ATLANTA, Ga. – The 2015 NFCA National Convention concluded on Saturday afternoon with the Coaching Staff of the Year Brunch, Travel Ball Curriculum, “Drills, Drills, Drill”, speakers and roundtable presentations.
“What a fantastic event!” said interim Executive Director Carol Bruggeman. “There was a positive energy among all members throughout the entire convention. With a record-setting attendance and a sold out exhibit show, we sincerely hope all attendees and exhibitors left Atlanta with their ‘buckets full.’ The NFCA Convention is truly the greatest softball show on earth!”
The Coaching Staff of the Year brunch kicked off the final day recognizing coaches from all memberships (regionally & nationally). Five assistant coaches, Florida’s Jennifer Rocha (DI), Saint Leo’s Maddie Holub (DII), Alma College’s Phil Hansen (DIII), Central Methodist’s Gene Reardon (NAIA) and Salt Lake Community College’s Tara Bendt (NJCAA DI) received accolades for their tireless work and dedication to their respective program. The head coaches from the National Coaching Staffs of the Year were allowed to speak in front of and thank their peers.
The three-hour travel ball curriculum, featured a college head coaching panel of Washington’s Heather Tarr, Northern Illinois’ Christina Sutcliffe, North Georgia’s Mike Davenport, Eastern Connecticut’s Diana Pepin, Davenport’s McCall Salmon and Mount San Antonio College’s Ruby Rojas. The hour and a half panel allowed the members in attendance to take in college coach’s opinions on different travel ball topics, which included tournaments, educating your kids on the recruiting process, softball fundamentals and how to pick the school that’s right for the player not you.
NCSA did a segment on recruit education and mental skills coach Aaron Weintraub closed out the panel with an hour presentation titled “Training Mental Skills.”
Another portion of the morning was “Drills, Drills, Drills” where coaches shared their own drills on different parts of the game, which included Columbia assistant coach Emily Friedman (infield), College of Charleston’s assistant coach Ashley Chastain (pitching) and co-head coach Jamie Traschsel (outfield) of North Dakota State.
Follow lunch, roundtable topics allowed coaches to be interactive with three of the four forums. This year’s topics and speakers included – “Making a Transition From Assistant to Head Coach” with head coaches Courtney Deifel (Arkansas), Larissa Anderson (Hofstra) and Jen McIntyre (Connecticut); “Life/Work Balance, Moms & Dads” with assistant coach Tony Baldwin (Georgia), head coach Deanna Gumpf (Notre Dame), assistant coach Joanna Lane (Central Michigan) and head coach Meaggan Pettipiece (Northwood); “Arm Care and Injury Prevention for Softball Players “with physical therapist Sheri Walters of EXOS and “Power Hitting Drills” with Mount San Antonio College assistant coach and USA Softball gold medalist Crystl Bustos.
Along with the travel ball curriculum, the convention concluded with three speakers. NFCA manager of marketing, Chicago Bandit centerfielder and co-owner of Be The Momentum, Emily Allard gave a presentation on slapping. Michigan strength & conditioning coach Lew Porchiazzo spoke on the topic of “Effective Collaboration & Integration to Maximize Physical Performance”, while lawyer Sam Ekstrand gave legal advice in her “The Best Defense is a Good Offense” program.
