Post by Homer Hawks Site Administrator on Dec 15, 2009 8:25:13 GMT -5
fROM Spysoftball Rayburne Hesse
12/14 NFCA CONVENTION
Written by Rayburn Hesse
Monday, 14 December 2009 23:51
NFCA CONVENTION
The 2009 NFCA, held in Nashville December 9-12, was an event of many parts – a social gathering of fast pitch college, highschool and travel ball coaches; a celebration of major achievements by the three Hall of Fame honorees; a recognition through awards to coaches at all levels who reached milestones of victory; a technical clinic featuring presentations on all the skill aspects of the game; and a political forum focusing on major issues in fastpitch softball.
The 2009 Convention enjoyed a stronger turnout than some had anticipated, given the economy and the storms across the nation earlier in the week.
NFCA HALL OF FAME
Hall of Fame inductions are always celebrated at the annual Friday night banquet, and feature specially-prepared videos and speeches highlighting the accomplishments of the honorees, which in 2009 included Humboldt State coach Frank Cheek; Hofstra coach Bill Edwards; and California coach Diane Ninemire. Ninemire, whose Bears defeated Arizona at the 2002 Women’s College World Series, was feted at the banquet and at a private party afterwards by many players from that championship squad. The video clip contained several scenes from that memorable championship game, the only WCWS won by an underdog in this decade.
EASTON VICTORY CLUB AWARDS LUNCHEON
Coaches are presented plaques as they reach milestones recorded in benchmarks of 100 or more (200, 300, 400 etc). LSU coach Yvette Girouard was honored for reaching the 1,200 win mark. Robert Maglione, Sacramento City College, has 1,100 wins. At 1,000 wins are Ken Bailey, South Carolina Bandits, Frank Cheeck, Humboldt State, Eugene Lenti, DePaul, and Jami Lind, Florida State College-Jacksonville. More than 100 coaches were honored. (Note: in some instances, NFCA seemed to credit both head coaches and associate head coaches for the same victory, but, in other known instances, the credits were not given. Over the winter, NFCA and Easton should check their data to ensure that all deserving coaches are given recognition)
SPEAKERS AND TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS
The motivational speaker was former UCLA coach Sue Enquist; feisty as ever, need more be said. Other speakers included: Heather Tarr, WCWS champion Washington; Patrick Murphy, Alabama; Olympian Natasha Watley; Kaci Clark Zerbe from the Frozen Ropes organization; Beverly Smith, North Carolina; George Wares, Central College; Les Stuedeman, Alabama-Huntsville; Randy Schneider, Valparaiso; Bridgette Quimpo, New Jersey City; Charlie Greene, catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers; author Dan Coyle (The Talent Code); Karyn Gallivan, Tennessee State; Jana McGinnis, Jacksonville State; Mike Davenport, North Georgia; Bill Edwards, Hostra, Darren Mueller, North Dakota State; author Michael Kristof (Kristof, Technology); Erica Beach, Ohio State; Lauren Lappin, Northwestern, Cat Heifner, New Mexico State; Alyson Habetz, Arizona; Leslie Huntington, UW-Eau Claire, and Kelley Green, Coastal Carolina.
Saturday afternoon brought a pleasant surprise: the cavernous conference room was virtually full for the three final sessions featuring Beach; Lappin and Heifner. The lecture/demonstration by Beach on pitching workouts was especially well-done and well received.
NPF PLAYERS
Olympians Catherine Osterman and Monica Abbott, and other NPF players, attended a separate thingytail party hosted by NPF and team owners, where visiting NFCA members could talk informally about the upcoming NPF season, and also about the January 4-8 camp for prospective national team players. Without exception, those who talked to SPY are quite concerned that, at this late date, ISF has still not confirmed a site for the 2010 XII World Championship, which has a domino effect on other decisions including formation of the USA national team, its budget and schedule. Several were dismayed that ISF had pulled the Championship out of Oklahoma City.
HOT TOPICS
Early Verbals
This topic was addressed in the Summit, at which all members can speak, as well as during the individual caucuses. Coaches from all the member classes spoke against the practice, indeed only one defended the practice, and there were ample references to the psychological impact that recruiting pressure imposes on younger players; the problem with broken verbals and its constituent damage; the pressure and manipulation brought to bear by parents and also by travel ball as well as college coaches, etc. DII and III coaches said the practice hurts their recruiting. Given the vociferousness with which various college coaches opposed early verbals, the wonder is that the practice continues. Not really. Privately, college coaches say they have to protect themselves in order to get the best players. More, one speaker urged that players be allowed to sign NLI in their freshman college year, while another speaker wanted increased early contact. It was noted that an NCAA recruiting cabinet is considering recruiting issues for various sports. NFCA legislation is now channeled through a Division One Head Coaches Committee, so no floor action was taken on this issue. SPY emphasized that, if the coaches really wanted to stop early verbals, they could because all the practitioners were in the room. Deafening silence.
Exposure Tournaments
NFCA disclosed that in 2011 it will sponsor/conduct two or three exposure tournaments on a regional basis. NFCA officials stressed the point that they were open to suggestions on format, including recommendations from travel ball coaches. There was some debate in the travel ball caucus and in the Summit whether the format should be championship or just exposure, and which format ensures maximum exposure for all players. NFCA officials stated repeatedly they were seeking a more positive experience for players in all divisions (age groups). While no final decisions have been made, the NFCA Board has apparently discussed a requirement that all participants (teams and players) would have to become NFCA members. SPY noted that, at present, the great majority of Gold teams and the majority of the top 50 18A teams do not belong to NFCA, and could resent being forced to join. A question arose in the Travel Ball caucus whether college coaches would still attend exposure tournaments not sponsored by NFCA. SPY recalled for the group that, when the notion of NFCA-sanctioned tournaments rose a few years ago, there was a parallel suggestion that college coaches would not attend other tournaments. Now, NFCA officials say no decision has been made on this and other related matters.
Some speakers in the travel ball caucus said there were already too many exposure tournaments.
This discussion gave way to concern about “burnout” among players. Note: There were numerous references in this caucus and other sessions about the physical demands placed on players by a sport which has virtually become a year-round activity. This prompted some speakers to profess that players are not properly or adequately conditioned, and, between HS and travel ball, play too many games.
There was a brief colloquy among some California coaches during the travel ball caucus about the pro’s and con’s of the Premier Fastpitch Tournament proposed for August 2010. During that caucus, Ron Radigonda and a former ASA JO Commissioner said that ASA would have changed the dates for Gold without reference to the Premier tournament.
ASA has not determined a final vote among its members on the emergency legislation which would prohibit college players from Division I schools from playing 18A. Ballots were due December 4 after the required comment period concluded.
ISF
ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda, who spoke at the travel ball caucus and elsewhere, noted that ISF has not yet made a decision on where and when to conduct the XII World Championship. Radigonda assured his listeners that USA Softball was prepared financially to participate in the championship, and would hold tryouts in January for the 2010 USA national team. Invitations have been sent. Radigonda said the USA would also field a team in the Junior World qualifier to be held in 2010 (Mexico?) in preparation for the 2011 Junior World Championship which will be held in South Africa.
Radigonda lamented the IOC decision which leaves softball out of the 2016 as well as 2012 Olympics. He noted that pentathalon has a USA team of three but is an Olympic sport, whereas there are 1.1 million girls playing softball in the USA.. He also noted that the USA has three members of the IOC, but none on the Executive Board which made the decisions in Berlin.
An ISF representative said that ISF would hold a 16U World Cup in 2010. SPY noted that certain “machinations” prevented the USA from fielding a team at the ISF World Cup this past summer in Prague.
During the Summit open-floor discussion, SPY editor Rayburn Hesse said SPY will publish an editorial this coming week calling for ISF’s Don Porter to resign. (See separate story)
Eight-run Rule and other issues
Speakers debated whether the current 8-run rule should be extended to 10 runs, or even abandoned. There was also discussion of extending the recruiting period from 50 to 60 days, and changing the season to a later start. No votes were taken.
Travel Ball Caucus
A reported 58 travel ball representatives registered for the conference, and there were 30-40 travel ball reps in the caucus at various times, a significant increase over the usual 10-12. However, the Oklahoma Force, which was honored at the convention as the Travel Ball Staff of the Year (they finished 4th at ASA 14U) did not attend, as some members noted.
As noted above, the Travel Ball caucus was unanimously opposed to early verbals.
BUSINESS MEETING
At the formal business meeting, the following motions were approved:
n To create a membership group for professional coaches
n To split the awards and Hall of Fame committees
n To develop a standing recruiting committee to address those concerns
n To split the clinic and camp committees
THE HEAD COACHES COMMITTEE
Among others, SPY has been a persistent critic of the HCC, especially after NFCA succeeded in persuading NCAA to adopt the unlamented four week recruiting calendar. SPY argued that, depending on which conference representatives participate in the monthly conference call, an absolute plurality of all DI members may not be reflected. SPY much preferred the former procedure in which floor votes were taken, and members had to declare their positions.
However, the DI coaches have agreed to the HCC procedure, and some argue that it works much more efficiently than the once-a-year floor debate.
SPY notes that this year’s Summit session resulted in a great many more speakers from all divisions taking part, not just DI.
Therefore, SPY has proposed to NFCA that it will self-impose a moratorium on criticism of the HCC. The litmus test, SPY wrote in a letter, is the planning for the NFCA-sponsored tournaments and the degree to which that planning reflects the interests of all NFCA members. Using recruiting tournaments to encourage NFCA membership is one matter; compelling teams to become NFCA members in order for their players to be eligible for evaluation by college coaches is a non-starter, in SPY’S opinion.
12/14 NFCA CONVENTION
Written by Rayburn Hesse
Monday, 14 December 2009 23:51
NFCA CONVENTION
The 2009 NFCA, held in Nashville December 9-12, was an event of many parts – a social gathering of fast pitch college, highschool and travel ball coaches; a celebration of major achievements by the three Hall of Fame honorees; a recognition through awards to coaches at all levels who reached milestones of victory; a technical clinic featuring presentations on all the skill aspects of the game; and a political forum focusing on major issues in fastpitch softball.
The 2009 Convention enjoyed a stronger turnout than some had anticipated, given the economy and the storms across the nation earlier in the week.
NFCA HALL OF FAME
Hall of Fame inductions are always celebrated at the annual Friday night banquet, and feature specially-prepared videos and speeches highlighting the accomplishments of the honorees, which in 2009 included Humboldt State coach Frank Cheek; Hofstra coach Bill Edwards; and California coach Diane Ninemire. Ninemire, whose Bears defeated Arizona at the 2002 Women’s College World Series, was feted at the banquet and at a private party afterwards by many players from that championship squad. The video clip contained several scenes from that memorable championship game, the only WCWS won by an underdog in this decade.
EASTON VICTORY CLUB AWARDS LUNCHEON
Coaches are presented plaques as they reach milestones recorded in benchmarks of 100 or more (200, 300, 400 etc). LSU coach Yvette Girouard was honored for reaching the 1,200 win mark. Robert Maglione, Sacramento City College, has 1,100 wins. At 1,000 wins are Ken Bailey, South Carolina Bandits, Frank Cheeck, Humboldt State, Eugene Lenti, DePaul, and Jami Lind, Florida State College-Jacksonville. More than 100 coaches were honored. (Note: in some instances, NFCA seemed to credit both head coaches and associate head coaches for the same victory, but, in other known instances, the credits were not given. Over the winter, NFCA and Easton should check their data to ensure that all deserving coaches are given recognition)
SPEAKERS AND TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS
The motivational speaker was former UCLA coach Sue Enquist; feisty as ever, need more be said. Other speakers included: Heather Tarr, WCWS champion Washington; Patrick Murphy, Alabama; Olympian Natasha Watley; Kaci Clark Zerbe from the Frozen Ropes organization; Beverly Smith, North Carolina; George Wares, Central College; Les Stuedeman, Alabama-Huntsville; Randy Schneider, Valparaiso; Bridgette Quimpo, New Jersey City; Charlie Greene, catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers; author Dan Coyle (The Talent Code); Karyn Gallivan, Tennessee State; Jana McGinnis, Jacksonville State; Mike Davenport, North Georgia; Bill Edwards, Hostra, Darren Mueller, North Dakota State; author Michael Kristof (Kristof, Technology); Erica Beach, Ohio State; Lauren Lappin, Northwestern, Cat Heifner, New Mexico State; Alyson Habetz, Arizona; Leslie Huntington, UW-Eau Claire, and Kelley Green, Coastal Carolina.
Saturday afternoon brought a pleasant surprise: the cavernous conference room was virtually full for the three final sessions featuring Beach; Lappin and Heifner. The lecture/demonstration by Beach on pitching workouts was especially well-done and well received.
NPF PLAYERS
Olympians Catherine Osterman and Monica Abbott, and other NPF players, attended a separate thingytail party hosted by NPF and team owners, where visiting NFCA members could talk informally about the upcoming NPF season, and also about the January 4-8 camp for prospective national team players. Without exception, those who talked to SPY are quite concerned that, at this late date, ISF has still not confirmed a site for the 2010 XII World Championship, which has a domino effect on other decisions including formation of the USA national team, its budget and schedule. Several were dismayed that ISF had pulled the Championship out of Oklahoma City.
HOT TOPICS
Early Verbals
This topic was addressed in the Summit, at which all members can speak, as well as during the individual caucuses. Coaches from all the member classes spoke against the practice, indeed only one defended the practice, and there were ample references to the psychological impact that recruiting pressure imposes on younger players; the problem with broken verbals and its constituent damage; the pressure and manipulation brought to bear by parents and also by travel ball as well as college coaches, etc. DII and III coaches said the practice hurts their recruiting. Given the vociferousness with which various college coaches opposed early verbals, the wonder is that the practice continues. Not really. Privately, college coaches say they have to protect themselves in order to get the best players. More, one speaker urged that players be allowed to sign NLI in their freshman college year, while another speaker wanted increased early contact. It was noted that an NCAA recruiting cabinet is considering recruiting issues for various sports. NFCA legislation is now channeled through a Division One Head Coaches Committee, so no floor action was taken on this issue. SPY emphasized that, if the coaches really wanted to stop early verbals, they could because all the practitioners were in the room. Deafening silence.
Exposure Tournaments
NFCA disclosed that in 2011 it will sponsor/conduct two or three exposure tournaments on a regional basis. NFCA officials stressed the point that they were open to suggestions on format, including recommendations from travel ball coaches. There was some debate in the travel ball caucus and in the Summit whether the format should be championship or just exposure, and which format ensures maximum exposure for all players. NFCA officials stated repeatedly they were seeking a more positive experience for players in all divisions (age groups). While no final decisions have been made, the NFCA Board has apparently discussed a requirement that all participants (teams and players) would have to become NFCA members. SPY noted that, at present, the great majority of Gold teams and the majority of the top 50 18A teams do not belong to NFCA, and could resent being forced to join. A question arose in the Travel Ball caucus whether college coaches would still attend exposure tournaments not sponsored by NFCA. SPY recalled for the group that, when the notion of NFCA-sanctioned tournaments rose a few years ago, there was a parallel suggestion that college coaches would not attend other tournaments. Now, NFCA officials say no decision has been made on this and other related matters.
Some speakers in the travel ball caucus said there were already too many exposure tournaments.
This discussion gave way to concern about “burnout” among players. Note: There were numerous references in this caucus and other sessions about the physical demands placed on players by a sport which has virtually become a year-round activity. This prompted some speakers to profess that players are not properly or adequately conditioned, and, between HS and travel ball, play too many games.
There was a brief colloquy among some California coaches during the travel ball caucus about the pro’s and con’s of the Premier Fastpitch Tournament proposed for August 2010. During that caucus, Ron Radigonda and a former ASA JO Commissioner said that ASA would have changed the dates for Gold without reference to the Premier tournament.
ASA has not determined a final vote among its members on the emergency legislation which would prohibit college players from Division I schools from playing 18A. Ballots were due December 4 after the required comment period concluded.
ISF
ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda, who spoke at the travel ball caucus and elsewhere, noted that ISF has not yet made a decision on where and when to conduct the XII World Championship. Radigonda assured his listeners that USA Softball was prepared financially to participate in the championship, and would hold tryouts in January for the 2010 USA national team. Invitations have been sent. Radigonda said the USA would also field a team in the Junior World qualifier to be held in 2010 (Mexico?) in preparation for the 2011 Junior World Championship which will be held in South Africa.
Radigonda lamented the IOC decision which leaves softball out of the 2016 as well as 2012 Olympics. He noted that pentathalon has a USA team of three but is an Olympic sport, whereas there are 1.1 million girls playing softball in the USA.. He also noted that the USA has three members of the IOC, but none on the Executive Board which made the decisions in Berlin.
An ISF representative said that ISF would hold a 16U World Cup in 2010. SPY noted that certain “machinations” prevented the USA from fielding a team at the ISF World Cup this past summer in Prague.
During the Summit open-floor discussion, SPY editor Rayburn Hesse said SPY will publish an editorial this coming week calling for ISF’s Don Porter to resign. (See separate story)
Eight-run Rule and other issues
Speakers debated whether the current 8-run rule should be extended to 10 runs, or even abandoned. There was also discussion of extending the recruiting period from 50 to 60 days, and changing the season to a later start. No votes were taken.
Travel Ball Caucus
A reported 58 travel ball representatives registered for the conference, and there were 30-40 travel ball reps in the caucus at various times, a significant increase over the usual 10-12. However, the Oklahoma Force, which was honored at the convention as the Travel Ball Staff of the Year (they finished 4th at ASA 14U) did not attend, as some members noted.
As noted above, the Travel Ball caucus was unanimously opposed to early verbals.
BUSINESS MEETING
At the formal business meeting, the following motions were approved:
n To create a membership group for professional coaches
n To split the awards and Hall of Fame committees
n To develop a standing recruiting committee to address those concerns
n To split the clinic and camp committees
THE HEAD COACHES COMMITTEE
Among others, SPY has been a persistent critic of the HCC, especially after NFCA succeeded in persuading NCAA to adopt the unlamented four week recruiting calendar. SPY argued that, depending on which conference representatives participate in the monthly conference call, an absolute plurality of all DI members may not be reflected. SPY much preferred the former procedure in which floor votes were taken, and members had to declare their positions.
However, the DI coaches have agreed to the HCC procedure, and some argue that it works much more efficiently than the once-a-year floor debate.
SPY notes that this year’s Summit session resulted in a great many more speakers from all divisions taking part, not just DI.
Therefore, SPY has proposed to NFCA that it will self-impose a moratorium on criticism of the HCC. The litmus test, SPY wrote in a letter, is the planning for the NFCA-sponsored tournaments and the degree to which that planning reflects the interests of all NFCA members. Using recruiting tournaments to encourage NFCA membership is one matter; compelling teams to become NFCA members in order for their players to be eligible for evaluation by college coaches is a non-starter, in SPY’S opinion.