Coaches hone softball skills
The Prince Room at the Princess Hotel and Casino is about as far removed as you can get from the dust and mud of Roger’s Stadium. But, as News 5’s Patrick Jones discovered, the teaching of softball skills is not confined to the diamond.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
There were no cheerleaders or dollar beer at this morning’s session, but the coaches attending the Olympic Solidarity training were still having a good time with the fundamentals of fast pitch softball. From the proper way to hold the ball…to balancing the body…to delivery and follow through, the weeklong seminar is teaching over twenty coaches from the Pan American region, new offensive and defensive strategies.
Michael Bastian, Instructor, Intl. Softball Federation
“Well basically we’re covering all phases of the game. As normal, pitching and hitting have been, the majority of the time that we have that we are using to teach those two skills, pitching and hitting. We’re trying to cover all areas of the game, strategy, defence, game management, issues like that. The people that are here are very interested to learn and absorb as much information as they can on all aspects of the game.”
With the finer points of softball constantly evolving, Bastian says coaches, players and officials need to stay abreast of changes in the way the game is played.
Michael Bastian
“With technology, with gaining information, learning about the body better and how it works, the game is always growing. The International Softball Federation is changing the rules often, pitching distances, some subtle changes. So you always have to be on the competitive edge and one step ahead, as we are talking about here.”
With four days of training already under their belts, participants are confident that the time spent in the training room will translate into a better game on the diamond.
Rafael Uribe, Umpire, Dominica Republic
“I’m here specifically to learn new techniques of softball and my experience as an umpire has helped me a great deal, since I have a good command of the rules of both baseball and softball. I’m also the supervisor of the National Umpires of Professional Baseball in Dominican Republic, and this is an invaluable help to keep me sharp in my profession as an umpire and a trainer.”
Anthony Fuller, Head Coach, Camalote Duurly’s Cristal
“Well were getting a lot of new stats about the game because it is a much higher level coaching than what we have in past or in Belize.”
Patrick Jones
“Do you think that this will give you an added edge when it comes to the national later this year?”
Anthony Fuller
“Definitely. I can’t wait to get back.”
David Cardenas, Head Coach, Independence United
“This is the first time I attend a seminar about pitching. Pitching is my weakest point, the grips. We only use to throw the ball hard, that’s all, just throw. But now when I return I can teach my girls them the grips, the release point, the way to hold the ball in certain position and things like that.”
Michael Bastian, a veteran fast pitch coach who has been contracted by the International Softball Federation, is conducting the training. Bastian says that based on what he has seen of the local competition at the Rogers Stadium, Belizean softballers compare well with their counterparts in the region.
Michael Bastian
“I was impressed with the athleticism. One thing I have learned travelling the world coaching, is that there are great athletes everywhere, there just needs to be the coaching of the fundamentals and the advanced skills to take the game that’s being played to a higher level. I was pleased with the level of play that I saw, but worldwide with the elite competition that is out there, they have some work to do. But it’s exciting to be here and they are excited to learn and I can see some great things happening for the Belize softball teams and players and in this area in general and in the world in the future in softball.”
And for the Belizean coaches, the future starts in August when their teams will compete in the National Championships for the right to represent Belize in the Central American Champion of Champions tournament.
David Cardenas
“I have two months to prepare my team for nationals and definitely it will be much harder for them to beat me.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The Belize Softball Federation and the Belize Olympic Solidarity sponsored the softball coaches workshop.
