Monday, February 6, 2012


Links to national softball stories 
Fastpitch news nuggets


THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF COACHING among college teams, writes Loren Mooney of ESPNHS Girl. “Be willing to ask, ‘What’s your philosophy?’ and ‘Why do you coach?’ ” when you meet potential college coaches, says Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, who teaches sports psychology and sociology at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi

“[Our program’s] philosophy is to work hard every day to find something that’s going to make us better,” says Amy Bokker, Stanford’s lacrosse head coach. “We appreciate the athletes who trust their coaches and teammates and are committed to our common goal of winning a national championship.” 

“To me, coaching is about teaching my student-athletes essential life lessons,” says Williams tennis coach Alison Swain. “I am motivated by creating a supportive, team-focused atmosphere where I can work with my players to build an inner confidence, aim for excellence and achieve their biggest goals.”

“Our focus is on the individual first and what she needs to succeed,” says Penn State gymnastics coach Jeff Thompson. “We believe that all of our athletes have a voice and deserve to be heard.” Who succeeds in his program? “Athletes who are self-motivated and have a dream they want to work toward,” he says. 

2012 USA SOFTBALL COLLEGIATE PLAYER OF THE YEAR “Watch List” has been unveiled by the Amateur Softball Association of America. The preseason list includes 22 seniors, 20 juniors and eight sophomores, with freshmen ineligible. Athletes named to the list represent 31 Division I universities and 13 athletic conferences. Now in its 11th year, the award is the most prestigious individual honor in NCAA Division I Softball. The list of 50 players and full story at http://www.ncaa.com/news/softball/article/2012-02-01/usa-softball-%E2%80%98watch-list%E2%80%99-unveiled

PREVALENCE OF CONCUSSIONS IN SPORTS is being measured by the state of Missouri. Of the schools that reported, there were 40 concussions in girls softball. This was the third highest amount and was tied with cheerleading. The sport with the most reported concussions was football with soccer coming in second. 

Missouri high schools are measuring the prevalence of concussions in sports.
  
PAY-FOR-PLAY? In previous seasons, the NCAA has limited scholarships to tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies. Not any more. Full-scholarship athletes now can pick up an additional $2,000 in grant money. It's an NCAA “bonus” so to speak. Full story at http://www.thesoftballchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=654&catid=14&Itemid=18 


COACHES LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE. “After more than two years in production”, says the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the organization has a new website titled NFCA.org. A new NFCA logo and orange/blue colors dominate the layout. Softball news updates are featured. A collection of “photos of the week” are quite dramatic. Full story at http://nfca.org/index.php/front-page-news/4332-nfca-launches-new-website.



EARTH DAY FUND RAISING. The fastpitch softball team of Milaca High (Minnesota) could pick up $5,000 for collecting as many new or gently used tennis shoes as part of a statewide contest. Even if they don't win the big bucks, the team will earn 50 cents per pound for any sneaker collected that keeps these shoes from the local landfill. Full story at http://millelacscountytimes.com/2012/02/02/sotfball-team-hopes-to-fill-shoe-with-shoes



Kristen Schindler
KRISTEN SCHINDLER LED HER TEAM to the New Jersey State Championship in 2005, writes Eunice Lee/The Star-Ledger. Relying on a devastating rise ball, she tossed more victories and shutouts than any fastpitch hurler in state history. Then cancer struck. Now, recovered, two-years cancer, she coaches young women on softball hitting, fielding, pitching, and the grit necessary to overcome obstacles and succeed.

Read more about her remarkable story at http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/former_caldwell_softball_playe.html


UMPIRES WILL BE FINGERPRINTED and vetted through an FBI criminal database in Arizona this season. The move is in reaction to the September arrest of a former softball umpire who authorities said had a history of sex crimes. Full story at http://tucsoncitizen.com/arizona-news/2012/02/06/arizona-high-school-referee-fingerprinting-enacted/


SPOTLIGHT ON IMPRESSIVE HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS of Northwestern State Lady Demon freshman softball team outfielder Bailee Cartwright...  HS SOFTBALL: lettered 4 years on back-to-back state championship teams, named to Fast-pitch All-State and Slow-pitch All-State...  HS BASKETBALL: lettered 4 years, honored as All-Star, All-Tournament, MVP, and named to All-State team...  HS ACADEMICS: Honor roll, 4.0 GPA, class valedictorian...  HS OTHER: Student President, cheerleader, yearbook committee. Lady Demon profile page at http://www.nsudemons.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1818
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)