Coaching Management 20.13

SOFTBALL > Alabama’s Strength Program > HS Team Wears Facemasks > NFCA Convention Preview

EXpress route A Q&A with Pacific Lutheran coaches VOL. XX NO. 13 | 2012 | $7.00

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CONTENTS | SOFTBALL Edition 2012 | Vol. XX, No. 13

Coaching Management

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15

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING 15 STAND UP PERFORMANCE

COVER STORY

Express Route

How do you go from 18-22 to an NCAA Division III title in three years?

Pacific Lutheran University Head Coach Erin Van Nostrand and her staff reveal their strategies, including how they instilled a winning attitude in their players.

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At the University of Alabama, perfect posture is a focus of every strength and conditioning workout. This year, it was also part of what earned the program an NCAA Division I championship.

POSTSEASON 2012

BULLETIN BOARD

EXHIBITORS 22

LATEST PRODuCTS

NCAA Division I ups high school GPA requirements … Connecticut pitcher throws all Ks …

Michigan’s Carol Hutchins takes her tactics to the corporate world … New Jersey high school team wears facemasks to guard against injuries … Previewing the NFCA Convention.

Get an advanced look at many of the companies that will be exhibiting their products during the NFCA Convention in Orlando, Fla.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

.

On the cover

27 PRODUCTS ON DISPLAY 29 MORE PRODUCTS

32 ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY 26 COACHES NETWORK

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Publisher Mark Goldberg Editorial Dept. Eleanor Frankel, Director Abigail Funk, Dennis Read, R.J. Anderson, Patrick Bohn, Kristin Maki, Mary Kate Murphy Art Director Pamela Crawford

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Production Dept. Maria Bise, Director Neal Betts, Trish Landsparger Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter, Natalie Couch

Mailing lists for Coaching Management Softball are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.

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

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Pacific Lutheran All-American pitcher Stacey Hagensen led the Lutes to their first NCAA softball title with an 8-0 record through the playoffs. Our Q&A with the PLU coaching staff begins on page 8.

Business and Editorial Offices 20 Eastlake Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com Business Manager Pennie Small

Advertising Sales Associate Diedra Harkenrider (607) 257-6970, ext. 24 Ad Materials Coordinator/Sales Mike Townsend (607) 257-6970, ext. 13 Circulation Dept. Dave Dubin, Erin Stewart

Copyright © 2012 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the pub­lisher. Un­­solicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852. Printed in the U.S.A.

Coaching Management 2012 1

BULLETIN BOARD CONTENTS

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2 Focus on

the classroom

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3 Twenty-one up,

twenty-one K’s

Academics

NCAA to Require Higher HS GPAs When it comes to discussions about NCAA Division I academic standards, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) usually generates the most headlines. Flying under the radar are new mandates for high schoolers looking to compete at the D-I level. Beginning in 2016-17, these athletes will be required to post at least a 2.3 GPA in 16 high school core courses.

Previously, the minimum was a 2.0.

Student-athletes with high school GPAs between 2.0 and 2.3 will be required to take an academic redshirt year. This means they will be eligible to receive athletically related financial aid and practice with their team during their first year on campus, but won’t be allowed to participate in any competitions or travel to away matches. Athletes with GPAs below 2.0 are considered nonqualifiers and cannot receive athletically related financial aid, practice, or compete during their freshman year.

In addition, incoming freshmen will have to meet test score requirements based on the NCAA’s sliding scale. For example, a student-athlete with the minimum 2.3 core-course GPA needs to score a combined 1080 on the SAT math and

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4 Lessons in

leadership

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5 Infielders

verbal sections or 93 on the ACT (the sum of the scores in English, mathematics, reading, and science). An athlete who posts an 820 SAT or 68 ACT, meanwhile, would need a 2.95 GPA. (The full sliding scale can be found at: www.eligibilitycenter.org under “Resources.”)

All athletes must also complete 10 of their 16 core courses before the first semester of their senior year. Of those 10 courses, seven must be in English, math, or science.

To meet stricter academic demands and better prepare athletes for college, some high schools are experimenting with new programs. In Indianapolis, Warren Central High School has implemented an academic support program for athletes that uses grade tracking, study tables, coaches’ efforts, and motivational tools.

When the school began tracking athletes’ semester GPAs in the spring of 2009, only 67 percent were at or above a 2.0. Two years later, thanks to the support program, that number had risen to 86 percent.

“It starts at the top with the school leadership putting academics at the forefront and saying it’s important,” says Jennifer Jensen, a math teacher at Warren Central who conducts grade tracking for the program. “And it continues with personal interaction. It is about the studentathletes understanding that we don’t

don masks

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6 NFCA convention preview

just care about what they do on the field. We care about them as people.”

School policy at Warren Central requires a student-athlete with a GPA below 2.0 or an F in any class to attend study sessions twice per week. Under the program, players struggling academically are also required to have individual meetings with their coaches. At these one-on-one sessions, the coach outlines expectations and provides a plan for improving the player’s grades.

Another way that Warren Central emphasizes academics to its student-athletes is through its Leadership Kickoff event. The main component of the Kickoff centers on announcing the studentathletes’ recent academic achievements.

Each squad’s combined GPA from the previous year, as well as the percentage of members in defined GPA ranges, are shared with everyone in attendance.

Prizes are awarded to the squads with the highest marks in both small- and large-team divisions.

“The event generates a sense of pride,” Jensen says. “The kids talk about it, and it has made them more excited about being good students. There was one situation where a team’s GPA was very low, and they were basically called out during the kickoff. The next year, that team doubled the number of kids who achieved a GPA above 2.0. This event also makes the coaches more aware of academics, and has increased their support of these initiatives.”

Jensen believes the key to the program is adults emphasizing academics.

“As coaches have become more concerned with student achievement, we’ve seen our students’ interest in their academics grow,” she says. “What tutors or coaches say makes a big impact on students. When kids know that you care and are concerned about them, they’ll run through a brick wall for you.”

At Warren Central High School (batting, at left), a new academic support program uses grade tracking, study tables, coaches’ efforts, and motivational tools to boost student-athletes’ GPAs.

2 Coaching Management 2012

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BULLETIN BOARD unique situations

Dealing With Perfection Managing the in-game pressure and subsequent publicity that comes with a pitcher throwing a perfect game is a unique challenge for any coach. But on Saturday, April 21, Stonington (Conn.)

High School Head Coach Ann-Marie Houle found herself dealing with something even more rare.

That day, Stonington pitcher Andrea Chiaradio struck out all 21 batters she faced in a 3-0 win over Norwich Free Academy. Local media reports indicated the feat had occurred just once before in Connecticut high school history.

“I didn’t notice anything unusual until the fourth inning, when I said to our scorekeeper, ‘I think Andrea’s struck out every hitter,’” Houle says. “I knew she was on, but no one realized how good she’d been until then.”

While Chiaradio was cruising, Houle’s work was just beginning. Her

first step was to decide if she should continue to talk to Chiaradio during the game. Earlier, Houle had reminded her pitcher to keep the ball low, but as the game progressed she decided to discuss pitch selection with catcher Julie Royer only, and told her corner infielders to watch out for bunts.

“Andrea’s the kind of pitcher who thrives on being in a rhythm, and I didn’t want to do anything to knock her out of it,” Houle says. “I was worried that if she knew what she was doing, it would weigh on her. So instead of talking to Andrea about it, I did my coaching through Julie.”

Stonington (Conn.) High School pitcher Andrea Chiaradio struck out every batter she faced during a regular season game last season, leading Head Coach AnnMarie Houle to deal with a host of new expectations, both inside and outside of the program.

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BULLETIN BOARD The plan worked. A few innings later, Chiaradio closed the book on her first high school no-hitter, perfect game, and 21-strikeout feat. Houle was ecstatic for Chiaradio, but the game changed the season for both of them.

“I’ve never worked with a player as much as I did with Andrea after her perfect game,” Houle says. “While it was happening, I was just living the moment, but once it was over, I saw that expectations—both her own and everyone else’s—were raised dramatically.”

To lower that pressure, Houle started her other pitcher in Stonington’s next home game. But in Chiaradio’s next start, on the road against Tourtellotte Memorial High School, she took a perfect game into the sixth inning before finishing with a one-hitter.

“We figured things would go back to normal after the Tourtellotte game,” Houle says. “But she was nearly perfect again, and in some ways, that’s the worst thing that could have happened. Andrea was disappointed she didn’t throw another perfect game, and I don’t know many pitchers who feel that way following a one-hitter.

“After the game, I told Andrea she needed to reset her expectations,” Houle continues. “I reminded her that there was a defense behind her that needed to make plays and an offense that needed to score runs. She couldn’t do it on her own, and she shouldn’t try to.”

While Houle was working hard to keep Chiaradio focused on the bigger picture, the local media was doing the opposite. “We lost to a team later in the year and one story’s headline was, ‘Soand-so beats Chiaradio,’” Houle says.

“That was unfair to everyone, because that team beat Stonington, not just Andrea. So I emphasized to the team that no one player on the team was better than anyone else and that we couldn’t let the media dictate how we did things.”

She also talked to the media about its coverage. “Some of them were trying to stir the pot by pitting Andrea and our other starter against each other,” Houle says. “I told them I appreciated the coverage, but that wasn’t how things were.”

The 21-strikeout game was one highlight in a season that saw Stoning-

ton finish 21-5 and advance to the state quarterfinals. Chiaradio went 12-5 and earned first-team all-conference honors.

The perfect game also brought about increased attention from college recruiters, but Houle says Chiaradio, now a senior, is still deciding where she wants to attend school.

Looking back, Houle views everything that happened as a learning experience. “When you read about these things occurring, you never think it will happen to one of your players,” she says.

“But it did happen to one of mine, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way we all handled it.”

Leadership

Corporate Coaching Carol Hutchins, Head Coach at the University of Michigan, has spent her career in the world of sports, but her reputation for success has recently been climbing the corporate ladder. As part of a six-day program in June, high-level business executives will come to Hutchins’s office—Alumni Field at the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex— to learn a thing or two about leadership from the winningest coach in Wolverine history.

The program, “Leaders and Best: Creating a Winning Culture,” is hosted by the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business Executive Education

program and the athletics department, and it will run from June 9-14, 2013. In addition to Hutchins, Head Football Coach Brady Hoke, Men’s Basketball Coach John Beilein, and Athletic Director Dave Brandon, as well as faculty members, will share their insights on what it takes to be an effective leader. They will conduct sessions on topics such as resilience, the relationship between business and sports, teaching while leading, the

“I’m going to put them in groups and each group has to come up with their own definition of a good team and of a good teammate. Then I’m going to take them onto the softball field and put those definitions into action ... If what they do doesn’t match up with what they say, I’ll call them out on it.”

CAROL HUTCHINS Head Coach, University of Michigan

With over 1,250 wins on her resume, University of Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins will try to teach her tactics to business leaders next June, when she will be an instructor in UM’s Executive Education program.

4 Coaching Management 2012

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BULLETIN BOARD building blocks of leadership, and leaving a leadership legacy.

For her presentation, Hutchins will emphasize the importance of teamwork.

“Business is very competitive, just like sports are. The way to achieve the best from an organization is to get everybody to work and function as one unit and most importantly be about your group’s mission,” she explains. “Our mission at Michigan softball is to win games, and that comes first and foremost. Our athletes learn to put the team above themselves and realize that they are part of something bigger. And those are the values the business leaders will learn on my softball field when they come out.”

To impart her lessons, Hutchins will literally place the business executives on the turf. “I’m going to put them in groups and each group has to come up with their own definition of a good team and of a good teammate,” she says. “Then I’m going to take them onto the softball field and put those definitions into action. The executives will be

put into game-type situations and have to figure out how to be successful based on what they think teamwork means. If what they do doesn’t match up with what they say, I’ll call them out on it.

“I know what the standards are for Michigan softball,” Hutchins continues.

“Our successful teams find solutions to problems together. They are loyal to each other, yet they hold each other accountable. Everyone is expected to know their role and do their part accordingly. So we’ll see how these business leaders’ standards measure up.”

Hutchins became the head coach at Michigan in 1985 and hasn’t had a losing season yet. In that time, the NFCA Hall of Fame coach has won a national championship, 15 Big Ten regular season titles, 14 NCAA Regional crowns, and eight Big Ten tournament championships, while recording over 1,250 wins.

Although her role in the program is to teach others, she knows that a good leader is never done learning and hopes to gain from the experience herself. “I’m

honored to be involved in something like this, but working with business leaders from around the world is pretty daunting,” Hutchins says. “All I can teach is what I know. Hopefully the executives find it applicable and take something from it.

“I think that anytime you have a challenge in front of you and have to rise to the occasion, it’s a pretty empowering experience,” she continues. “I view this experience to be exactly that—a challenge for myself. And I hope to rise to the occasion.”

Player Safety

Behind the Mask In high school sports, injuries often prompt discussion on increased safety precautions. But after Ashley Pais, a former pitcher at Elmwood Park (N.J.) Memorial High School, broke every bone on the left side of her face when she was struck by a batted ball during a travel

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league game in July of 2011, the Elmwood Park Board of Education did more than talk about the need for safety. In response to Pais’s injury, the board mandated that every infielder in the district wear a protective facemask during games.

The mask fits over the player’s head using an adjustable strap. A metal bar roughly an inch wide covers the player’s forehead, and the lower half of the mask is divided into two sections by thin metal bars—one crosses the player’s face horizontally at nose level and another runs along the player’s jaw line, leading to the chin. Those two bars are connected in the middle by a short vertical bar.

None of the open areas are large enough for a softball to fit through.

“We all believe that player safety comes first in high school sports, and softball has a unique set of risks,” says Elmwood Park Athletic Director Michael Oppido, who was the athletic director at nearby Wood-Ridge (N.J.) High School last year. “If a batter shows bunt and the third basemen comes charging in, she might be only 10 to 15 feet away if the batter instead slaps a ball down the line.

At that distance, it’s going to be incredibly difficult for the fielder to react with her glove in time to catch the ball.”

Players expressed some initial resistance to the facemasks. “I think they’re kind of ugly,” Crusaders’ second baseman Caitlin Gilmore told CBS 2 New York. “So I think that a lot of girls on the team didn’t really want to wear them.”

However, Oppido says that Head Coach Jillian Torrento spoke to the team

“The girls have the utmost respect for Coach Torrento. And having an experienced coach the players like telling them how important it is to wear these for safety reasons is going to help.”

MICHAEL OPPIDO Athletic Director, Elmwood Park (N.J.) Memorial High School

about the masks, and the squad bought into the idea fairly quickly. “The girls have the utmost respect for Coach Torrento,” he says. “And having an experienced coach the players like telling them how important it is to wear these for safety reasons is going to help.”

Parents got on board as well.

“When it comes to keeping their children safe, I think a lot of parents view a move like this as a no-brainer,” Oppido says.

“The injury that spurned this change was bad enough. None of us wants to think about what could have happened if a player were struck in the temple.”

Overall, Elmwood Park players didn’t miss a beat in their new headgear, finishing the season 13-5, the best record in school history. “They took part in a tournament my former school hosted last year, and I was really impressed with their play,” Oppido says. “The facemasks didn’t seem to affect them at all.”

NFCA News

Convention Preview

In response to a player injury, all infielders on the Elmwood Park (N.J.) Memorial High School squad wore facemasks last spring. The team finished the year with its best record in school history.

6 Coaching Management 2012

The nation’s coaches are set to converge in Orlando, Fla., from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 for the 2012 NFCA National Convention. The event will offer several opportunities for coaches to develop all aspects of their coaching, both on and off the field.

The first seminar of the convention takes place on the morning of the 28th, when Cindy Bristow, former Head Coach at New Mexico State University and Wichita State University, will talk about how to get the most from your pitching staff. Highlights on Thursday include Alyson Habetz, Associate Head Coach at

the University of Alabama, discussing outfield play and Sue Enquist, former Head Coach at UCLA, leading the third annual Mentoring Session, a roundtable discussion on a variety of coaching topics.

Friday’s offerings will feature a pair of sessions devoted to off-the-field topics. Robyn Odegaard, PhD, an author and national consultant, will host a discussion called “Stop the Drama: The Ultimate Guide to Female Teams,” and Tim Elmore, Founder and President of Growing Leaders, will deliver a presentation titled “The New Wave: Understanding and Connecting with Generation iY Athletes.” Friday’s other seminars include Lizzy Lemire, Assistant Coach at the University of Notre Dame, discussing “The Musts of Hitting,” and Brian Kolze, Head Coach at the University of the Pacific, leading “Offensive Strategies vs. The Off-Speed Pitch.”

On Saturday, following the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year Brunch, a series of roundtable discussions will take place. Steve Wammer, Head Coach at Northland College, will lead a talk on innovative defensive positioning, while Annie Smith, Head Coach at Georgia Southern University, will focus on making the move from assistant to head coach.

Additional roundtable topics will include recruiting standards, pitching mechanics, and men coaching women.

Later in the afternoon, there will be a series of drills clinics. Erin Van Nostrand, Head Coach at Pacific Lutheran University, will discuss baserunning; Beth Torina, Head Coach at Louisiana State University, will cover pitching; and George Wares, Head Coach at Central College (Iowa), will delve into improving hitting.

Two other Saturday highlights are “The Five C’s of a Mental-Game Warrior,” led by Jen Croneberger, Head Coach at Ursinus College; and “Turning the Double Play,” hosted by Blake Miller, Assistant Coach at the University of Oregon. The day’s offerings will close with Brandon Marcello, Director of Sports Performance at Stanford University, delivering a talk called, “Why Injuries Are On the Rise and What We Can Do About It.” There will also be three National Fastpitch Coaches College courses offered before and after the official convention dates. “Coaching Dynamic Team Practices,” will occur prior to the start of the convention. And post-event classes include “Explosive Team Offense & Strategy” and “The Art of Championship Coaching.”

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GATORADE SPORTS SCIENCE INSTITUTE NUTRITION fOR ThE TEam SPORT aThlETE Susan Kundrat, MS, RD, CSSD, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Nutritional Sciences Program Director

Competing in team sports requires dedication to teamwork, on and off the field. To work together, all team members must come to practices and competitions prepared to succeed. Choosing the right foods and fluids to prepare for competition and to provide proper energy during and after competition can make all the difference. No matter the sport, getting the sports nutrition advantage puts the team one step closer to the “W.”

• Players should eat foods they know work well for them pre-exercise.

Trying a variety of foods before workouts can help determine the best combinations for pre-game meals.

• athletes should not be afraid to salt food because they can lose lots of sodium through sweating—especially if they’re heavy crampers.

Sometimes, that sodium loss can be the cause of cramping.

Fluids: Hydration is Key Water is an important part of the working body, making up 60 to 65 percent of total body weight.

• If athletes lose too much fluid in sweat without replacing what they’ve lost in both fluids and important electrolytes (like sodium and chloride), they risk becoming dehydrated.

• Dehydration can diminish energy and impair performance. Even a 2-percent loss of body weight through sweat (i.e. 3 1/2 pounds for a 180-pound player) can put athletes at a disadvantage.

Pre-WorKout meal ideas

HoW to combat deHydration Athletes, especially those who train in hot and humid weather conditions or in hot gyms or training facilities, run a risk of dehydration. The risk becomes greater the longer an athlete practices or plays at one time, or when there is more than one competition in a day, such as a weekend basketball or tennis tournament, or two-a-day workouts. Dehydration can be prevented--here’s how: • stay well hydrated all day. Start with extra fluids like milk and juice at breakfast. Then, drink fluids throughout the day, using water bottles, water fountains and cafeteria beverages as triggers for drinking. Soup and some water rich foods (like yogurt, watermelon, grapes and tomatoes) can also contribute to proper daily hydration.

• Have a pre-game plan and hydrate 2 to 3 hours before practices and games. Athletes should aim for at least 16 ounces (2 cups) of fluid at this time and an additional 8 ounces (1 cup) 10 to 20 minutes prior to playing.

• drink during workouts or games. Sports drinks, like Gatorade, can help ward off dehydration and muscle cramps because they help replenish both fluid and electrolytes lost in sweat. Encourage sports drinks when workouts last an hour or longer, especially for heavy sweaters. Sports chews or gels can add an extra “energy boost” during intense activity.

• Prioritize post-practice hydration. Athletes should weigh themselves before and after activity and consume enough ounces of water, sports drinks or other fluids to replace what they’ve lost.

Foods: Pre-WorKout Fuel Athletes should fuel their bodies 3 to 4 hours before practices and games with a high-carbohydrate meal or snack (see “Pre-Workout Meal Ideas”).

This will give the body enough energy to make it through the workout. to do this: • team leaders can organize pre-game meals for the whole team 3 to 4 hours before competition, including high-energy foods like breads, bagels, cereals, pasta, potatoes, rice, fruits, fruit juices and vegetables— as well as lean sources of protein like chicken breast, turkey, lean deli meats, fish and yogurt. For quick energy, athletes should fill 2/3 of their plates with high carbohydrate options. Drink plenty of fluids with the meal to optimize hydration.

menu #1

menu #2

menu #3

Pasta and red sauce

Turkey and cheese sandwiches

Baked chicken tenders

French bread

Bananas and orange slices

Mashed potatoes

Fresh fruit plate

Baked chips or pretzel chips

Green beans

Steamed vegetables

Cereal bars

Fruit and yogurt smoothies

Cookies Water, skim milk, fruit juice, and sports drinks

Water, skim milk, fruit Water, skim milk, fruit juice, and sports drinks juice, and sports drinks

recovery Foods: Post-WorKout Fuel To maximize the body’s ability to refuel muscles after every workout, athletes should consume a “post-workout snack” as soon as possible after practice or games. This helps restock the muscle energy used in practices quickly. tips for recovery: • Have snacks like trail mix, sports chews and bars, cereal mixed with peanuts and raisins, chocolate milk or peanut butter and crackers within reach after workouts.

• Encourage athletes to eat a meal within 1-2 hours after workouts to continue muscle energy recovery. locKer or bacKPacK snacKs Many athletes run from school directly to practices, with limited time to get energy to working muscles before hitting the field or court. They often miss out on a high-energy snack to help boost energy for performance. To combat this, keeping easy-to-grab snacks in the locker or in the backpack is a must.

Quick locker or backpack snacks: • Granola bars, cereal bars and sports bars • Energy chews • Trail mix • Dry cereal and pretzels • Pressed fruit or fruit rolls • Juice boxes There is research that supports that prioritizing nutrition on a daily basis can potentially enhance success for athletes. Make sports nutrition a priority for your teams and you’ll see the difference.

COVER STORY

Express ro Q&A With NFCA Division III Coaching staff of the year | Pacific lutherAn university

8 Coaching Management 2012

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oute

D

uring Erin Van Nostrand’s first season as Head Coach at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in 2009, the Lutes went 18-22 and finished fourth in the Northwest Conference. That seems like a distant memory to a program that won the 2012 NCAA Division III national championship, compiling a 45-11 record along the way.

Following a 2011 season in which they were denied a bid into the NCAA tournament, despite finishing second in their conference and winning 31 games, the Lutes were out for revenge and sought the toughest competition in the country for 2012.

At first, this revenge looked unattainable as PLU dropped four of its initial six games. The team quickly rebounded to win 19 of its next 21 contests, recording eight shutouts along the way. PLU took a 12-game winning streak into the postseason and won the Northwest Conference tournament title, beating defending national champion Linfield College.

The Lutes enjoyed a perfect 8-0 run through the Division III playoffs, then faced a familiar opponent in Linfield in the title game. The two squads had already met eight times that season, with PLU winning five of those contests. The Lutes pulled out a 3-0 victory to claim the trophy.

Van Nostrand was aided through the championship season by Associate Head Coach Greg Seeley, Assistant Coach Tiffany McVay, Assistant Coach Dena Harkovitch, and Assistant Coach Dena Slye. Together, they were named the NFCA 2012 NCAA Division III Coaching Staff of the Year. In this four-part interview, each of the coaches currently on staff (Slye has since become a program developer for Dream Team Softball Camps) talks about their coaching styles, their roles, and how they pulled everything together to bring PLU its first NCAA championship in softball.

Erin Van Nostrand, Head Coach

Far left: Stacey Hagensen pitched every inning at the regional and national tournaments in PLU’s run to the 2012 NCAA Division III championship.

Top: Coaches Tiffany McVay, Erin Van Nostrand, Greg Seeley, and Dena Harkovitch (left to right) pose with their Northwest Conference trophy.

Before coming to Tacoma, Wash., in 2009, Van Nostrand spent four successful years as head coach at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., tying the school record for wins in a season, and leading the squad to a Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship game appearance. Van Nostrand’s coaching career began at her alma mater, Freeport (N.Y.) High School, where she inherited a 0-22 team and took it to a conference championship within two years. The Long Island native was the starting shortstop for three years at Keene State College in New Hampshire, where she helped lead the squad to an NCAA Division III Regional Championship berth.

Bottom: Left fielder Montessa Califano was one of four Lutes to be chosen for the all-tournament team.

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Coaching Management 2012 9

COVER STORY CM: You’ve taken three programs with losing records and made them winners.

What are the specific things you do to turn a team around?

Van Nostrand: A lot of times with a team that isn’t used to winning, it’s about the mentality. Obviously, there needs to be some talent and there are skills that need improving. But it’s really about teaching your players how to win—helping them find that inner drive and showing them how to use it. If you can change the mentality, you’re headed in the right direction.

What do you think made the 2012 PLU team so successful?

I see three separate factors. First of all, we had some really good players. All-American

thing exceptionally well, but rather those who do a lot of things really well.

Do you follow the approach of your softball coach at Keene State, Dr. Charlie Beach, who focuses on kinesiology in his coaching?

I do take a lot of what Charlie does. I feel being a great athlete is about being able to instantaneously perform an action that you may never have done before. For example, my players grow up hitting a ball on a tee or off a pitching machine. However, when you’re hitting a stagnant object, your body isn’t really learning anything. You’re not creating any movement patterns—you’re just creating muscle memory.

In a game, every pitch is different, and

It’s the way it was supposed to be, and I think that’s how our team felt. Linfield has always been the standard. They were the defending national champions and some of their seniors who graduated in 2011 were maybe the best players who have ever played Division III softball. Whoever was going to win the national championship was going to have to go through Linfield. We didn’t want it to be any other way.

How did the team handle sharing a chartered plane ride from Virginia back to Washington with Linfield after defeating them in the title game?

I said to my girls, “We are going to show them respect, and we’re going to behave the way we would want to be treated if it was us

“I wanted my players to take my competitiveness and use it to their best advantage, but I couldn’t force my way of doing things onto them.” pitcher Stacey Hagensen is the type of athlete every team needs—a kid who everyone is going to run through a wall for. Also, the juniors were part of the first recruiting class we brought in. I told them when we recruited them, “We’re bringing you in to win a national championship.” That expectation was set from the moment they arrived on campus and they were eager to fulfill it. Every time they stepped foot on the field they expected to win.

Third, I think we played with a chip on our shoulders because we were 31-13 the year before and finished second in our conference, but we didn’t make it into the NCAA tournament. We were told it was because our schedule wasn’t difficult enough, so last season, we traveled to Texas and Hawai’i and played ridiculously talented teams. We were going to prove that we belonged with the elite teams.

What do you look for in the players you recruit?

I don’t play one style of softball so I’m looking for complete players. Sure, we want some kids who can hit for average and some who can drive the ball long. But I really want that very athletic kid who can hit for average, run the bases, play defense, and do any of the things we may ask her to do.

We want our team to be able to win in a multitude of ways on any given day. So we are not interested in players who do one 10 Coaching Management 2012

every swing should be different. So we have the girls hit off of different kids during softtoss. Some kids soft-toss fast, some kids softtoss slow, and some of our pitchers soft-toss with this funky, crazy backspin. The batter’s rhythm and timing always need to adjust to the pitcher, whether she throws hard or has a changeup or a really good curveball.

Through varying the soft tosses, we force our hitters to make adjustments on the fly so they can do the same in a game based on what the pitcher is throwing.

Why did you decide to come to PLU after living on the East Coast your entire life?

I felt like I had gotten to a point where I had done as much as I could at Pine Manor.

When you’re at a small women’s college with only 350 students, there’s a limit to how good you can get. Maybe we could have gotten into the NCAA tournament and won a game or two, but I wanted more than that.

When I heard what PLU was all about, I decided to apply, never thinking I was going to get an opportunity. But then I got an interview and came out and fell in love with the school.

How did you feel about playing conference rival Linfield College in the national championship game after already playing them multiple times that season?

on the other side.” And we did. The Linfield players sat in the back of the plane and we sat in the front. The girls did homework and slept and we went about our daily business.

It was somewhat unfortunate because we should have been able to celebrate the whole ride home and Linfield shouldn’t have had to look at us the whole time. But it was worse for them than it was for us, in my opinion.

You got married the same week as the national championship. How did you handle the crazy work-life balance that must have brought?

I tend to be a bit “Nancy Negative,” and when we realized the wedding was the same week as the championships I told my partner, “Don’t worry about it. We’re not going to make it.” When we won the conference tournament I said, “Come on, we’re going to the hardest region in the country. We’re not going to make it.” When we advanced to the championship round I simply picked up my wedding dress when we flew back to PLU and tried to keep everything in focus.

Walking through the airport on our way to Virginia, I had the 20 girls and all of the things we needed to play softball, plus everything I needed for my wedding, including my wedding dress. It was kind of comical but I think it relaxed the girls. There CoachesNetwork.com

COVER STORY we were walking through Sea-Tac Airport and people are looking at us like, “They look like a college softball team, so why is she carrying a wedding dress?”

After we won, our athletic director wanted me to come back for the celebration.

So I ended up flying back with the team and we had the celebration and then I flew the red-eye to Boston for the wedding. It was crazy, but it was the best week of my life.

Although you had an incredibly successful season, were there any challenges along the way?

Yeah, the loud-mouthed New Yorker who was coaching in Tacoma, Washington.

Being from New York, I say how I feel and can be very intense. Here, I had to change my style.

I wanted my players to take my competitiveness and use it to their best advantage, but I couldn’t force my way of doing things onto them. I had some bumps along the way, and I didn’t always get along with some of the girls in the past.

But eventually we got to a place where the girls understood my intensity, respected my

intensity, and learned how to use their own intensity. Ultimately, we were able to achieve something pretty special with it.

Is there a balance you try to strike between pushing your players and being too tough?

I can still be a jerk sometimes. I had to learn that I don’t have to be tough on them all the time. For example, after games, I don’t say anything. The girls do three “ups” and three “downs”—they tell us about three things we did well and three things we need to do better—and then the coaching staff addresses those the next day. The girls know what they did wrong. I don’t need to be Captain Obvious and tell them.

I also had to let go of the fact that they’re silly, they’re crazy, and that’s how they need to be. We play ultimate Frisbee before games because it relaxes them. At first I thought, “You guys really need to do this?” But now I realize, yeah, they do. The girls sing and dance and act silly, because that’s what they need to do. It’s been difficult learning what’s important and what’s not, and when it’s okay to give up control.

What are your career goals?

I don’t know, honestly. We won a national championship, so what do you do after that?

I’m really focused on this year and this group of seniors—giving them the best ending we can possibly give them. We’ll just see what happens after that. I preach to my kids to take things day-by-day and game-by-game and see what comes. That’s kind of how I live my life, too. So for now, I don’t know.

Greg Seeley, Associate Head Coach

Although this is Seeley’s first coaching position at the college level, he was an active coach in the Tacoma, Wash., high school, club, and youth softball scenes for many years. At PLU, his duties include overseeing hitting, outfield, and first base, and calling pitches during games. As hitting coach, he helped the 2012 squad set new team records for runs scored, RBIs, and total bases. He is very involved at the administrative level, coordinating recruiting and camps. A former football player at the University of Washington, he also owns a law practice.

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Coaching Management 2012 11

COVER STORY CM: How do you and Coach Van Nostrand work together?

What are your memories of the championship game?

Seeley: We have different coaching styles but I think we mesh well because there are certain players that respond to the way she coaches and others that respond to the way I coach. I’m an optimist and I’m always looking at the positive side. I motivate with positive reinforcement, and I have a calm, relaxed coaching style. Erin is really intense, and she’s very knowledgeable about the game. We have been able to identify the strengths that each of us have and make sure that we are able to motivate the players with our varying coaching styles.

There are also ways in which we are similar. We both have very high standards, and we expect the players to meet those standards. We’re both very honest with the players. We tell them exactly where they stand and what they need to do.

It was the culmination of a great run through the tournament. We went 8-0 against some quality opponents. The fact that we beat Linfield with a shutout was incredibly special. They have set the bar very high in our conference and in Division III overall.

How has your experience as a college football player affected you as a softball coach?

I learned so much from my football coaches in college that I now use as a softball coach, especially how they motivated their players and maintained high standards.

Playing football on the college level also taught me how to balance tough athletic

Tiffany McVay, Assistant Coach

Tiffany McVay came to PLU in 2009 after serving as an assistant at Virginia Tech where she helped lead the Hokies to two NCAA Division I tournament appearances, including a trip to the 2008 Women’s College World Series, and coached AllAmerican pitcher Angela Tincher. She also has experience as a professional pitching coach for teams in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. McVay was a member of East Tennessee State University’s inaugural softball team and was a three-time team MVP.

what they were being asked to do. In my opinion, there are too many robot pitchers. We worked on spins, and focused on perfection at every single practice for the last two years.

The players took it from there. I can put pitching into words, demonstrate, and push them through repetition but it is up to the individuals to work hard and make it happen.

Hagensen pitched every inning of the NCAA tournament. How do you keep your pitchers from getting fatigued?

You don’t. If a pitcher throws every inning of every high-pressured game, she will get fatigued. You can’t get around that.

We iced Stacey’s arm when we needed to and tried to keep winning so we didn’t have to play any extra games. But at the end of a long postseason run, your heart becomes bigger than the pain.

CM: How did you get involved with PLU softball?

How did your experience at ETSU as a three-time team MVP influence your approach to coaching?

McVay: We moved here from Virginia for my husband’s work. Erin and Greg found out I was in the area and they gave me a call.

I know what it’s like to be in highpressure situations and throw every inning with nothing left in the tank. I learned how to mentally push through, make sense of

“After games, I don’t say anything. The girls do three ‘ups’ and three ‘downs’—they tell us about three things we did well and three things we need to do better. Then [we] address those things the next day.” and academic demands, and I share that with our players.

You also own a law practice and used to be the offensive coordinator for the football team at Redmond (Wash.) High School. How did you juggle so many activities?

I didn’t, and that’s why I had to cut football out. During the fall, I had softball practice four days a week and football six days a week. I had been putting more and more time into softball, and when I factored in my law practice, I wasn’t really able to maintain a home life. It was a very difficult decision for me to give up coaching football because I’d been doing it for 14 years, and I loved it. But softball coaching is my passion so I made the decision to stick with that.

12 Coaching Management 2012

Stacey Hagensen isn’t the first All-American pitcher that you’ve coached. What do you think makes an outstanding pitcher?

All-American pitchers have backbones.

They’re confident and can keep their composure throughout the toughest situations. They are highly talented individuals who push themselves without being asked. They have an attitude that trumps all others, and they know in their heart they’re the best and will do what it takes to win.

How did you help Hagensen and the rest of the pitchers improve this season?

My first year at PLU was dedicated to making sure all the girls understood

the challenge in front of me, and do the best I could. That carries over to how I coach.

How do you prepare your pitchers mentally for big-game situations?

We start mentally preparing at the first practice in the fall by setting high expectations. We always tell our pitchers to expect to win every time they step on the field. When the big games come around, we make things happen one pitch at a time.

What are your memories of the title game?

Watching the final game was amazing!

There were many tears of joy and I was just so proud of the progress and the final push all the girls made together. To be able to

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COVER STORY say you were part of a coaching staff that won a national championship is a great accomplishment.

Dena Harkovitch, Assistant Coach

Dena Harkovitch played on the PLU softball team from 2007-2010. Though her career was shortened by a hip injury, and she only

What are your responsibilities as Assistant Coach?

I’ve had multiple duties—everything from getting the field ready for a game to helping to run practices. When we are on the road, I get things organized, help with laundry, or assist the girls with homework. I

those team members who are not playing a lot. Because I was injured, I know what that feels like. I talk to them about how to overcome the challenge and understand their role on the team. When you’re on a team, you’re part of something bigger than yourself.

“I can Also relate to team members who are not playing a lot ... I talk to them about how to overcome the challenge and understand their role on the team.” played one game in her last two seasons, she was voted Most Inspirational Player all four years.

CM: What made you want to stay with PLU softball after you graduated?

Harkovitch: During my last two seasons, I was sidelined with an injury, so I got to take on a coaching role. When I graduated, Erin asked me if I wanted to stay on as part of the coaching staff. Since PLU softball has been a big part of my life, I knew I would love to help out.

also try to serve as a mentor to the girls since some of them were my teammates and I’m closer to them in age than the other coaches on staff.

How do you instill the values of hard work and positive thinking into PLU players?

Mostly, I use my experiences as an athlete since I’m not that far removed from it. I can easily talk to the girls about the excitement and stresses of playing. I can also relate to

What is your advice to injured players?

Sometimes players are stubbornand don’t want to take care of an injury.

When that happens, I talk about my own experience. I learned that if you don’t take care of an injury, it can get worse. I tell them to take the extra time to ensure that a simple injury doesn’t turn into something bigger that could sideline them for a season or two. I try to look out for the girls to make sure they don’t have to go through the same thing I did. CM

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

The Crimson Tide poses with its NCAA Division I trophy after winning the title game in June.

STand up Performance At the University of Alabama, perfect posture is a focus of every strength and conditioning workout.

This year, it was part of what earned the program a national championship.

By Michelle Martin Diltz

CoachesNetwork.com

Most people know University of Alabama softball for its big bats, speed on the bases, and continuous winning seasons. While our lifting program helps produce those monster hits and our conditioning program keeps the players’ feet churning, what a lot of people don’t know is that our focus on posture is also a major contributor to the team’s success.

Softball is about power and speed through precise movements, but if the body cannot maintain good posture throughout those movements, power and speed suffer. If a batter has some deficiencies in her posture, she will not get full force behind her swing. If a pitcher has poor posture, her pitches will not be as strong. Gray Cook said it best in his book Athletic Body in Balance: “Most athletes work around energy leaks instead of through them.”

That message has stuck with me, as well as one from my mom, who always

Coaching Management 2012 15

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING reminded me to stand up straight when I was growing up. At 5-foot-9, I used to slump in order to be the same height as my friends.

Then, I started noticing a trend at Alabama. Freshmen were arriving with bad posture just like I used to have. The problem

players had improved in this area. Since that day, I have done a lot of research on the topic, and I now combine traditional strength and power exercises with Pilates and yoga philosophies to improve posture.

While the team’s focus on posture translates to great results on the field, it also gives

past and current injuries, illness, emotional stresses, sitting at a computer, texting, driving, wearing a backpack, and playing a sport.

If you think of a college athlete, almost all of these influences are present, so it makes sense that we see a lot of players coming into the weightroom with poor posture.

In general terms, bad posture equals bad body alignment. Poor alignment means that stabilizing muscles are stretched, which weakens them while putting other muscles under heavier stress. was highlighted about five years ago at an off-season training session run by Head Coach Pat Murphy. The players lined up from freshmen to seniors to introduce themselves, and the freshmen were standing slumped over, looking scared and uncomfortable, while the seniors were standing tall, looking confident and proud.

Although I had never worked directly on the older players’ posture, I realized that by focusing on coaching proper form and technique, using the right coaching cues, and even role modeling good posture myself the

our athletes better body awareness, confidence, and a certain swagger. It creates a “look good, feel good, play good” mentality, and our players demonstrate that when they walk into the batter’s box or pitching circle.

In this article, I share some of our team’s off-season strength and conditioning program and explain how I integrate a focus on good posture into every workout.

Defining posture

Bad posture can be influenced by a lot of things, including genetics, hand dominance,

In general terms, bad posture equals bad body alignment. Poor alignment means that stabilizing muscles are stretched, which weakens them while putting other muscles under heavier stress. When muscles are under heavy stress for a length of time, misuse results, and injury can occur.

MICHELLE MARTIN DILTZ is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Alabama, where she is responsible for training the softball team. She can be reached at: mmartin01@ia.ua.edu.

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING The most common type of bad posture seen in athletes is kyphosis-lordosis (KL).

KL posture is present when the head thrusts forward, upper back is rounded, shoulder blades press out from the ribcage as if they were wings, thumbs rotate toward the posterior, pelvis is anteriorly rotated, and the pubic bone is posteriorly rotated. Athletes with KL usually have tight low backs and hip flexors and weak abdominals and gluteals.

These unbalanced weak links in a softball player’s body translate to inefficiencies in movement and over time, create energy leaks or overuse injuries that can sideline or end a career.

Good posture is defined as head in neutral position, shoulder blades back and down the thorax, spine with natural curvature, palms facing the body with thumbs anteriorly rotated, pelvis in neutral, pubic bone in line with the pelvis, and knees straight ahead. Any force is distributed evenly, muscles are balanced and relaxed, movement patterns are normal, and joints are open and loose with the core stable to allow energy (power) to flow through the body unhindered.

Posture is usually thought about just in context of the spine, but there is a lot more

to it. When I talk about posture in the weightroom, I am referring to the “girdle of strength,” core, hips, shoulders, and feet.

Girdle of strength: Joseph Pilates coined this term to name the muscles making up the center of the body, including the pelvic floor, transverse abdominus, internal obliques, and multifidus. These four muscles form a natural corset that draws up and in, creating a strong center from which smooth, easy, and safe movements start.

The muscles in the girdle of strength are stabilizers, so they are the first and deepest layer of muscles that contribute to creating a tall, stable spine to support the body, transfer power, and make movements efficient.

The girdle of strength’s function is to prevent or stabilize movement rather than initiate it.

Core: Though traditionally defined as the abdominals, the core actually encompasses everything located between the hips (pelvis and glutes) and the shoulder girdles.

The core muscles in the hips need to be flexible and the core muscles in the trunk need to be strong. Combined, they make up the powerhouse of an elite softball player. A strong core allows energy to flow from the center of the body out to the arms and legs.

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Hips: The hip is a ball and socket joint made up of the pelvis, gluteal, hip flexor, adductor, and abductor. Movement at this complex joint depends on the teamwork of all the surrounding muscles. For example, if a player’s girdle of strength is weak, then big mobilizers like the hip flexors and hamstrings will do much of the work, creating an imbalance.

KL posture usually creates imbalances and eventually injuries due to the pelvis being anteriorly rotated (tilted forward), which has an affect on the spine and hips.

The forward tilt creates too much curvature in the spine, shortening the erector spinae and hip flexors while creating weakness in the gluteals due to tightness in the hamstrings. When stiffness or tightness is present, an athlete’s body will find a way to work around it, expending extra energy and decreasing power and speed.

Shoulders: Throwing athletes who exhibit KL posture tend to have abducted scapula, weakened lower trapezius, lengthened serratus anterior, and slumping due to tight anterior deltoids and pectorals. On the surface, a lengthened serratus anterior is an advantage for a softball player because it allows the athlete to throw further and

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING harder. But this is only a short-term benefit.

Eventually, the internal rotation of the shoulders shortens the latissimi, pectoralis, and subscapularis, causing the muscles in the upper back (rhomboids, trapezius, infrasinatus, and teres minor) to lengthen.

This creates dysfunction and weakness at the shoulder joint. If the athlete continues to work around the weakness, an injury will likely occur.

Feet: The foundation of the body, the feet are also crucial for good alignment.

Most athletes forget about the importance of their feet because they have come to rely on sneakers, cleats, and/or orthotics to stabilize them. However, when using shoes and orthotics for stabilization, the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the feet become untrained and unresponsive to the stresses produced by playing sports.

A player who has weak feet and limited range of motion at the ankle will see their

Before each new exercise begins, the players complete a posture check: toes straight ahead, knees in line with toes and not collapsing in, girdle up and in, pubic bone titled forward, chest open with shoulder blades back and down—like putting your shoulder blades in your back pockets—and neck long with head held high.

Every movement of the warmup, from a jog to tin soldiers to leg swings, must be done with good posture by every player or the entire team starts over. Focusing on proper movement of the body from the start prepares it for the more advanced exercises that come later in the workout.

After the athletes are awake and aware of how their bodies are moving, they complete supersets of balance and glute activation exercises. Generally speaking, softball players have “glute amnesia” due to their KL posture. Glute amnesia is a term Cook uses to explain that due to athletes’ bad posture

alignment and push strength up the kinetic chain.

A quick posture check to realign is completed if needed. To train quick feet, we use jump ropes, cones, ladders, hurdles, lines, and The Cube, which help improve ground contact time and multi-directional movement. Of all the tools out there, my favorite is the jump rope. It can be used by athletes at all levels to improve ground contact time, coordination, stamina, and posture. Jumping rope also promotes good alignment from the feet up, and it gives the athlete immediate feedback if their body is misaligned or out of sync. Good posture is necessary for power and speed in this activity.

Olympic variations: Triple extension is key to success for athletes in all sports, and the best way to improve it is through full body Olympic movements and medicine ball throws. However, our softball players do

“Big butts, big power” is something you can hear our players saying around the weightroom pretty often. We squat, and we squat heavy, but not until the athlete is ready and their posture can handle the load on their back through full range of motion. performance suffer. This reliance also increases the chance of injury by creating an imbalanced, dysfunctional weak link.

BAMA WORKOUTS

Training proper posture is a never-ending task, but it is one that can be done during any team activity. In the weightroom, I prescribe a traditional workout and focus on posture in each exercise we do.

During the off-season, the team lifts three days a week. Each lifting session is 90 minutes long and it includes a warmup, quick feet drills, Olympic variation lifts, and lower body, upper body (including shoulder prehab), and core work. Here’s a glance at the team’s lifting day workouts, including how posture is a focus in each part.

Warmup: The team lines up on the 20-yard line of the turf field three mornings a week, barefoot and ready to begin its warmup. Movements consist of dynamic stretches, balance work, and glute activation. Warming up barefoot—without tape or socks—allows the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the feet to strengthen, which promotes good alignment and force absorption up the kinetic chain from the ankle, knee, and hip.

18 Coaching Management 2012

and their reliance on big mobilizers rather than the core to stabilize, their gluteals stop working in the right pattern for movement.

The glutes essentially shut down, which creates tightness and shortening in the big moblizers, putting a kink in the chain.

We use scales and excursions to increase strength of the stabilizers in the feet and lower legs, and to reiterate girdle of strength activation to promote movement and not create it. Players also complete mini band walks forward, backward, and laterally for five to 10 yards along with variations of bird dogs, clams, or bridges—all while focusing on using the glutes to stabilize the pelvis, which allows the hamstrings and hip flexors to mobilize.

Quick feet: After the warmup is complete, the nervous system needs to be primed for the workout that will follow. During the first few weeks of the fall off-season, freshmen and players who didn’t stay on campus over the summer put their sneakers back on for this portion of the workout so we don’t over-train their feet. Upperclassmen and those who were on campus over the summer continue the workout barefoot. Each week, the players progress a little further into the quick feet section while barefoot in order to continue promoting good body

not clean, snatch, or jerk. Instead, we train Olympic variations. Using Olympic pulls and med balls in movements similar to Olympic lifts allows the athletes to reap the benefits of power without the risk of injury.

Players pull from the ground, hang, and rack, but never complete the catch portion of the lift. Posture and triple extension can be trained through the pulls without the athlete having to decelerate the bar at the shoulder, which can lead to an increased risk of shoulder injury. Prior to each pull, the player must complete a posture check, which ensures their spine and core are in position to hold strong so that power can smoothly transfer from the ground up.

Med balls are also used for power production and promoting triple extension.

Granny throws, overhead backward throws, squat to presses, and many other variations are used to promote proper body alignment and posture for max power production.

Lower body: “Big butts, big power” is something you can hear our players saying around the weightroom pretty often. We squat, and we squat heavy, but not until the athlete is ready and their posture can handle the load on their back through full range of motion. Posture checks take place and are coached throughout the entire lift. If I see CoachesNetwork.com

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someone losing form and not working through full range of motion, then the weight is lowered to allow for proper body alignment and posture.

Single-leg squat and lunge variations are also used. They include lunges in all directions, step-ups, rear foot-elevated squats, and overhead squats. Each of these movements promotes and encourages good posture. Unlike the squat, the single-leg exercises are more similar to sport-specific movements. Teaching the athletes how to not only stand with good posture, but also how to move multidirectionally with good posture will have more carryover onto the field.

After working the multi-joint lifts, the posterior of the body needs to be addressed.

To do this, we use partner glute ham raises, leg curl variations, and Romanian deadlift variations. Most female athletes are quaddominant and have tight hamstrings and weak glutes, which creates imbalances in the body and increases the chance of injury all the way up the kinetic chain. Placing lateral band walks, lateral squats, and lateral lunges into the workout teaches the body to maintain posture while fielding, running the bases, pitching, and hitting.

Upper body: Next, the team progresses to upper body work, which includes one chest exercise for every four (to five) back exercises. The one-to-four ratio helps create better posture and shoulder strength because it balances out the players’ actions on the field. Fielding, running, hitting, and pitching are all anterior-strengthening movements. Therefore, in the weightroom, we work more on the posterior muscles.

I prescribe the team a heavy bench press along with many different variations of the press, including incline, speed, or dynamic presses, dumbbell work, band work, and pushups. As with all of our exercises, posture is something we focus in on. When completing a bench or incline press, athletes are expected to firmly plant their feet on the ground, pull their girdle of strength up and in, open the chest and push the shoulder blades back and down to create a solid and stable base.

A lot of softball teams no longer include the traditional bench press in their workouts, but this lift gives the athletes confidence and the opportunity for a little intra-team competition. If done correctly and with the one-to-four ratio at the right time of year (which for us is the off-season), the bench press can be a great exercise for softball athletes.

After a heavy bench press or variation, the players follow with one heavy back exercise plus three other posture or shoulder prehab exercises. My favorite back

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING exercises are the single-arm dumbbell row and all-purpose band rows (single- and double-arm). Both of these exercises require good posture to resist rotation. Other exercises include pull-ups, horizontal pull-ups, Hammer rows, and lat pull-downs.

The posture and shoulder prehab exercises are completed with body weight, light bands, or light dumbbells, working between 10 and 15 reps to increase the stamina of the postural muscles. My favorites are the reverse fly, Y-T-W, bird dog, external rotation, and 90/90 band row.

Along with the prehab work that players do in the weightroom, Softball Athletic Trainer Nick Seiler has set up a great shoulder care program for all freshman athletes and those with previous shoulder injuries.

Nick creates an environment for the athletes to achieve success by working with them one-on-one during shoulder care to make sure they demonstrate proper posture and body alignment during the movements, reinforcing the message they are hearing from me in the weightroom.

Core: We end every workout with a core section, even though a lot of core work has already taken place. The athletes complete four to five exercises such as sit-ups, Russian

twists, supermans, crunches, wipers, planks, and other traditional movements. These exercises are completed in one to three sets, with 10 to 25 reps in each, depending on where we are in the off-season. On Wednesdays, the players complete a core circuit at the end of the workout that includes antirotation with bands, farmer holds with 25-pound plates, traditional core work, and back extensions.

We concentrate on posture in each of these ordinary core exercises in our own way. For example, when doing the superman, the athletes are told to pull their belly button away from the ground to pull the girdle of strength up and in. When doing crunches, they are told to pull their belly toward the ground to create a strong, stable center.

OUTSIDE THE WEIGHTROOM

Good posture can also be developed anywhere and anytime during an athlete’s day— while sitting in class, driving, or doing homework, for example. As the athletes grow more aware and conscious of their bodies, they will be able to practice great posture throughout the day, now realizing

that what had previously felt natural may not be.

In addition to hearing my coaching cues throughout their workouts, our softball players also hear me talking about good posture to my assistants, interns, and athletic training students. “Traps out of your ears” is a favorite phrase of mine. Because the athletes hear it so much, I often see them fixing their posture themselves before I say anything. I know I’ve done my job well when I hear a sophomore telling a teammate, “Get your traps out of your ears and stand tall!”

Coach Murphy and his staff preach the mentality that champions give “that little extra.” This could be the team’s intensity, ownership, dedication, passion, or focus. In the weightroom, I contribute to that mentality by coaching and enforcing a little extra on the players’ posture. CM

A version of this article was previously published in Coaching Management’s sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

More articles from T&C can be found at: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

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7 0 8 1 3 t h S t . , S W, A l t o o n a , I o w a 5 0 0 0 9 Circle No. 111 20 Coaching Management 2012

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adidas...........................................112 5055 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217 971-284-2800 www.adidas.com

Buckeye Showdown Recruitfest....318 6540 West Central Ave Toledo, OH 43617 419-841-2596 www.fastpitchshowdowns.com

All-Star Sporting Goods.... 327, 426 1 Main St Shirley, MA 01464 800-777-3810 www.all-starsports.com

BuntDown Bat.............................702 49 Calumet Road Holyoke, MA 01040 413-552-9511 www.buntdownbat.com

American Int’l Sports Teams (AIST)..311 18212 East 50th Terrace Ct. Independence, MO 64055 816-866-0632 www.AIST.us

Buster’s Design Team..................122 421 Second Street Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-913-2781 www.bustersdesignteam.com

Atlanta Legacy Showcase..........516 722 Main St Forest Park, GA 30297 404-557-7585 www.legacyshowcase.com

C & H Softball........................526 10615 Technology Terrace #100 Bradenton, FL 34211 800-248-5192 www.c-hsoftball.com It’s your turn at bat. C & H Softball has been providing professional equipment for 44 years. In 2012, its team developed practice screens and a batting cage just for softball.

See ad on page 23

Baden Sports...............................121 34114 21st Ave S Federal Way, WA 98003 800-544-2998 www.badensports.com Baseball Racks.............................414 2908 W 99th Place Evergreen Park, IL 60805 708-636-1047 www.baseballracks.com Better Softball.............................813 132 Carruth Dr Marietta, GA 30060 800-997-4233 www.bettersoftball.com BigSigns.com...............................700 22 South Harbor Drive, Ste. 101 Grand Haven, MI 49417 800-790-7611 www.bigsigns.com Boombah............................. 219, 221 202 Boombah Blvd Yorkville, IL 60560 630-385-7703 www.boombah.com BowNet........................................515 4690 Calle Quetzal Camarillo, CA 93012 866-950-6387 www.thebownet.com BSN Sports...................................421 1901 Diplomat Drive Farmers Branch, TX 75234 800-527-7510 www.bsnsports.com 22 Coaching Management 2012

Clear Vision Publishing...............703 301 Hwy 9 Manalapan, NJ 07726 908-510-8644 www.cvpublishing.com Clell Wade Coaches Directory....309 P.O. Box 177 Cassville, MO 65625 877-386-4840 www.coachesdirectory.com Coaching Management….710 20 Eastlake Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-257-6970 www.athleticmanagement.com Combat Sports.................... 507, 509 6651 South 216th Street Kent, WA 98031 866-266-2287 www.combatsportsgroup.com Crossover Symmetry......... 216, 218 5405 W. 56th Ave, Unit H Arvada, CO 80002 303-403-0126 www.gocrossover.com

Disney Sports—ESPN Wide World of Sports.......................................803 P.O. Box 10000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 407-938-3801 www.espnwwos.com Easton Sports..............226, 227, 326 7855 Haskell Ave. Van Nuys, CA 91046 818-718-1587 www.eastonsoftball.com ESPN Coaches Fundraising Program.....409 P.O Box 10,000 Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 407-947-4021 www.coaches.espn.com Evoshield............................. 306, 308 300 Commerce Blvd.

Bogart, GA 30622 770-725-2724 www.evoshield.com FieldwallPads.com......................116 1791 Page Ave., Clarion, IA 50525 800-257-6405 www.fieldwallpads.com Front Rush....................................419 287 S. Main St, Suite 12 Lambertville, NJ 08530 215-489-2100 www.frontrush.com Frozen Ropes Baseball Co..........110 24 Old Black Meadow Rd Chester, NY 10918 845-469-7331 www.frozenropes.com G Tee Batting Tees.......................410 1721 N.E 19th Ave. Ocala, FL 34470 877-448-4833 www.thegtee.com GameChanger..............................412 13 E. 16th St, Flr 6 New York, NY 10003 202-642-5333 www.GameChanger.io girls got game.............................804 131 Main Street, Ste 1 Geneseo, NY 14454 866-600-9905 www.girlsgotgame.com Jugs Sports, Inc................... 313, 315 11885 SW Herman Rd Tualatin, OR 97062 800-547-6843 www.jugssports.com

Lee County Sports Authority.....316 2305 Broadway Fort Myers, FL 33901 239-344-5201 www.leecountysports.org Lizard Skins..................................411 358 S. Mountain Way Dr Orem, UT 84058 801-229-9099 www.lizardskinsbaseball.com M.A.S.A. Inc................... 413, 415 1413 S. Meridian Road Jasper, IN 47546 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com M.A.S.A. is your source for quality athletic field maintenance equipment and training devices.

The company specializes in baseball, softball, soccer, football, and basketball equipment at competitive prices.

See ad on page 17 Mizuno USA................205, 207, 209 3520 Ridgewood Drive Loomis, CA 95650 916-652-2257 www.mizunousa.com MotionPro! By CyberAccess123....407 PO Box 86 Cary, NC 27512 888-407-9665 www.motionprosoftware.com National Pro Fastpitch................217 3350 Hobson Pike Hermitage, TN 37076 615-232-2900 www.profastpitchcom National Sports Products.....123 3441 S. 11th Ave Eldridge, IA 52748 800-478-6497 www.nationalsportsproducts.com We offer a full line of softball equipment including batting tunnels, protective screens, windscreens, field covers, helmets, catcher’s gear, bats, gloves, training aids, and equipment holders.

See ad on page 23 NCSA Athletic Recruiting...........310 1415 N. Dayton St., 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60642 866-495-7089 www.ncsasports.org

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Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program. 108 1128 SE 70th Ave. Hillsboro, OR 97123 503-848-7889 www.speedbat.com Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program includes Nemo’s Speed Training Bat, single-handed bat, triple-hitting tee, and five instructional DVDs. This year’s new product, Coach Nemo & Friends DVD, is now available.

See ad on page 24 Nokona.........................................801 105 Clay St. Nocona, TX 76255 800-433-0957 www.nokona.com O’Brien Sports.............................606 P.O. Box 470089 Celebration, FL 34747 973-953-2992 www.obriensportsllc.com

On Deck Sports................... 111, 113 88 Spark Street Brockton , MA 02302 508-580-6171 www.ondecksports.com

Pickle-Ball.....................................608 810 NW 45th St Seattle, WA 98107 800-377-9915 www.pickleball.com

Pro Look Sports.................. 508, 510 1325 S. 800 E. #315 Orem, UT 84097 800-PRO-LOOK www.ProLook.com

Osborne Innovative Products........................ 413, 415 1413 S. Meridian Road Jasper, IN 47546 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com M.A.S.A. is your source for quality athletic field maintenance equipment and training devices.

The company specializes in baseball, softball, soccer, football, and basketball equipment at competitive prices.

See ad on page 17

Pocket Radar, Inc...................214 3535 Industrial Drive, Suite A4 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 888-381-2672 www.pocketradar.com Pocket Radar, Inc., produces innovative training tools, including the world’s smallest full performance radar gun. Used by championship winning coaches to improve their pitching, hitting, and running.

See ad on page 16

ProGlider Bats..................... 512, 514 9710 Owensmouth Ave Chatsworth, CA 91311 877-395-2287 www.progliderbats.com

Own The Zone Sports.................211 2345 N. Houston St #712 Dallas, TX 75219 972-975-0629 www.ownthezonesports.com

Pointstreak Sports Technologies.....705 50 Minthorn Blvd, Sye 400 Thornhill, Ontario L3T 7X8 905-731-9867 www.pointstreak.com

Rebel Spring Games...................119 1201 Beckwith Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505 www.rebelspringgames.com RevFire Corporation.............304 2143 Willow Creek Dr. Boulder, CO 80301 800-414-3040 www.revfire.com RevFire Corporation provides pitchers and coaches advanced training tools that are unparalleled in advancing pitching skills.

See ad on page 25

Your Online Source for

SOFTBALL EQUIPMENT

IT’S YOUR TURN AT BAT! Visit us at the NFCA National Convention

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Coaching Management 2012 23

RightView Pro….Booth 208 27 Middleridge Lane South Rolling Hills, CA 90274 301-377-9221 www.rightviewpro.com Motion analysis software & training See ad on page 21 Ringor.................................. 104, 106 7929 SW Burns Way, Suite C Wilsonville, OR 97070-7678 800-746-4670 www.ringor.com Rip-It....................305, 307, 404, 406 4210 LB McCleod Rd Orlando, FL 32811 888-957-4748 www.ripitsportinggoods.com

Russell Brands..................... 416, 418 1 Fruit of the Loom Drive Bowling Green, KY 42101 270-746-0600 www.russellathletic.com

Softball Excellence......................304 4211 Saltwater Blvd.

Tampa, FL 33615 813-417-0238 www.sotballexcellence.com

Scoutware , LLC...........................506 954 W. Washington Blvd, Ste 640 Chicago, IL 60607 312-651-6626 www.scoutware.com

Softball Powerdrive........... 220, 222 227 Arlington St Framingham, MA 01702 252-469-5813 www.softballpowerdrive.com

Select Hospitality........................427 1109 W. Main St Boise, ID 83702 208-475-4985 www.selecthospitality.net

Sports Attack.........................522 2805 U.S. 40 Verdi, NV 89439 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com Sports Attack is a manufacturer of professional sports training equipment. Baseball, softball, football, volleyball, tennis, and soccer are all covered--for all levels, beginner to pro.

See ad on page IFC

Shoeless Joe................................109 600 Main St Hays, KS 67601 855-563-4568 www.shoelessjoellc.com

Rixstine Recognition.......... 126, 127 2350 ‘O’ Street Lincoln, NE 68510 402-476-3810 www.rixstine.com

Slow the Game Down................423 1100 S. Coast Hwy, #203 Laguna Beach, CA 92651 866-627-3400 www.slowthegamedown.com

Sports Tutor, Inc. ...............401, 500, 501, 600, 601 3300 Winona Ave. Burbank, CA 91504 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com Sports Tutor is a leading manufacturer of pitching machines for baseball and softball featuring programmable models, Homeplate, and the Triple Play Premier.

See ad on page 5 Sports USA ..................................107 26072 Merit Circle, Suite 112 Laguna Hills, CA 92653 800-613-8002 www.sportsusaelite.com Stabilizer Solutions, Inc.........405 33 S. 28th Street Phoenix, AZ 85043 602-225-5900 www.stabilizersolutions.com Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. is advancing the evolution of natural soil for baseball and softball fields.

See ad on page 16

Order Now! Introducing the 5th DVD from Coach Nemo & Friends – Length is 2 Hours and 12 minutes –

Featuring Coaches From Ashland University – Sheilah Gulus

Linfield College – Jackson Vaughan

Glencoe H.S. – Jacy Jukula

Oregon Tech – Greg Stewart

ESSD – Kyle Lunde

Parker Training System – Sparky Parker

Kent State University – Karen Linder

Wayne State University – Gary Bryce

Lee University – Emily Moore Russell “Coach Nemo is an excellent teacher and innovator. He thoroughly understands the entire hitting process. We use his products daily on our hitting circuits at the University of Tennessee.”

– Coach Weekly

University of Tennessee, Co-Coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly. Career Record (1.015-343-2)

w w w. s p eed bat. c o m | 1 .5 0 3 .8 4 8 .7 8 8 9 Circle No. 116

NFCA Booth No. 108

Summit America Insurance Services........................................802 7400 College Blvd., Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66210 913-327-0200 x114 www.summitamerica-ins.com The Bench Coach.........................120 912 Bristlewood Dr McKinney, TX 75070 972-740-5417 www.TheBenchCoach.com The Fastpitch School...................511 900 S. Meadows Pkwy #714 Reno, NV 813-335-4487 www.thefastpitchschool.com The Softball Factory....................806 9176 Red Branch Rd Suite M Columbia, MD 21045 855-822-5115 www.softballfactory.com

Total Control Sports....................408 2000 S. 25th Ave, Unit 1 Broadview, IL 60155 708-486-5800 www.totalcontrolsports.com Tucson Invitational Games.........704 702 S. Craycroft Rd, Ste F Tucson, AZ 85711 520-777-7680 www.tigsports.com Under Armour.................... 223, 322 1020 Hull St. Baltimore, MD 21230 410-246-1801 www.underarmour.com USA Baseball Women’s National Team.............................................317 403 Blackwell St Durham, NC 27701 919-474-8721 www.usabaseball.com

Vero Beach Sports Village....114 4003 26th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960 866-656-4900 www.vbsportsvillage.com This 79-acre sports and conference center provides your team with the ideal setting to grow and better prepare for your upcoming season.

See ad on page 13 Virtual Softball Academy Powered

by USA Elite Training......... 518, 520 45 R Ozick Dr, #16 Durham, CT 06422 860-349-1771 www.virtualsoftballacademy. com Vizual Edge..................................505 6 East Phillip Road, Ste 1110 Vernon Hills, IL 60061 847-816-3131 www.vizualedge.com

Wilson Sporting Goods.............321, 323, 420, 422 8750 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue Chicago, IL 60631 773-714-6400 www.wilson.com Worth Sports...................... 115, 117 6707 Keaton Corporate Pkwy O’Fallon, MO 63368 314-819-2800 www.worthsports.com WSI Sports...................................805 1325 Eagandale Blvd. #170 Eagan, MN 55121 651-994-9945 www.WSISports.com Xtreme Fastpitch.........................504 1770 Brunswick Pike Trenton, NJ 08638 800-880-3142 www.xtremefastpitch.com These companies are exhibiting at the NFCA convention (as of Oct. 27, 2012).

Information was provided by the NFCA.

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See our Web Page at: www.memphisnet.net or e-mail us at: sportsinfo@memphisnet.net Circle No. 117

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NFCA Booth No. 304 Untitled-1 1

Circle No. 118 Coaching Management 2012 25 11/8/06 10:08:14 AM

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Products on Display Advanced Soil

Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. is advancing the evolution of natural soil for baseball and softball fields. The company offers advanced mound clays, as well as infield and warning track mixes in both its Stabilizer ® organic and Hilltopper ® waterless product lines. As the official playing surface of the NFCA, Stabilizer ® “Pro Red” Infield Mix and Hilltopper ® Waterless Mound Clay save time while providing protection from the elements.

Stabilizer Solutions, Inc. • 800-336-2468 www.stabilizersolutions.com

Circle No. 527

Realistic Batting Practice

The Softball e-Hack Attack Programmable Pitching Machine has made its debut.

Now you can simply input any change in speed, location, or pitch-type to deliver any fastball, right- or left-hand screwball, riser, or drop. Set pitches in any sequence, weighted, or random to work on weaknesses or to prepare for an upcoming pitcher. This unit is an electronic version of the tried and true Hack Attack. Provide one of the most realistic batting practices your team has ever experienced with the e-Hack Attack.

Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

Circle No. 501

The Right Ball For You

M.A.S.A. carries softballs made by Dudley, Worth, Wilson, Diamond, and Champro. These balls vary for NFHS, ASA, and NCAA events.

They range in core, compression, and stitching, and come in leather or synthetic material. Let M.A.S.A.’s sales professionals help you find the ball that you’re looking for at some of the most competitive prices in the country.

M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com

Circle No. 500

The new Douglas® Double Batting Tunnel Frames share center poles to allow side-by-side installation eliminating the need for extra poles and ground footings. These heavy-duty frames feature the same high-quality craftsmanship as the single Douglas® frames constructing from four-inch square heavy steel with a black powder coat finish to add extra resistance to the elements. Adjustable crossbars feature Allied’s® Superior zinc Flo-coat ® galvanization process for maximum protection. This product boasts a five-year warranty.

CoachesNetwork.com

Pocket Radar™ is a multi-purpose training tool designed and proven to help you win more games. Used by championship-winning teams across the country, the Pocket Radar can help improve your hitting, pitching, running, and fielding. As the world’s smallest full performance radar gun, the Pocket Radar allows you to accurately make speed and quickness measurements easily on the field every day for under $200. Accurate to +/- 1 MPH, it has a 120foot range on a softball, and gives over 10,000 readings on one set of 2 AAA batteries.

Pocket Radar, Inc. • 888-381-2672 www.pocketradar.com

Circle No. 530

Circle No. 504

Program Your Pitches

The HomePlate Softball programmable pitching machine can simulate any pitch that batters are likely to face. It can automatically throw a 70-mile-per-hour riser, a 50-mile-per-hour drop pitch, a curve, and a slider with only seven seconds between pitches. Coaches can store up to eight different pitches in each of the eight programs.

Programmed pitches can be thrown sequentially for specific hitting drills, or randomly to simulate game conditions.

HomePlate features an auto-feed system and a 40-ball capacity. The HomePlate Softball Model costs $6,995.

Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com

Circle No. 505

Designed for Softball

C & H Softball redesigned its signature portable batting cage with softball in mind, naming it “The Riser.” The Riser is smaller than C & H’s signature cage, which opens up the infield for a new perspective—and enhances the unique softball hitting mechanics. The Riser is 16’ deep x 9’ high x 9.5’ wide. It utilizes one-inch aluminum pipe, 18-inch golf cart tires, and heavy 36-gauge nylon netting. This all adds up to a professional-quality softball batting cage that is easily moved and will elevate the quality of your field products.

C&H Softball • 800-248-5192 www.c-hsoftball.com

Heavy-Duty Frames

National Sports Products • 800-478-6497 www.nationalsportsproducts.com

Improve Your Game

Circle No. 506

Quality Time

Vero Beach Sports Village provides the ideal setting to enable your team to grow together, and better prepare for your upcoming season.

Everything you need is here at this 79-acre sports and conference center. The complex can be configured to accommodate a variety of sports. It features an abundance of competition and practice fields, along with on-site housing, dining, and recreation, allowing your team to spend quality time together on and off the field.

Vero Beach Sports Village • 772-257-8557 www.vbsportsvillage.com

Circle No. 507 Coaching Management 2012 27

Products on Display Quick and Dependable

National Sports Products, a division of Douglas Industries, Inc., is a leader in supplying superior windscreens for any sports facility. With the company’s advanced printing technology, four-color unlimited printing opportunities are offered.

Environmentally friendly, UV curable inks that will withstand the elements are used. Windscreens are custom made for your specifications and of course Douglas’s meticulous reputation guarantees superior workmanship for a reliable finished product. Dependable customer service and fast lead times will get your windscreen project completed on time.

National Sports Products • 800-478-6497 www.nationalsportsproducts.com

Circle No. 526

Learn from the Top

Coach Nemo is releasing his fifth instructional DVD at the NFCA Coaches Convention.

This DVD features some of his close coaching associates from the college level, including: Sheilah Gulus, Ashland University; Karen Linder, Kent State University; Emily Moore Russell, Lee University; Jackson Vaughan, Linfield College; Greg Stewart, Oregon Tech; and Gary Bryce, Wayne State University. Other contributors include Jacy Jukkula from Glencoe (Ore.) High School, and Sparky Parker a Pro Hitting Consultant from Washington. Each coach will present two of their favorite drills and have their players demonstrate it.

Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program • 503-848-7889 www.coachnemo.com Circle No. 503

Durable Protection

M.A.S.A. offers a wide variety of Osborne screens and nets. Osborne protective screens have been highly regarded by coaches as some of the most durable and versatile equipment available. Maximumstrength #72 braided nylon netting and HD galvanized steel ensure years of performance. Innovative features include rotating and telescoping legs for compact storage; height-adjustable frames for infinite positioning and transport options; and swivel-style L-screen tops for right- and left-handed pitchers. M.A.S.A.’s wide variety of sizes and styles can meet any requirement.

M.A.S.A. • 800-264-4519 www.sportsadvantage.com

Push-Button Convenience

Batting practice just got easier. With the TriplePlay Pro Softball Pitching Machine, you simply push a button to choose the type of pitch you want— including risers, sinkers, curves, drop curves, screwballs, and drop screwballs. The pitch speed is adjustable from 35 to 70 miles per hour, and 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 Pro features a three-wheel pitching mechanism for greater accuracy, and two large transport wheels make it simple to move to and from the field. The TriplePlay Pro Softball costs $2,995.

Sports Tutor • 800-448-8867 www.sportsmachines.com

Circle No. 510

Protection Without Compromise

C&H Softball is debuting its newly designed Pitcher’s L Screen for softball. This screen allows the pitcher the full-range of arm motion while protecting their entire body, and it allows for proper pitching mechanics with no compromise. The Pitcher’s L Screen is manufactured with heavy nylon netting, one-inch aluminum pipe, and eight-inch wheels.

C&H Softball • 800-248-5192 www.c-hsoftball.com

Circle No. 511

Develop Strong Movement

The RevFire® measures the spin of pitches as well as the speed, enabling coaches to pinpoint areas in need of improvement. Coaches report that using the RevFire increases pitcher spin awareness— and motivation to increase spin rate—which enables pitchers to develop strong movement on the ball. A growing number of professional coaches rely on RevFire spin stats for assessing potential pitching recruits. Learn more by checking out the RevFire online.

RevFire Corporation • 866-414-3040 www.revfire.com

Circle No. 502

Accurate and Easy to Use

The Junior Hack Attack Softball Pitching Machine will make it seem like a live pitcher is there. With the Junior Hack Attack’s three-wheel design, you’ll see the ball clearly all the way through the feeding motion, acceleration, and release. The hitter will be able to see when to stride, and the angle of release, which will give an actual live-arm sense of timing and location.

The White Line Chalker family is now better than ever. White Line Equipment has maintained the same institutional strength and quality you have come to expect--but several new features have been added, making them more accurate and easier to use. Don’t be confused by low-quality, imported imitations--with more than 30 years of line-marking experience, White Line Equipment has produced some of the most durable, advanced, and user-friendly line of markers available. Professional teams, universities, schools, park and recreation departments, and leagues have used these markers extensively worldwide.

Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com

White Line Equipment • 877-717-2892 www.whitelineequipment.com

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Clear Vision

28 Coaching Management 2012

Circle No. 509

Circle No. 529 CoachesNetwork.com

More Products Supports Muscle Rebuilding

G Series Protein Recovery Beverage is a protein and carbohydrate beverage formulated with the consistency of a thirst quencher. It has an effective amount of protein that contains essential amino acids needed to help support muscle rebuilding after training or competition.

G Series Recover should be consumed within about 60 minutes after exercise for maximum muscle benefit.

Gatorade • 800-884-2867 www.gatorade.com

Circle No. 512

For Better Fields

Diamond Pro has a complete line of professional groundskeeping products, including infield conditioners; calcined clay; mound and home plate clay; bricks; marking dust; and infield and warning track mixes. The company offers fast and convenient delivery.

Diamond Pro’s vitrified red clay infield conditioner is available in bulk nationwide, and is easy to handle and apply. Truckloads are available in 10-, 15-, and 24-ton loads that save you both time and money.

TXI/Diamond Pro • 800-228-2987 www.diamondpro.com

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Interested in advancing your coaching career or breaking into this highly rewarding field?

Then the Florida State University Graduate Certificate in Coaching is a promising place to start. The program, which requires 12 credit hours over four online courses, provides advanced coaching education to give you an edge in this extremely competitive field. For program requirements, admissions, cost and course descriptions, visit FSU online.

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Many Satisfied Customers

Beam Clay® has supplied products to every Major League Baseball team, more than 150 minor league teams, more than 700 colleges, and thousands of towns and schools. Beam Clay supplies special mixes for infields, pitcher’s mounds, home plate areas, red warning tracks, infield conditioners, and drying agents, plus more than 200 other infield products, including regional infield mixes blended for every state and climate from bulk plants nationwide.

Beam Clay • 800-247-BEAM www.beamclay.com CoachesNetwork.com

Develop strong first-step quickness with the Power Stepper™. This product is a great tool to develop strong lateral movement for players who want to enhance their game.

Start with intermediate resistance to teach and perfect their skill—then graduate to advanced and elite resistance. The padded ankle cuffs are extra long to accommodate more users. Each unit includes a 10-inch tube, and padded cuffs with Velcro® straps. The price for the Power Stepper ranges from $20 to $25.

Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.powersystems.com

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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 “skill-specific” 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. The company also offers its own line of batting cages and screens, sold direct to save you money.

Muhl Tech • 888-766-8772 www.muhltech.com

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Surprisingly Value-Priced

Get an Edge with FSU

Florida State University • 850-644-4298 www.coe.fsu.edu/sportcoaching

Enhance Their Game

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The Tuffy ® Windscreen lasts many years because it’s made of AerFlo’s exclusive VIPOL® Matrix.

It’s the official windscreen of the U.S. Professional Tennis Association, and is a superpremium product but surprisingly value priced. Used by NCAA, MLB, NFL, and thousands of high school teams the Tuffy ® Windscreen is available in 20 standard colors including purple, burnt orange, sky blue, and true scarlet.

With Chroma-Bond Imprinting, your team’s logos and colors will not fade like digital printing. This product comes with a five-year factory warranty.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com

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Full Speed Ahead

Improve linear speed, agility, and power with the TurfCordz® Modular Speed Belt. Designed for speed-assisted and resisted running exercises, this two-person system allows the lead to run against resistance provided by the trailing runner—then athletes can quickly change positions without removing the belts. The system includes a modular 20-foot heavy rubber tube with safety cord; mounting loop; and two two-inch adjustable Velcro® closure belts to fit up to a 52-inch waist.

NZ Manufacturing • 800-866-6621 www.turfcordz.com

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More Products Proven and Tested

Mar Mound Clay is proven and tested to improve over time. It holds together longer and reduces the amount of wear created by pitchers. A study shows it is easy to use immediately upon delivery, and with time will improve to create the ideal mound/plate area you desire. This product is easy to use and proven to last.

Southern Athletic Fields • 800-837-8062 www.mulemix.com

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Increases Strength

The purpose of Mini-Chutes is to increase strength and utilize space. The patented design of Mini-Chutes gives the athlete a feeling of a real softball with limited weight alterations. The Mini-Chute allows the athlete to generate up to 10 times the power during the throw in a condensed area, which increases arm strength and keeps the same form as if they were throwing a real softball.

Mini-Chutes • 515-681-6532 www.minichutes.com

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Pre-Game Fuel

G Series Energy Chews are a pre-game fuel in a convenient form.

They are designed to be used about 15 minutes prior to training or competition to provide energy from a concentrated blend of carbohydrates to fuel athlete performance. G Series Energy Chews help make carbohydrate energy rapidly available to working muscles for the start of activity, so athletes might feel the difference at the beginning of training or competition.

Gatorade • 800-884-2867 www.gatorade.com

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Meeting Your Specs

Memphis Net & Twine makes its products in the U.S., offering batting cages and backstops to meet customers’ exact specifications. The company also fabricates custom windscreens out of vinyl-coated polyester in 11 different colors. These windscreens can be made to any height or width. Memphis Net & Twine also sells benches, stadium bleachers, and tip-n-roll bleachers.

Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc. • 800-238-6380 www.memphisnet.net

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Teaches Visually

Color-coded targets on the Bunt Zone® Trainer teach the proper placement of bunts for a hit (yellow), sacrifice (green), and the deadly pitcher’s triangle (red) by visualization.

Tough vinyl-polyester mesh fabric lasts for years, and looks great. The Bunt Zone is currently used by scores of high school and college teams, and is widely accepted as one of the best bunt trainers available today. This product is stocked at the factory, but available only through authorized dealers.

Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com Circle No. 520

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, the company will buy it back.

Muhl Tech • 888-766-8772 www.muhltech.com Circle No. 521

Develop Power

Rope training is an effective way of developing power and explosiveness in muscle strength.

The Power Training Rope is designed to provide overall conditioning, by pushing the user’s stamina and grip strength. The Power Training Rope is available in two colors and four different lengths ranging from 30 feet to 100 feet. Power Systems also offers two different diameters—this contributes to weight differentiation, and provides a variety to suit the user’s needs. The price for the Power Training Rope ranges from $125 to $498.

Power Systems, Inc. • 800-321-6975 www.powersystems.com Circle No. 522 CoachesNetwork.com

Company Q&A

Preparation for All Types of Pitches

E

ast Clarendon High School Softball Coach Lisa Ard discusses using the Junior Hack Attack to improve her team’s game.

How has the Junior Hack Attack changed your practice/training?

We ordered our Junior Hack Attack in 2010 and it has made all the difference in our batting practices. The first day we used the Junior Hack Attack was an experience.

The student-athletes were used to hitting off of pitching machines that just throw the ball straight in, so when they first hit against the Junior Hack Attack, they did not hit well at all.

They were frustrated, yet challenged. The team was bound and determined to hit off this machine. They came to practice early and stayed late. They hit, and hit, and hit. They especially loved putting the Junior Hack Attack on the field to hit.

The team’s batting average went up about 100 points that year—from .322 to .418. We were keeping our eye on the ball all the time.

How has the Junior Hack Attack affected your team’s game performance?

My team goes into games a lot more confident. We believe we can hit any pitcher. Since 2010, my teams have had solid performances at the plate, and I believe the Junior Hack Attack has had a lot to do with that. It helps us prepare for all types of pitchers and pitching.

You mentioned that you planned to get a second Junior Hack Attack. How will that machine be incorporated into your training regiment?

I run two cages during practice: one of the machines pitches at 58 miles per hour, while the other runs at 48 miles per hour. I currently have a regular machine going

in the slow cage, but I am looking forward to purchasing another Junior Hack Attack for that cage.

The players get too complacent with pitches that run straight in to the plate, and they do not have to watch the ball to hit it. This type of practice creates bad habits at the plate. The Junior Hack Attack varies its pitches, and you have to keep your eye on the ball to make solid contact. I have found that it is a great teaching tool—even when I can’t be there to instruct each player with her hitting.

Lisa Ard has been teaching and coaching in South Carolina for 24 years. She is presently coaching the East Clarendon High School Softball Team in Turbeville, S. C. There, the Lady Wolverines have been region champions for the past seven consecutive years and district champions for the past six consecutive years.

Sports Attack | 800-717-4251 | www.sportsattack.com

CoachesNetwork.com

Coaching Management 2012 31

Directory

DOUBLE 6-4-3 PLAY

TM

INFIELD CONDITIONER

NEW PRODUCT

Advertisers Directory Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

101. . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 123. . . Athlete’s Guide to Nutrition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 105. . . Athletic Management Program Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 119. . . BEAM CLAY®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 114. . . C&H Softball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 116. . . Coach Nemo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 120. . . Diamond Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 109. . . Florida State University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 122. . . Gatorade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 108. . . M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 118. . . Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 112. . . Mini-Chutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 103. . . Muhl Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 115. . . National Sports Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 121. . . NFCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 107. . . Pocket Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 117. . . RevFire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 113. . . RightView Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 111. . . Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 100. . . Sports Attack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC 102. . . Sports Tutor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 106. . . Stabilizer Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 110. . . TurfCordz®/NZ Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 104. . . Vero Beach Sports Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Products Directory Circle #. . . . Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page #

PROFESSIONAL GROUNDSKEEPING PRODUCTS STAY CONNECTED

TO EVERYTHING DIAMOND PRO

32 Coaching Management 2012 No. 120 Circle

520. . . Aer-Flo (Bunt Zone® Trainer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 518. . . Aer-Flo (Tuffy® Windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 515. . . BEAM CLAY®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 511. . . C&H Softball (Pitcher’s L Screen). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 506. . . C&H Softball (The Riser). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 503. . . Coach Nemo’s Speed Hitting Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 519. . . Diamond Pro®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 514. . . Florida State University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 523. . . Gatorade (Energy Chews). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 512. . . Gatorade (Recovery Beverage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 508. . . M.A.S.A. (Osborne protective screens). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 500. . . M.A.S.A. (softballs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 531. . . Memphis Net & Twine Co., Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 525. . . Mini-Chutes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 521. . . Muhl Tech (Advanced Skills Tee). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 513. . . Muhl Tech (“skill-specific” training equipment). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 530. . . National Sports Products (Batting Tunnel Frames). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 526. . . National Sports Products (windscreens) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 504. . . Pocket Radar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 516. . . Power Systems (Power Stepper™). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 522. . . Power Systems (Power Training Rope) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 502. . . RevFire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 524. . . Southern Athletic Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 501. . . Sports Attack (e-Hack Attack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 509. . . Sports Attack (Junior Hack Attack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 505. . . Sports Tutor (HomePlate). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 510. . . Sports Tutor (TriplePlay Pro Softball). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 527. . . Stabilizer Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 517. . . TurfCordz®/NZ Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 507. . . Vero Beach Sports Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 529. . . White Line Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 CoachesNetwork.com

COMPANY YOU KEEP...

KELLY INOUYE-PEREZ PATRICK MURPHY MIKE CANDREA

Head Coach, Alabama 2012 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 1990

Head Coach, Arizona 2006 & ‘07 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 1987

Head Coach, UCLA 2010 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 1994

HEATHER TARR Head Coach, Washington 2009 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 1998

CAROL HUTCHINS

CLINT MYERS

Head Coach, Michigan 2005 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 1985

Head Coach, Arizona State 2008 & ‘11 NCAA I Champion NFCA Member since 2005

Although the NFCA was founded by college coaches, it has grown to over 4,000 members consisting of travel ball, high school, and college coaches. We offer memberships for all levels of fastpitch softball: NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA, NWAACC, High School, Travel Ball, Pro League, International, Athletes, Fans, Parents, and Businesses.

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Circle No. 122