The NFCA National Convention kicks off Wednesday with over 820 coaches registered for the event running Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. 

National Fastpitch Coaches College Courses 401 and 404 conclude Tuesday at noon, and the afternoon is full of activities with Dr. Bill Harrison, a leading pioneer in Sports Vision, presenting the “Visual Mechanics of Softball” pre-convention seminar from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Floyd Perry presenting a field maintenance pre-convention seminar at 5:30 p.m. 

Wednesday kicks off a full day of convention activities with the Wilson Golf Scramble and annual tennis tournament. Following a series of committee meetings, the opening business meeting takes place at 4:30 p.m., while the Louisville Slugger reception closes the day with a night of great food and music from a Jimmy Buffet tribute band. 

The exhibitor show opens Thursday with over 90 companies showing off their latest products for attendees. Thursday also sees the start of three days of seminars from some of the top minds in the game. Kennesaw State coaches Scott Whitlock and Bill Gray open the series of speakers, with Olympic gold medalist Dr. Dot Richardson and Arizona assistant Larry Ray rounding out the opening day. 

The exhibit show continues Friday along with the resumption of the group caucuses. The evening will be highlighted by the Speedline Coaching Staff of the Year/ NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet. The national coaching staffs of the year will be recognized at the event, along with the NFCA Hall of Fame Class of 2005 which consists of former Notre Dame head coach Liz Miller, Kennesaw State head coach Scott Whitlock and Louisiana State head coach Yvette Girouard. 

Friday will also continue with the daily set of speakers as Michigan’s Carol Hutchins will present along with Deb Hartwig of JustSOFTBALL, Virginia assistant Carrie Dever-Boaz, Baylor strength and conditioning coach Brandon Marcello and Tennessee co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly. 

The 2005 convention concludes Saturday, but not without a full slate that includes the closing business meeting along with the adidas roundtable. The final day also includes seminars from UCLA assistant Kelly Inoye-Perez, Oregon State head coach Kirk Walker and DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti. 

Saturday afternoon begins the final in the NFCC courses with Course 406: Team Management/Game-Day Coaching. The course runs through Monday.