LAS VEGAS – With over 2,000 registered attendees, the 2025 NFCA Convention, the largest in the Association's history, kicked off on Wednesday evening at Caesars Forum as NFCA CEO Carol Bruggeman and NFCA President Larissa Anderson (Missouri head coach) welcomed the attendees, while keynote Molly Grisham greeted the attendees with her address, “Meet the Moment.”
Anderson welcomed attendees and Bruggeman’s address to attendees touched on feeding your focus.
“Are you feeding your focus, or feeding your distraction?” Bruggeman asked.
Grisham, a longtime soccer coach who turned her attention to leadership, told attendees, “You can not meet the moment if you don’t have a team that has your back. Clarity isn’t about seeing the finish line. It’s about seeing yourself. Without clarity you will live a life that was never meant for you.”
She said you shouldn’t be in it for the fanfare.
“Clarity rarely comes with applause,” Grisham said. “Courage is simply trusting yourself enough to try. Healthy things grow.”
Along with the “First Pitch” Opening Welcome, first-time attendees participated in a Rookie Orientation presented by Triple Crown Sports, where a panel of veteran coaches guided them through the Convention’s full schedule and highlighted key events. Throughout the afternoon and evening, NFCA committees convened to address current initiatives, future priorities, and preparations for Thursday’s premier business event — the divisional caucuses.
View the complete schedule HERE or download the Convention App to see a complete list of activities.
Day one was capped off with an evening of socializing at the Opening Reception presented by NFCA Official Sponsor Sports Recruits. Additionally, attendees squeezed in a little evening education, albeit in a laidback atmosphere, with three different Fireside Chats covering hitting, pitching and director of operations.
Prior to the official opening, NFCC 402A (Advanced Analysis of Pitching) and 406 (Coaching Dynamic Team Practices) classes concluded with coaches completing their course work en route to obtaining certification to be a Four-Star Master Coach. Those were followed by two three-hour Pre-Convention seminars – “Beyond Mechanics: How Motor Preferences are Redefining Player Development ” with panelists Katie Browder (South Carolina), David Genest (MPE), Matt Swope (Maryland Baseball), Suzy Willemssen (VA Glory), and “Short Game: Execute & Defend” with Caitlin Lowe (Arizona), Lauren Lappin (Arizona), Kaleigh Rafter (Florida State), and Natasha Watley (NWF).
Up next on Thursday are business meetings in the morning, followed by the first educational sessions in the afternoon and the PGF Social to close out the evening.
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded National Convention, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to awards to the National Fastpitch Coaches College (NFCC) to other in-person events such as Coaches Clinics and Leadoff Classics.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of over 7,000 coaches today!
