heat Treatment Breaks in new gloves in minutes! Guaranteed! Softens, conditions, waterproofs and forms a superior glove pocket. Works on leather and vinyl gloves. Hot Glove Treatment will have you catching balls with your new glove today! Millions have successfully treated their new gloves over the last decade. Simply Amazing !

“It works!” Bobby Cox

Professional baseball manager for over 25 years

Special Recognition Ringor’s Diamond Gem and Diamond Star women’s fastpitch softball cleats and spikes were recently awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance. This marks the first time softball footwear has received that honor. The APMA’s Seal of Acceptance is awarded when footwear demonstrates “quality and effectiveness in allowing for normal foot function and promoting good foot health.” Ringor footwear is available for purchase online or through Ringor team sales. Ringor • 877-274-6467 • www.ringor.com Circle No. 544

Sturdy and Versatile The Bullet L Jr. Screen is made from high-quality 1 5/8inch tubular steel. It features #42-grade nylon netting and can meet the needs of both softball and baseball programs. BetterSoftball.com • 800-997-4233 • www.bettersoftball.com Circle No. 545

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HOT GLOVE Inc. 840 McFarland Parkway Alpharetta, GA. 30004 USA 770-442-1977 Check out our other exciting baseball accessories at:

www.HOTGLOVE.COM Circle No. 129

Coaching Management

Outfit Your Program

TE AM EQUIPMENT Have Screen, Will Travel

Get a Grip

A major obstacle facing coaches, presenters, and team trainers is finding a blank wall for PowerPoint presentations, slide shows, video sessions, and other functions. You don’t want to rent a hotel screen at an outrageous price, or lug a heavy screen around when you travel. The answer is Screen2Go. It collapses to just 18 inches for travel and weighs only six pounds. It opens to 75 inches for presentations. There is even a Screen2Go briefcase available for your Screen2Go, laptop, and small LCD projector. Screen2Go • 630-237-4278 • www.screen2go.com Circle No. 546

Hot Glove Tourna Grip II is a very sticky, tacky, absorbent bat handle overgrip that actually gets better when you sweat. There’s no longer any need for gloves or messy pine tar. It’s thin enough to wrap over your original synthetic bat grip. Unique Sports Products 800-554-3707 • www.hotglove.com Circle No. 549

Quick Reaction Required Want to improve reaction time and hand-eye coordination? The Jumbo Reflex Ball from Power Systems forces athletes to make split-second decisions with its erratic bounce patterns. When thrown against any hard surface, the dense rubber ball bounces softly yet unpredictably to challenge athletes’ reaction time while helping to improve their overall coordination and depth perception. This bright orange ball’s four-inch size makes it easy to handle. Power Systems • 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 547

Coupon Code Saves You More ShopExtraInnings.com is your one-stop shop for all things baseball and softball on the Web. The site features an outstanding selection of baseball and softball equipment, apparel, and accessories from the top brands at the lowest prices available. Coaching Management readers can save 10 percent off their first purchase by using the coupon code “coach.” Log on to this new Web gem and get the gear you need today. ShopExtraInnings.com • 978-762-0448 www.shopextrainnings.com Circle No. 548

Reverse It Pro Look reversible jerseys are built to perform on the diamond. These jerseys are so good that they’re backed with a four-year manufacturing warranty. Pro Look can make any style jersey and short into a reversible uniform, and won’t drain the budget while getting you the look you want. Call today for your free custom design mock-up. Pro Look Sports • 800-PRO-LOOK www.prolooksports.com Circle No. 550

The Face of Protection M.A.S.A. wants to keep you safe with the Rip-It softball face guard with chin strap. The Rip-It is not only NOCSAE approved for Schutt, Adams, Wilson, and Rawlings helmets, but it is also one of the lightest and most versatile face guards on the market. The open design with the fewest bars gives the batter the most unobstructed view. M.A.S.A. even offers free shipping on this product. Now you can choose the helmet you want and always have the best face guard. Go online or call today for more information. M.A.S.A., Inc. • 800-264-4519 • www.masa.com www.sportsadvantage.com Circle No. 551

Revolve to Evolve

All athletes can intensify their workouts with the new Airope. With handles like a jump rope and soft PVC balls on the ends, this weighted rubber rope creates swing resistance, intensifying cardio conditioning and recruiting the upper body. Perform traditional jump rope actions, incorporate it into sport-specific drills, or combine it with other equipWhere the Game Never Ends ment. It’s available in Batting Cages Professional Instruction Pro Shop original and pro models—the pro has Franchise Opportunities Available Love baseball or softball ? a thicker rope for increased resistance. Want to run your own business? Power Systems • 800-321-6975 Then play ball with Extra Innings! www.power-systems.com For more info, log onto: Circle No. 552

www.eifranchise.com

This franchise is not being offered to residents of the following states: HI, KY, ND & SD. This communication is not directed to any person in the states listed above by or on behalf of the franchisor or anyone acting with the franchisor’s knowledge. No franchise can be offered or sold in the states listed above until the offering has been registered and declared effective by the appropriate regulatory authority and the FDD has been delivered to the offeree before the sale within the applicable time frame. This franchise is offered only by delivery of a franchise disclosure document.

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Coaching Management

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Find What You Need, Fast HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in one location. Coaches can save time and get the tools they need to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practices, enter scores and stats, access your roster, and get cumulative player and team stats, all on HighSchoolSports.net. Go online and start saving time today. HighSchoolSports. net • 800-258-8550 www.highschoolsports.net Circle No. 555

Never Stop Learning California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years. Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information. California University of Pennsylvania 866-595-6348 • www.cup.edu Circle No. 556

Experience of a Lifetime Cocoa Expo Sports is one of Florida’s premier sports management and promotion companies. For 25 years, the company has owned and operated the highly regarded Cocoa Expo College and High School Softball Spring Training. This program annually attracts schools and clubs from throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Cocoa Expo hosts year-round softball tournaments at the new Chain of Lakes Softball Complex. The facility features seven lighted state-of-the-art softball fields located along central Florida’s east coast. Cocoa Expo Softball Spring Training and Florida’s beautiful Space Coast combine to provide teams with a memorable spring trip experience. Cocoa Expo Sports • 321-639-3976 www.cocoaexpo.com Circle No. 557

A Key Assist Schedule Star’s patented Game Wizard™ saves you time and sets defaults for the things athletic directors and coaches are always scheduling for games, such as facilities, transportation, and departure and return times. When you schedule your varsity team for any sport, Game Wizard automatically schedules the sub-levels of that sport. Schedule Star is all about keeping you ahead of the game. Go online to get started today. Schedule Star 800-258-8550 • www.schedulestar.com Circle No. 558

CoachesNetwork.com

The Field Maintenance Solution of the Pros Sports field professionals look to Pro’s Choice to deliver top-performing products for all types of sports fields. An all-star product lineup provides the tools needed to keep sports fields in top condition season after season. Pro’s Choice provides top-quality clay products that are manufactured to exacting standards and optimized to keep fields in championship shape. At Pro’s Choice, experience is key. It starts with a company that pioneered the sports field industry and a group of dedicated people who know sports fields inside and out. A knowledgeable staff, a nationwide network of distributors, and an advisory board made up of professional groundskeepers and turf specialists are available to serve your needs. Pro’s Choice maintains an impressive roster of customers. Among them: Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Colorado Rockies Detroit Tigers Florida Marlins Houston Astros Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland A’s Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals Toronto Blue Jays Texas Rangers

Pro’s Choice 410 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 400 Chicago, IL 60611 800-648-1166 Fax: 312-321-9525 proschoice@oildri.com www.proschoice1.com

Coaching Management

Extra InnIngs

Find more coaching resources at the new Coaches Network! You can find more information related to coaching on CoachesNetwork.com, which has been completely revamped to better help coaches. We now offer expanded editorial resources, including articles addressing a wide variety of issues facing coaches today.

Articles on the site include: Strength & Conditioning

Gain Without Pain Why over-training can be as bad as under-training.

Coaching Life

Meet the Parents A coach explains how he establishes the roles parents play.

Nutrition

Food for Thought Make sure your players know what to eatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and when.

Leadership

Leader of the Pack Give your captains the tools they need to succeed.

Sports Medicine

Anyone Can Save a Life A first-person account of a life-saving response.

Plus archived articles from past editions of Coaching Management, including: Developing Team Spirit Improving Infield Defense Training Slap Hitters In addition to educational resources, Coaches Network also features social networking tools that allow you to connect with other coaches across the country. Build your own network and share your thoughts on our message boards and blogs. Plus, Coaches Network provides you the opportunity to create private team pages where you can share information with the parents of your players.

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S O F T B A L L

P i t c h i n g

M a c h i n e s

SOFTBALL

All you need... and MORE

Hack Attack does it all, from fastballs, risers and drops to right and left handed screwballs T he Softball Hack Attack throws any pitch - fastballs, risers, drops, right and left handed curves, screwballs up and into the right or left handed hitters - all with a simple and immediate speed dial adjustment (No awkward or time consuming moving of the throwing head). See the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, acceleration and release, just like a live pitcher. T he hitter sees when to stride and the angle of release, giving her an actual live-arm sense of timing and location. E xtremely mobile, on and off the ﬁeld with ease. As proven by our extensive customer list of the top programs in the country, in a very short time our three-wheel complete-vision design has taken the market by storm. Our Softball Hack Attack can make a difference in your program.

P.O. Box 1529 | 2805 U.S. 40 Verdi, Nevada 89439 tf 800.717.4251 | ph 775.345.2882

www.sportsattack.com Circle No. 131

H AC K AT TAC K | J U NI O R HAC K AT TACK

CH4000 Hockey Style Catcher’s Helmet.

This helmet is ultra-light weight and comfortable with a new advanced ventilation design. High impact ABS shell and adjustable rear plate. Brushed polish finish, available in 4 athletic colors, and 2 sizes. Meets NOCSAE standards.

Chest Protector

Equipped with Memory Foam front to absorb ball impact, Contours to body shape, Thermo Foam backing, Leather Reinforcement, Adjustable back straps, and Lightweight. Designed exclusively for females, complete with Removable Extended Breast Protection and Removable shoulder pads. In addition to a CoolMax™ lining, the benefit of Antimicrobial Treatment has been added.

Leg Guard

Bolistic Mesh on wings, Extra ankle protection, Hard Shell knee and shin protection, Adjustable back straps, and is Extremely Lightweight. This leg guard, made exclusively for females, also has an added feature of a Removable CoolMax™ lining pad that is Machine washable.

800.251.6857

fax: 931.526.8357 Circle No. 132

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