The adidas Futures program has launched an innovative endeavor to reward travel ball coaches and teams (ages 14 to 18) who have the best interest of their players at heart, culminating in a national tournament to be held July 20-24, 2011, in St. George, Utah. 

Travel ball coaches can apply to be one of 50 selected coaches whose teams will receive $5,000 retail in adidas product, including two uniforms, socks, cleats, and wrist bands/visors for each player, and a coaching gear package for the coach. The 50 selected teams will participate in the 2011 adidas Futures National Tournament in St. George, Utah, with a team of 15 uncommitted athletes. 

“The adidas Futures softball program exists to be the voice of the player,” said Michelle Delloso, adidas softball marketing consultant. “We feel that the players today are under extreme pressure to commit early with regard to their college choice. We hope that our program has been part of the solution by allowing only uncommitted athletes to attend our events.” 

The event will begin July 20, 2011, with an opening luncheon and keynote speaker. The NFCA will hold a recruiting camp in conjunction with the tournament on July 20, in addition to handling the registration and materials for college coaches. The tournament will follow with pool play games beginning July 21 at 6 p.m. and will lead into double-elimination bracket play. 

“As a former student-athlete, I know how important the recruiting process is. This decision affects the rest of your life, so it’s important that the athlete is mature enough to make such a decision. The key element is to make sure it is a good academic, athletic and social fit for the athlete,” Delloso said. “Monica Abbott waited and she explains how it benefited her in a podcast on our web site.” 

Travel ball coaches can apply on the adidas futures web site, located at: 

www.adidasfutures.com 

The application, which can be emailed to manager@adidasfutures.com, should specify why the travel ball coach feels deserving of this honor and how he/she can positively impact the sport and players. The 50 adidas Futures All-Star coaches will be named no later than October 1, 2010. 

Selected teams will be designated “adidas Futures National Teams” with the goal of these teams and what they stand for becoming an “aspiration” for many other players in their area/region. 

Adidas Futures continues to add former student athletes to its staff. “Heather Walker (GCU standout) remains an intern with the program and has done an outstanding job,” stated Delloso. “We have just added Deisha Moss to the program. Deisha is a great addition to our program as she understands what the student-athlete is looking for, and has a tireless work ethic. She was a former softball player at Lander University and also a member of the United States Women’s National Handball Team. I believe we need to create opportunities in the sport that benefit the former student-athletes and adidas Futures will strive to do just that by building a template that offers positions in which these graduates can excel yet still love what they do.”