One of the biggest off-season events in fastpitch softball begins in earnest today as the 2022 NFCA Convention—labelled as “The Greatest Softball Show on Earth”—officially will go through Sunday, December 10th at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.
Here is a list of all scheduled meetings and classes for today:
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7
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8:00 AM-Noon — $ NFCC Course 403: Position Play & Individual Defensive Skills | Grand Oaks A-J | View Details
Instructors: Greg Bergeron (CSUN), Kenny Gajewski (Oklahoma State), Tim Walton (Florida)
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 defensive footwork
– Examine the techniques that are used for fielding ground balls, fly balls, covering bases, fielding bunts, and turning double plays
– Identifying and break down the skills required to play each defensive positions
-Accumulate a progression of teaching techniques and drills that will improve team and player efficiencyFor more information and to sign up click For more information and to sign up click HERE
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8:00 AM-Noon — $ NFCC Course 410: Winning With the Battery | Cibolo Canyon 1-5 | View Details
Instructors: Cindy Bristow (UC Riverside, Sam Marder (Oregon), Jen Rocha (Oklahoma)
Being offered for the first time ever in 2022, NFCC 410 provides an in-depth break down of the battery. Join instructors and fellow classmates to learn more about year-round workouts for pitchers, the importance of rest and recovery, keys to effective pitch calling, introducing new pitches, in-game troubleshooting, defensive development of catchers, the umpire relationship, and more.
For more information and to sign up click For more information and to sign up click HERE
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9:00 AM-9:00 PM — Convention Registration & Merchandise | View Details
Make sure you stop by the registration desk to pick up your credential and event information. Also, visit our merchandise desk to receive a free gift from the NFCA, play games to win prizes, and look through our inventory of new swag.
***Access into any and all NFCA Convention sessions requires a credential and lanyard.
***Credentials must be worn at all times during the annual Convention and may be obtained on-site at the NFCA Convention registration desk.
***Please note, security will monitor entry into all of the Convention sessions and access will not be permitted without the appropriate accreditation. -
1:00-4:00 PM — $ Pre-Con | Creating a High-Powered Offense | Grand Oaks A-J | View Details
Instructors: Cindy Ball-Malone (UCF), Now-Allah James (NYU), Sharonda McDonald-Kelley, Kelsey Thompson (Augustana), Karen Weekly (Tennessee).
Join a panel of five dynamic offensive coaches as they cover a variety of topics to help you unleash your program’s high scoring offense.
For more information and to sign up click HERE
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1:00-4:00 PM — $ Pre-Con | Thriving in this Profession: Proactive Coaching for Today’s Athletes | Cibolo Canyon 1-5 | View Details
Panelists: Sara Baumgartner (Texas), Sean Cotter (Barry), Samantha Ekstrand (NFCA Legal Counsel), Jacquie Joseph (Michigan State ret.), Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska).
Learn much-needed strategies to equip yourself for the rapidly changing landscape of team management, parent relationships, and administrative oversight. From first-hand accounts of investigations to best practices for daily situations, this is a session you can’t afford to miss.
For more information and to sign up click HERE
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3:30-5:00 PM — Division I Head Coaches Committee Meeting | Bottlebrush/Begonia | View Details
Invitation only meeting for representatives of the Head Coaches Committee to discuss relevant Division I topics and to prepare for the Division I Caucus.
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3:30-5:00 PM — Division II Head Coaches Committee Meeting | Bluebonnet/Dogwood | View Details
Invitation only meeting for representatives of the Head Coaches Committee to discuss relevant Division II topics and to prepare for the Division II Caucus.
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3:30-5:00 PM — Division III Head Coaches Committee Meeting | Indian Paintbrush/Larkspur | View Details
Invitation only meeting for representatives of the Head Coaches Committee to discuss relevant Division III topics and to prepare for the Division III Caucus.
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4:00-4:50 PM — Rookie Orientation Presented by Triple Crown Sports (First-Time Attendees) | Cibolo Canyon 6-11 | View Details
Is this your first time attending the NFCA Convention? Join other “rookies” as this panel of veteran coaches takes you through the jam-packed schedule and highlights must-attend events. Meet a new friend or two at this informative session.
Session led by Now Allah-James (NYU, NFCA Vice President, Membership), Stephanie Bagwell (Francis Marion, NFCA Assistant Coach representative), Boo De Oliveira (Purdue, Vice President, Playing Rules), Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska) and Shonda Stanton (Indiana, NFCA Vice President, Publications)..
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5:30-6:45 PM — “First Pitch” Opening Welcome with keynote by Mike Candrea | Grand Oaks A-J | View Details
There is nothing more exciting than the first pitch of a ballgame. The same is true for our “First Pitch” opening session! You’ll hear from NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman and NFCA President Kate Drohan with the highlight of this session being our keynote address by NFCA Hall of Famer Mike Candrea.
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7:00-9:00 PM — NFCA Opening Reception | Grand Oaks K-S | View Details
Come join us at our NFCA Opening Reception! A two-hour event filled with networking,complimentary food and drinks! Credential and lanyard required.
8:30-9:30 PM — Committee Meetings | View Details
- Awards (Freesia)
- Ethics (Verbena) Only elected NFCA Ethics Committee members may attend
- Events (Indian Paintbrush/Larkspur)
- Mentoring (Iris/Lily)
- Playing Rules (Sunflower/Wisteria)
- Publications (Periwinkle)
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8:30-9:30 PM — Director of Operations Roundtables | Bottlebrush/Begonia | View Details
Join your fellow Director of Operations, Volunteer Assistants, and Student Assistants for a round table discussion surrounding best practices for softball programs.
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8:30-9:30 PM — International Caucus | Azalea
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*** To see the rest of the week’s schedule of events, click HERE.
Extra Inning Softball is at this year’s NFCA Convention and we look forward to catching up with old friends, making new ones and seeing and hearing the latest in the sport we all love—be it from a Who’s Who of list of coaches to an impressively large number of exhibitors (more than 100… see the complete list HERE).
The event specifically, as the NFCA describes it, “boasts expert speakers, drills sessions, networking opportunities, social events, business meetings, a can’t miss Exhibit Show, and much more.”
This year’s Keynote Speaker is Mike Candrea, the retired title-winning coach at Arizona, who will address the convention tonight, Wednesday the 7th, at 5:30 pm.
*** To see all the speakers headed to San Antonio next week, click HERE.
The Convention, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year in its host’s backyard (Louisville), has an interesting history as the initial ones were combined with baseball and were basically coach meetings, rather than conventions.
The first stand-alone year was in 1984 and, in some years, there were two conventions including one where the ABCA combined with the ASA.
We caught up with NFCA’s Brian Stanley, the Director of Communications for the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) based in Louisville, Kentucky, to get some insights into this year’s gathering.
Brian will be part of his ninth NFCA Convention—the eighth in person, he points out—due to the 2020 event being held virtually because of COVID. He started in October of 2014 and had just weeks to hunker down for his first convention, which he admits “wasn’t easy!”
Here’s more from the congenial liaison who works with media folks like us…
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Extra Inning Softball: How many people are you expecting next week for the 2022 NFCA Convention?
Brian Stanley: Pre-COVID we were averaging about 1,600 people and with the Exhibition Hall included—we will have 110 companies this year—it can be several thousands. We will have approximately 1,500 coaches alone.
EIS: This year, we’re in Texas… where else has the Convention been held and how is it determined where it will be?
BS: The key is we have to have the space in a facility to meet the needs of the convention, ranging from enough speaker rooms to have sessions as well as space for all the companies to showcase their products or services.
We got to Las Vegas every four years and we have been all over the country, from Chicago in 2018 to Atlanta, Atlantic City, Nashville, New Orleans—from Arizona to Florida—and in 2014 we’ll be in Dallas after that city was cancelled because of COVID a few years ago.
Finalizing a location is a long process, it’s done years in advance, as many as five years ahead of the convention. You can learn more by going to the article The Team Behind the Team (click HERE to access).
EIS: It must take a lot of planning and integration to pull off the event every year! What is your role and who are some other key players who put it together?
BS: I do a lot pre- and post-event as well as take care of the app, the website, press releases and oversee DII info as well as All-American and Playing Rules Committee news. I’ll also help out in the Exhibition Hall and, generally, do what needs to be done. Michelle Vasquez is the Director of Events and Convention Coordinator and this is her baby, she does all the planning. Dr. Joanna Lane, the Senior Director of Education and Program Development, focuses on the education aspect and our Executive Director, Carol Bruggeman, works with the exhibitors; Director of Finance Jamie Hazel-White helps with registration and Marketing Manager Saralyn Campbell takes care of the exhibitors.
EIS: What are you most excited about for this year?
BS: Every year, the highlight is getting to see everybody—usually after dealing with them on the phone or on Zoom. What I love is getting to meet new people at each convention as well. I also look forward to the Hall of Fame Reception and Banquet, which this year is on Friday, but we also have some educational items and have added a “playing rules segment” where folks get to go over things such as instant replay and incorporate all aspects of the game including education segments. Travel ball and high school coaches will have a combined caucus meeting as well as separate ones. The educational element is geared towards everyone.
EIS: What’s been a favorite memory of yours from past conventions?
BS: It’s tough for me, as I’m moving around a lot making sure everything’s running smoothly, but some of the speeches have been powerful including ones by Deanna Gumpf (Notre Dame head coach), who in 2014 spoke about her daughter battling leukemia and Michael Lotief (former Louisiana-Lafayette head coach who also overcame cancer) were emotional and they stuck with me. Hall of Fame speeches are often powerful because you get to learn nuggets you didn’t know about someone successful in the sport. Those are the kind of things I remember.
I also remember my first convention—I was overwhelmed!—as I came in October and it was two months later at Harrah’s in Las Vegas. Just overall, the excitement that’s generated… you can feel it. The buzz, when the coaches are talking and all seeing each other, is a fun part walking through the sea of people. And I like how they all share with each other; you’ll see legendary coaches talking with high school coaches. The sharing is amazing as they’re all there to get better.
EIS: For those who haven’t gone before, what to expect and how to prepare?
BS: There’s something for everyone and some focus on business while others want to take in the education aspect. I like to tell people: “Be prepared to go, go, go!” For four days, everything is combined, and this year is at a resort and spa so everything is there for everybody, but for the first-time attendee there is a Rookie Orientation on Wednesday (Dec. 7) at 4 pm that I would highly recommend.
— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball