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2026 NFCA PRE-CONVENTION EDUCATION
Get ready to level up your coaching game before the 2026 NFCA National Convention kicks off in Atlantic City! Dive into exclusive Pre-Convention educational offerings—from intensive, two-day NFCC courses to power-packed, three-hour seminars—and gain elite insights directly from top-tier coaches. NEW this year- combine NFCC 410 + Pitching Pre-Convention Seminar to enjoy our Pitching Palooza!
* These courses and seminars are NOT included in the Convention registration fee.
2026 NFCC Courses
• Tuesday, December 8 (9:00 AM-6:00 PM) •
• Wednesday, December 9 (8:00 AM-Noon) •
The National Fastpitch Coaches College (NFCC) is a unique program that is unmatched in its content and access to premier coaches in the game. Get all of your questions answered over a two-day span while you continue to elevate your athletes' game. If you are signing up for one of the NFCC Courses, please select the individual class - NFCC 403 or NFCC 410 - on the registration.
Click the buttons below to explore each course
COURSE 403: POSITION PLAY AND INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE SKILLS
COURSE 403: POSITION PLAY AND INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE SKILLS
December 8-9 (Atlantic City)
Instructors: Katie Repole (Clemson), Tony Smith (Colorado State)
If defense wins championships, then this course will point you in the right direction. The emphasis of this course is placed on how to analyze, teach, and drill all the defensive skills required to play fastpitch softball at a high level. In addition, you will:
- Study the mechanics of throwing, fielding, receiving and footwork that is needed to play the game;
- Examine the techniques that are used for fielding ground balls, fly balls, covering bases, fielding bunts, tagging runners and turning double plays;
- Identifying and breaking down the skills required to play each defensive position;
- Accumulate a progression of teaching techniques and drills that will improve team and player efficiency;
- Learn how the ball's "speed and direction" and "depth and distance" will determine a players technique, decision and performance.
NFCC 410 Seminar: The Pitching Collective
COURSE 410 SEMINAR: THE PITCHING COLLECTIVE
December 8-9 (Atlantic City) Instructors: Lonni Alameda (Florida State); Cindy Bristow; Megan Brown (Southern Illinois); Lauren Ebstein (Northwestern); Laura Heberling (Kansas); Giselle Juarez-Presley (UConn); Emlyn Knerem (Belmont); Megan Rhodes Smith (Tennessee); Lisa Van Ackeren (Princeton)
The Pitching Collective will change the way you train your pitchers, implement new workouts, manage in-game matchups/strategy, and more. In our BIGGEST pitching event ever, we will bring together some of the most notable coaches in the game to share the way they develop their pitching staffs from start to finish throughout the year. Get ready to be a part of the most dynamic pitching program to date.
2026 NFCA Pre-Convention Seminars
• Wednesday, December 9 (1:00-4:00 PM) •
Want more education? For an additional fee, build your coaching knowledge by attending a Pre-Convention seminar offered at the 2026 NFCA National Convention in Atlantic City. If you are signing up for one of the Pre-Convention Seminars, please select the individual seminar - The Pitcher's Edge or Beyond the Barrel: Building the Complete Hitter - on the registration.
Click the buttons below to explore each seminar
Pre-Con: The Pitcher's Edge
THE PITCHER'S EDGE
December 9
Speakers: Courtney Deifel (Arkansas); Melissa Inouye (Fordham); Beth Torina (LSU)
Whether you continue your "Pitching Palooza" adventure by adding this three-hour session onto our NFCC 410 class, or take it as a standalone program, be sure to ignite your Atlantic City experience with this unique Pre-Convention Seminar. Designed to give your pitchers the edge when it comes to their mentality, training, and execution, you will want to be in the room for this one.
How to Register for a Pre-Convention Seminar
- Sign up for a seminar when registering for Convention.
- Already registered for Convention? Click the link to register.
Pre-Con: Beyond the Barrel: Building the Complete Hitter
Beyond the Barrel: Building the Complete Hitter
December 9
Instructors: Beth Lazarus (Villanova - Sports Performance Coach)
A great hitter has more than a great swing. Approach, preparation, competitiveness, body awareness, and more all play into the output achieved in the batter's box. This three-hour seminar will cover strength & conditioning, mental training, the role of technology, approach/intentionality at the plate, and more to create a toolbox for coaches that goes beyond exit velocity and batting average. If you want to build a complete hitter, you can't sleep on these aspects of the game. Join us for this session to level up your offense.How to Register for a Pre-Convention Seminar
- Sign up for a seminar when registering for Convention.
- Already registered for Convention? Click the link to register.
NFCC 410 + Pitching Pre-Con = Pitching Palooza
Are you looking for a double dose of pitching education at a discounted price? If you sign up for both the Pitching Pre-Con and NFCC 410, you can save on 12-plus hours of instruction. If you are signing up for both, please select "Pitching Palooza" on the registration.
Pricing
- $249 - By November 1
- $259 - November 2-25
- $289 - After November 25
Non-Members
- $349 - By November 1
- $359 - November 2-25
- $389 - After November 25
HITTING, PITCHING & DEFENSIVE ENDORSEMENTS
The NFCA recognizes those coaches who have a specific, vested interest in hitting, pitching and defensive education and who have committed to their personal and professional growth through NFCA-sponsored education. An official NFCA coaching endorsement will be provided to coaches who attend three pitching or hitting-specific courses in a four-year period. To view eligibility criteria and see a list of endorsement-eligible courses, please click the button below.
MASTER COACH PROGRAM
After you complete two NFCC courses you will receive a one-star award and be honored as a One-Star Master Coach. The process continues with the completion of every two new courses until you have taken eight unique NFCC courses.
One-Star Master Coach = 2 courses
Two-Star Master Coach = 4 courses
Three-Star Master Coach = 6 courses
Four-Star Master Coach = 8 courses
At that time, you will receive an award being honored as a Four-Star Master Coach. Many coaches repeat courses for different perspectives on the content and some choose to not complete all eight courses, and that is just fine. However, we do want you to know that if you complete all NFCC courses the NFCA believes you deserve special recognition.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Home • Registration • Schedule • Speakers • Exhibitors in Attendance • Exhibitor Information
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