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If you are a business that has anything at all to do with softball, hopefully you attended the NFCA convention in Chicago this week.
Everyone who is anyone in the world of softball was there.
“This year we had the largest number of sponsors that we’ve ever had,” NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman said. “Companies want to be involved in softball. The best of the best are here.”
Coaches from seemingly every college in the country at every level, top travel team coaches, and even some high school and recreation ball coaches attended. It was the best-attended convention yet in the event’s 35-year anniversary.
On Thursday and Friday the aisles at the Sheraton Grand Chicago’s Exhibitor Hall were packed with vendors, attendees and the crème-de-la-crème of the softball world. Many USA National Team and other current and former professional players were present working booths for companies.
The All-Star roster included Monica Abbott, Lauren Hager, Aubree Munro, Amanda Chidester, and many more.
“Where else are you going to go that you have this many coaches in one spot?” said Will Tomasello, who founded Legacy Events that hosts Showcase tournaments for travel teams. “You have to be here if you want to do business in the collegiate or travel ball space.”
At noon on Friday, exhibitor HitTrax held a home run hitting contest which Amanda Chidester won. She received $1,000 to donate to her favorite charity.
NFCA staff said there were fewer exhibitors this year because the space that was available at the hotel was limited; however, there were still more than 100 exhibitors included some new or usual technology companies such as:
- VukGripz (www.vukgripz.com), a bat grip that seems superior to the more rubber grips on the market;
- Launch Angle Tee (www.launchangletee.com), which has a tee that leans forward and uses a special rubber tip where the ball rests that is made on the spot by a 3D printer;
- HitTrax (www.hittrax.com), which is a set-up using cameras on tri-pods to the determine launch angle, exit velocity and distance a batted ball travels.
Other brands and products were also represented there as well including Mizuno, Nike, New Balance, Louisville Slugger, Ringor, Jugs, Bownet, Blast Motion as well as sports venues, travel ball event managers, batting cages and machines with the list going on and on.
Notably, towards the end of the day Friday, Bruggeman walked around to each booth and thanked the exhibitors for being there.
For vendors looking to penetrate the softball market at next year’s NFCA Convention, it’s not too early to start making plays for Atlantic City, New Jersey in December of 2019.
— Kevin Long
Kevin Long is a correspondent covering travel teams, high school ball and other assignments for Extra Inning Softball. He can be reached at [email protected], www.twitter.com/KLEXINSB, and www.facebook.com/KLONG50extrainningsoftball