2008 NFCA National Convention
December 10 - December 13, 2008

Convention Offerings | Pre-Convention Seminar | Keynote Speaker | How To Register

"Building the Prepared Athlete: Success through Strength and Conditioning"
Pre-Convention Seminar, December 9, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

National Convention, December 10 - 13

National Convention Exhibitor Show
December 11 & 12

Learn, Network and Discuss

•    Choose To Attend the Pre-Convention Seminar:
Brandon Marcello, USA Olympic Softball Team Director of Human Performance, has worked with some of the best softball athletes in the world. He'll discuss his methods in a four-hour pre-convention seminar, covering warm-up and recovery, position-specifc strength and development, answers to common questions and practice game-day nutrition. You can also send us specific questions.

•    More Than Two Days of Clinic Sessions by Excellent Speakers, Covering the Game:
Learn valuable drills and tips from some of the best speakers in softball today. Veteran coaches and national experts tell their secrets of the game.

•     The Latest Innovations in Softball Equipment, and Some Excellent Buys at the Silent Auction:
More than 70 different companies are expected for the Exhibitor Show, December 11 & 12. Learn about the newest in softball training technology and pick up great discounts at the Silent Auction, on display Friday.

•    Forums To Discuss Changes and Future of the Sport:
Thursday and Friday will feature business meetings for the individual membership groups, including a softball summit on Thursday afternoon for the exchanging of ideas. It’s the perfect time to discuss the key softball issues.

•    Lots of Networking Opportunities

"Building the Prepared Athlete: Success through Strength and Conditioning"

Pre-Convention Seminar, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Presented by Brandon Marcello, USA Olympic Softball Team Director of Human Performance

Gain knowledge of sport and position-specific training techniques used with top college programs and the USA Olympic Softball Team.

Some of the areas to be covered include: 

Warm-Up and Recovery

• Learn proper warm-up techniques that can help develop and maintain speed and strength;
• Find out how long a warm-up should take in-between multiple games;
• Understand techniques to aid in your athletes' recovery so they can stay "fresh" for postseason

Position-Specific Strength and Speed Development for Coaches (Hands-on interactive learning)

• Learn drills to improve speed on the bases and out of the box;
• Find out how to develop lateral movement;
• Know how to improve your pitcher's footwork through movement drills;
• Discover methods for training your team without a weight room - either on the field or in hotel rooms;
• Understand specific exercises for the female athlete.

Practical Game-Day Nutrition

• Know what and when to eat pre-game, post-game and in-between games;
• Find out what your pitcher should eat to maintain performance during the game;
• Learn what snacks to keep in the dugout;
• Understand the "buzz" behind energy drinks;
• Find out how to develop lateral movement.

Answers to Common Questions about Strength and Conditioning for Softball

• "Should my pitchers bench press?"
• "Are Olympic lifts good for you?"
• "Are there differences in training females vs. males?"
• "Will women get big lifting weights?"
• "Should my pitchers run long distance?"
• "At what age should players start lifting weights?"
• "How often should we lift in-season?"
• "What is the best way to start on the bases for speed?"
• And your specific questions sent to NFCA.

Brandon Marcello is the strength and conditioning coach for the USA Softball National Team. He works with the USA National Team on all aspects of strength and conditioning as well as nutritional plans.
Marcello has been developing strength and conditioning programs for the past decade and currently serves is the Director of Sports Performance at Stanford University. Prior to that, Marcello served as a strength and conditioning coach for various programs at Baylor LSU.
A recognized author, Marcello's work appears in various journals, stregnth and conditioning text books and periodicals.

Keynote Speaker - Christine Grant, Long-time Women's Athletics Leader

Christine Grant, former director of women's athletics at the University of Iowa and the 2007 recipient of the prestigious NCAA President's Gerald R. Ford Award, is the 2008 NFCA National Convention keynote speaker.

Currently an associate professor for the Department of Health and Sports Studies at Iowa, Grant has a long history in the Title IX arena. She testified before Congress several times and served as a consultant for the Civil Rights Title IX Task Force. She was a founding member of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and served in a variety of leadership roles within the organization, including president. She also served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) from 1987 to 1989.

Her honors have been frequent and many. Besides receiving the Gerald R. Ford Award, which honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for intercollegiate athletics on a continuous basis over the course of his or her career, Grant was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. In addition, she has been named the National Administrator of the Year by NACWAA and the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association; received the Billie Jean King Contribution Award from the Women's Sports Foundation; was selected as the 1996 NAGWS Honors Award recipient; received the 1998 NCAA Honda Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Wmen's Collegiate Athletics and the R. Tait McKenzie Award from AAHPERD at its 2000 Convention. In 2007, she was selected as one of the Top 100 Influential Sports Educators in America by the Institute of International Sport.

How to Register

General Registration — Please note that the convention fees are all-inclusive, except for the optional pre-convention seminar (Tuesday, December 9) and the golf and tennis tournaments (Wednesday, December 10). The NFCC Coaches College courses being held in conjunction with the convention require additional fees. Your convention registration fee covers all events except those mentioned above, through the afternoon of Saturday, December 13; this includes all receptions, luncheons, banquets and breakfasts.

Friday/Saturday Registration Only — For high school and travel ball coaches only able to attend Friday and Saturday, we are offering a special two-day only Early Bird Special rate — $250 for NFCA members and $375 for nonmembers. (You can join on the registration form to get the lower rate and receive NFCA membership benefits, including 12 issues of our official newspaper Fastpitch Delivery.) The two-day only rate includes continental breakfast Friday and Saturday, and lunch on both days. Two-day registrants who wish to attend the Friday night NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet may buy a ticket for $50 (please see form).

NFCA Attendee Refund Policy — Cancellations received prior to November 26 will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of $25. Cancellations after November 26 but prior to December 3 will receive a one-half refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations on or after December 3.

How to Register — You can access the online registration form by clicking here, or you can register by filling out the form included with the August Fastpitch Delivery. This information is also on the NFCA Forms page.