With softball having strong population bases in expected hotbeds such as Southern California, Texas, Florida and Georgia, it’s impressive that Nebraska has become a source for some of the top players in the nation.
One program that continues to populate National Championship-winning colleges such as Oklahoma and Washington has been the Nebraska Gold travel ball organization, which continues to make lasting impact on softball.
Extra Inning Softball’s Joy Roeder will be doing a series of club profiles and begins today with one based out of her home state of Nebraska.
The Nebraska Gold organization is not new to the national scene; over 12 years ago, two of the top clubs in Nebraska decided to merge their best players and start competing nationally.
It proved to be a smart decision as the original team had immediate success finishing 7th at ASA Gold Nationals. Since then, the program has continued to grow and, to date, there are 22 teams in four states-six of which were added just in 2021 alone.
Having that many teams can be difficult to manage and ensure that coaches and players are representing the organization well.
Joy caught up with several key folks associated with the Nebraska Gold Program Director to find out what’s made it so successful… here are those interviews…
*****
The Program Director
… Larry Swift, the Program Director, has seen Nebraska Gold thrive while many others in the middle part of the nation have struggled. He feels the organization’s culture is a key reason while the program is getting bigger and better in Year 12 and beyond…
Extra Inning Softball: With so many teams, how does Nebraska Gold hold coaches accountable to maintaining a high standard of quality players and coaching?
Larry Swift: Each year we sit down with the coaches to understand how their season went, where they can improve personally and where they can improve as a team. Each year we try to add more non-parent coaching at all ages.
EIS: Your 2021 grad, Jordyn Bahl, made a big impact on the national level as she was ranked No. 1 in the class by Extra Inning Softball and signed with Oklahoma. Was she a breakthrough talent or have you had many such elite players prior to Jordyn?
LS: We have had several athletes impact the program, but from 2012-2017 we had three Top 10 finishes at PGF and also won ASA Gold Nationals. Those kids really set the expectations of playing for the program and the majority of those kids went on to have successful collegiate careers.
EIS: What do you look for in coaches that you want to bring into the organization?
LS: We try to get former players and/or coaches into the program as much as possible.
EIS: What are things you feel Nebraska Gold does that sets the organization apart from other clubs?
LS: We make our culture the priority. From our 10U teams all the way up to our 18U national team, we talk extensively about “Gold DNA.” There are five pillars that make up Gold DNA: Discipline, Toughness, Workers Always Win, Masters of Appreciation and Not About You. Not only do our teams see a lot of success on the field but behind the scenes teams are helping each other and many of our alumni are still very involved in the program finding ways to give back.
EIS: Clubs all over the country are adding new teams all the time. It has become hard to keep up what are “national” and what teams are at more ones on a regional level. When choosing teams to join your organization, what are you looking for?
LS: First and foremost, the coaches must have the girls best interest at heart and making sure the coaches and players are a fit with our culture.
EIS: What things do you believe are necessary for an organization to be a top-ranked program?
LS: We feel it’s important to find ways to attract and retain top talent as well as to have a coaching staff that can develop players at every level.
EIS: What do you think the role of a club/ organization is in helping players get recruited and how does being in a nationally known club help players in the recruiting process?
LS: As the Director, I try to take a big role in helping our players with recruiting. It starts with educating them and understanding what they should be doing at every age to be prepared. It’s a process that the player and parents need to be comfortable with. Recruiting is personal and is different for every player and their family. We have built many good relationships across the country with a lot of schools that trust our organization and our evaluations.
*****
The Championship Coach
… Beth Singleton, the title-winning coach of the 18U National team, has had great success in developing teams and players:
Extra Inning Softball: When did you join Nebraska Gold?
Beth Singleton: Beth joined Nebraska Gold in 2013
EIS: Where are you from?
BS: I am from Lincoln, NE and still live there
EIS: Where are your players from?
BS: Over the years I have had players on my Gold teams from all over the state of Nebraska plus athletes from Iowa, South Dakota, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri.
EIS: Why did you choose the NE Gold organization to be a part of?
BS: I chose to coach for Nebraska Gold because it is a class act organization that competes at the highest level nationally and does a great job connecting players with college programs that fit their needs and skill sets.
EIS: Why do you believe NE Gold has been able to stick around when many organizations have come and gone within the state?
BS: Nebraska Gold has a strong program culture that allows it to last because it is bigger than any one person, coach or player. The foundation is built upon the Gold DNA that guides everything we do.
EIS: What, in your opinion, sets the organization apart from other organizations?
BS: One of the things that makes Nebraska Gold special is so many of our players are developed in house and come from our feeder programs and younger Gold teams. We invest in our players and help them build their talents from a young age.
*****
The Family:
… the Barnard family, which includes four daughters, has two of which play or have played for the Nebraska Gold program and two more in the young age divisions that very soon will.
The oldest of the four, Addison Barnard, is already playing at the collegiate level. A 2020 grad who had a record-breaking freshman year at Wichita State. Her accomplishments include being named All-American honorable mention, 1st Team All-American Conference, All Rookie Team, Rookie of the Year, and the school’s single season home run record holder:
Extra Inning Softball: What year did you join the NEGold program?
Addison Barnard: 2017
EIS: What do you think sets NE Gold apart from other organizations?
AB: I think NE Gold has coaches who are there for the players 100%. I came out of the organization being coached by some of the greatest people who made an impact in my life.
EIS: What does being a part of NE Gold mean to you and how has it made a positive impact in your life?
AB: The bond between the girls is just on a different level; yes, we wanted everyone to get to the next level with their career but everyone genuinely cared about each other. We would put our lives on the line for one another. We played as a true team. NE Gold gave me some of my forever best friends and taught me life lessons and gave me the best summers.
*****
The second oldest daughter in the Barnard family is Avery Barnard, a 2023 uncommitted grad with a long list of high school athletic and academic accomplishments including starting as a shortstop her freshman year with her sister on the mound as the team took 2nd in State. Avery was also a varsity basketball player as a frosh and led her team to a State runner-up finish. The leadoff hitter for the 15U National – Boyer team, she batted .520 and is a two-time 1st Team All-State honoree (2020 and ’21) while also being a state track qualifier in the 100, 200, long jump and 4×100 and helped her team to 4th place finish in the Nebraska State 4×100 relay.
Extra Inning Softball: When did you join the Nebraska Gold organization?
Avery Barnard: 2018
EIS: Why about the club program attracted you to it?
AB: I moved over to this organization to start playing with a team that had potential to play at a more competitive level. The Nebraska Gold organization welcomed me with open arms and has never let me down. All of the coaches are willing to do anything to make the players better. This organization has given me opportunities to play at some of the top tournaments in the country, which has given my team and me great exposure. I’m thankful I get to be a part of Nebraska Gold—it hasn’t just given me great opportunities; it has also given me lifelong friendships.
*****
The girls’ parents, Curt and Deann Barnard, were both born and raised in Nebraska and say they are happy with what Nebraska Gold has provided for their daughters.
And if history repeats itself the travel ball org will have two more Barnard ball players coming up as Reese and Baylor currently are dominating at the 12u and 10u level.
Extra Inning Softball: Why led you to choosing Nebraska Gold as the club program for your daughters?
Curt & Deann: We chose Nebraska Gold for both of our girls when they reached a certain part of their career. We knew the org would give them the opportunity to play with other girls at a top level. We knew that softball was something they wanted to pursue and this was just the next logical step for us to help them reach their goals. It’s not always easy to leave friends you have been playing with for a long time, but we had to make that tough choice to help make them better and receive more opportunities.
EIS: What is something you see as parents that sets the organization apart from others you had been involved in or could have chosen for your daughters?
C&DB: The Nebraska Gold organization is unique in Nebraska because of the recruiting opportunities it provides. It allows girls of all levels to be seen by college coaches. The organization is well respected and is invited to many of the top tournaments in the country. The respect others have for the organization goes back to leadership. Larry Swift has done a great job with the recruiting process and ultimately helping everyone play softball at the next level.
*****
The New Coaches & Teams
Coaches Kelly Foster and Mike Cunningham are both new to the Nebraska softball organization. Each coach brought his or her own team with them: Kelly joining in August of this year while Mike goes back further, to January of 2020.
Kelly runs a 14U team based out of Eaton, Colorado, which used to be part of the Colorado Stars org; Mike skews older as he has a 16U and 18U which are based out of Des Moines, Iowa and Blue Springs, Missouri.
Extra Inning Softball: How did you first learn of the program?
Kelly Foster: I am a pitching coach, and I have been sending some of my strongest high-level pitchers to the organization for the last five-to-six years and have maintained a good relationship.
EIS: What stood out about it that led to you wanting to be in it?
KF: The opportunities the organization will give our team as a whole and individual players. I was able to watch the growth in my pitchers that played for the program over the past few years, and I saw they developed into really strong players.
EIS: What about you, Mike?
Mike Cunningham: We were looking for a program that had a good reputation, has a winning history and will give the players exposure to college coaches so the players have options to play at the next level if they want to.
EIS: What do you feel makes Nebraska Gold a long-running and successful organization?
KF: Coaches are very invested into the girls getting better and being successful. They foster a competitive environment by playing other top programs across the country.
EIS: What has been the most positive aspect in the short time you’ve been with NE Gold?
KF: Our players have a huge sense of pride putting their uniforms on and being a part of something bigger than themselves. They are working hard to compete and represent the organization well. One of the biggest benefits to me as a coach is the welcoming community of coaches. They are a great resource of encouragement and knowledge of the game.
MC: We have found that the organization has a commitment to player development and the desire to compete to be the best while allowing the team to stay together and not break up the bond that’s been developed over the years.
— Joy Roeder, Extra Inning Softball Correspondent
