NFCA Grows the Game Through Educationally Focused Coaching Clinics
BY Roger McAfee
January 31, 2024
Those that are fortunate enough to call Carol Bruggeman a friend know that she is the one that everyone turns to.
She is the one that people reach out to for advice, for help or just to talk. She also likely knows a guy who knows a guy.
It is a tribute to Bruggeman that this is how she is viewed by her friends and peers, but also reveals her character and her passion for helping others.
That willingness to share, educate and uplift those around her can be traced back in part to her coaching days at the University of Louisville and Purdue University and an association with Mary Nutter.
Nutter, along with her business partner Staci Mayberry, created the National Softball Clinics in 1987 in hopes of creating a program that would feature some of the most knowledgeable, successful and passionate instructors in the world who are dedicated to helping clinic participants become better coaches and enjoy the game.
Mary Nutter
One of those knowledgeable, successful and passionate instructors was Bruggeman.
“I had the pleasure of being one of her speakers for many, many years and certainly got to expand the network of coaches I knew and really share the love of softball and teaching the game.”
And when Bruggeman transitioned from head coach to her current role as the Executive Director of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association in 2015 she carried with her that same passion to educate and inspire those in the softball community.
She was interested in expanding on the platform created by Nutter, but first needed her approval.
“When the association moved to Louisville and I had the pleasure of making that transition over to the NFCA, we explored doing our own clinics.
“And I remember having a previous conversation with Mary and saying, we do not want to compete with you. We just want to keep expanding. And she said, go for it. I just wanted to make sure that we were all on the same page with that.”
The NFCA launched its first coaching clinic in Louisville in 2016 and was an unqualified success.
Nutter passed way in 2012, but Mayberry continued the National Softball Clinics for another five years as a tribute to the coaching icon.
“I sat down with Traci and asked her what was next because it was really Mary’s passion. She was the coach. Traci was behind the scenes and helping, but softball was not her main passion in life. She wanted to keep going with the clinics, but she was not sure she could make it happen.
“And we had a very candid conversation. And I told her that there would be no better place than the NFCA to continue the clinics from a staffing standpoint, financial standpoint, the whole thing. It just made sense. Mary is a Hall of Famer, so let us keep her legacy alive through the NFCA.”
As a result, the NFCA acquired seven National Softball Clinics in 2017 – Chicago, Portland, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Nashville, Kansas City and Louisville.
“It is one of the favorite things our staff does. We get a chance to really get in front of coaches and share the good news about the association, expand the network, connect the best collegiate coaches with the high school travel ball coaches. So, it has a huge educational component and a huge networking component.”
— National Fastpitch Coaches Association (@NFCAorg) January 20, 2024
Through the coaching clinics, the NFCA has created an outstanding educational event that grows the game for coaches at all levels.
“If coach wants to get better, they should be able to come to our organization and find a pocket that works for them. Assistant coaches in our assistant coach hub and high school travel coaches at the coaching clinics and our power five coaches at the courses we offer. We want to make sure we have something for everyone. For these clinics, number one is just truly how to be a better coach.
“We try to diversify our lineups each year on who we are bringing in and what topics they are talking about. But how these clinics have helped with our education is just that. If you are a high school coach and you want to get better, where do you go? Of course, talking to your peers, but where do you go for that quality content that is in person. We have a vast library of opportunities online with drills and practice plans, but there is nothing like sitting down and having a conversation with, or being around, like-minded people.”
The NFCA Coaching Clinics have continued to grow and thrive under the direction of Bruggeman and her staff and the willingness of the top coaches in softball to continue to participate in the clinics.
The eight clinics last year drew over 2,700 attendees and the lineup of coaches featured to present this year included Heather Tarr, Melyssa Lombardi, Lauren Lappin, Rachel Lawson, Sharonda McDonald-Kelley, Kenny Gajewski, Morgan Zerkle and Shonda Stanton.
“Having someone who is in their first year walk away with something that they can take back to their team or someone who has been at it for 30 years and felt like it really was worth the time – that’s special. I feel like most people, certainly the majority, walk away with a smile on their face and that they have something to take back to their teams. And that is really the goal.
Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi
“In regard to our presenters, it matters that they continue to say yes because it helps grow the sport and grow the association and I am very appreciative of that. And it really has made a significant difference just with the softball community, but it is an exceptional group to be a part of.”
Behind a mantra of quality over quantity, Bruggeman is eyeing expansion in the future but maintaining the standard of excellence is paramount.
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