NFCANFCA2010 NATIONAL CONVENTION

DECEMBER 8-11SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

DECEMBER 8-11SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Live, Learn, Love...Coaching

Live, Learn, Love...Coaching

NFCA AtteNdee ReFuNd PoliCyCancellations received on or prior to November 24 will receive a full refund, minus an administrative fee of $30. Cancellations after November 24 through December 1 will receive a one-half refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations after December 1.Atte

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Please complete the registration form and either mail or fax with payment to the NFCA office by Novem-ber 1 to receive the Early Bird Special rates. Registrations received after November 1 will be charged regular rates, and on-site registration will include an additional fee.

General Registration Please note that the convention fees are all-inclusive, except for the optional pre-convention seminar (Wednesday, December 8) and the golf and tennis tournaments (Tuesday, December 7). The NFCC Coaches College courses being held in conjunction with the convention require additional fees. Your convention registration fee covers all events except those mentioned above, through the afternoon of Saturday, December 11; this includes all receptions, luncheons, banquets and breakfasts.

Friday/Saturday Registration Only For high school and travel ball coaches only able to attend Friday and Saturday, we are offering a special two-day only Early Bird Special rate – $200 for NFCA members and $325 for non-members. (You can join on the registration form to get the lower rate and receive NFCA membership ben-efits, including 12 issues of our official newspaper Fastpitch Delivery.) The two-day only rate includes breakfast Friday and Saturday, and lunch on Saturday. Two-day registrants who wish to attend the Friday night NFCA Hall of Fame Banquet may buy a ticket for $50 (please see form).

Making Masters of the Mental Game – Pre-Convention Seminar – December 8National Convention – December 8-11National Convention Exhibitor Show – December 9 & 10

Recharge your Coaching Battery in Beautiful San DiegoChOOSE TO ATTENd ThE PRE-CONvENTiON SEmiNAR Brian Cain, an expert in the field of peak performance and sport psychology, will present a four-hour seminar sharing fundamental and advanced mental skills you can use immediately to make a difference in your program.

mORE ThAN TwO dAyS OF CliNiC SESSiONS By ExCEllENT SPEAkERS, COvERiNG ThE GAmE Learn valuable drills and tips from some of the best speakers in softball today. Veteran coaches and national experts tell their secrets of the game.

ThE lATEST iNNOvATiONS iN SOFTBAll EquiPmENT More than 80 different companies are expected for the Exhibitor Show, December 9-10. Learn about the newest in softball training technology.

FORumS TO diSCuSS ChANGES ANd FuTuRE OF ThE SPORT & NETwORkiNG OPPORTuNiTiES Thursday and Friday will feature business meetings for the individual membership groups. All NFCA members are welcome to share ideas to the entire membership at the Softball Summit on Thursday afternoon.

How to RegiSteR

NATiONAl FASTPiTCh COAChES ASSOCiATiONdeCeMBeR 8-11, 2010

2010nAtionAL convention NFCANFCA2010 NATIONAL CONVENTIONDECEMBER 8-11 • SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIADECEMBER 8-11 • SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Live, Learn, Love... CoachingLive, Learn, Love... Coaching

AS A SPECiAl CONvENTiON OFFER, two or more coaches from the same staff can register for any of the convention NFCC classes and receive $100 off the second, third and fourth coach’s registration.

Presented by brIAn CAInBrian Cain, an expert in the field of peak performance and sport psychology, will present a four-hour preconvention seminar on “Peak Performance Softball - Making Masters of The Mental Game.”

Cain’s PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In Daily Excellence) Program will be a key component of the presentation, in addition to sharing fundamental and advanced mental skills you can use immediately to make a difference in your program. Learn how to:

• Develop core covenants that serve as the foundation of any successful team;

• Get your athletes to play in the present - one pitch at a time, and

• Give yourself a better chance to WIN by focusing on the process and by structuring pre-game and in-game routines.  

He will also provide you with some strategies to increase your intensity of practice and ways in which to make practice more game-like.  

A former baseball coach at Cal State Fullerton and high school softball coach, Cain has worked with top athletic teams across the country in various sports including Alabama softball and various teams at Vanderbilt, Auburn, Tennessee, Maryland, Iowa, James Madison, Coastal Carolina, Ole Miss, Cal State Fullerton,

UC Irvine and more.  He has worked as the Peak Performance Coach of the Washington Nationals Professional Baseball Club and with three

Ultimate Fighting Championship world champions, and the

Austrian and Russian Olympic organizations.  

“Brian came highly

recommended to me by several coaches across the country,” said Patrick Murphy, Alabama head coach.  “He was very instrumental in the success of a very young team at Alabama in 2010.   His presentation of the mental game is excellent and had my team’s attention the entire time.”

Cain is currently a high school athletic director in Vermont and travels close to 40 weekends a year to work with colleges and high schools across the country on developing coaches, athletes and teams in the area of peak performance and mental toughness.

SChEdulE8:30-9:30 Introduction To Peak Performance - The Fundamentals - Present Moment, Process, Perspective, Positive9:30-10:30 Increasing The Quality of Practice/ Preparation - Teaching Performance Routines10:30-10:45 Break & Video10:45-11 Teaching Attention to Detail - National Anthem and Cleaning The Field11-11:30 Team Building 101 - Inexpensive Experience11:30-12 p.m. Developing Core Covenants - What Is Your Program All About?12-12:30 Don’t Count The Days - Make The Days Count - Asking WHY? - Review12:30-1 Book signing with Brian Cain - the ABC’s of Peak Performance

Jon Gordon, a well-respected speaker, consultant and author, will present the keynote address at this year’s “Live, Learn, Love... Coaching” NFCA National Convention.

Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of the international best seller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish and his newest book Soup: A Recipe to Nourish your Team and Culture.

Gordon and his books have been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today Show and in Forbes, Fast Company, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL coaches and teams, hospitals, Fortune

500 Companies, school districts and countless leaders in business, healthcare and education.

Gordon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a master’s in teaching from Emory University. When he’s not speaking to businesses, hospitals or schools, you can find him playing tennis or lacrosse with his wife and two “high energy” children.

kEyNOTE SPEAkERjon gordon

PEAk PERFORmANCE SOFTBAllMAKing MAsters of the MentAL gAMe

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NFCANFCA2010 NATIONAL CONVENTIONDECEMBER 8-11 • SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIADECEMBER 8-11 • SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Live, Learn, Love... CoachingLive, Learn, Love... Coaching

NOON NFCC COuRSE 403 through noon Tuesday NFCC COuRSE 404 through noon Tuesday

2010convention scheduLeSUNDAY, DeCeMBeR 5

tUeSDAY, DeCeMBeR 7

weDNeSDAY, DeCeMBeR 8

tHURSDAY, DeCeMBeR 9SAtURDAY, DeCeMBeR 11

fRiDAY, DeCeMBeR 10

10 AM TENNiS TOuRNAmENT11 AM GOlF SCRAmBlE ShOTGuN START

8:30 AM “PEAk PERFORmANCE SOFTBAll - mAkiNG mASTERS OF ThE mENTAl GAmE” Brian Cain, Peak Performance Expert1:30 PM COmmiTTEE mEETiNGS 4 PM GENERAl SESSiON, with keynote Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus speaking on “Create a Culture of Greatness”6:30 PM lOuiSvillE SluGGER RECEPTiON

7 AM AdAmS uSA CONTiNENTAl BREAkFAST8:30 AM GENERAl SESSiON: BAT TESTiNG9:15 AM CAuCuS/BuSiNESS mEETiNGS By GROuP11 AM ExhiBiT hAll OPEN uNTil 6:30 Pm11:30 AM EASTON viCTORy CluB luNChEON1:30 PM SOFTBAll SummiT 3:30 PM “TEAm ChEmiSTRy: AN imPORTANT PART OF ThE wiNNiNG FORmulA” Kelly Inouye-Perez, Head Coach, UCLA4:30 PM “TEAChiNG PuRE ThROwiNG SkillS ThAT lAST A liFETimE” Tony Abbatine, Founder and International Director, Frozen Ropes Training Centers5:30 PM mizuNO hAPPy hOuR iN ThE ExhiBiT hAll6 PM diviSiON i CONFERENCE mEETiNGS7 PM mENTORiNG wORkShOP9 PM diAmONd SPORTS hOSPiTAliTy

7 AM SChuTT SPORTS CONTiNENTAl BREAkFAST8 AM CONTiNuATiON OF BuSiNESS mEETiNGS9 AM ExhiBiT hAll OPEN uNTil 1 Pm9 AM “TEChNiquES ANd STRATEGiES FOR ThE lEFT- hANdEd ShORT GAmE” Tony Rico, Owner & Instructor, Softball Connection and Head Coach of the Worth Firecrackers

8 AM Twu mASTER’S iNFO SESSiON9 AM NFCA COAChiNG STAFF OF ThE yEAR BRuNCh10:30 AM “hOT TOPiCS FOR SOFTBAll COAChES: CONTRACTS iN TOdAy’S ECONOmy; COmPETiNG TO kEEP yOuR jOB; ClAimS By STudENT- AThlETES; ClAimS By COAChES” Tracy Warren, Seltzer/Caplan/McMahon/Vitek Attorneys10:30 AM “CREATiNG SCORiNG OPPORTuNiTiES whEN RuNNiNG BASES” Linda Garza, Head Coach, Wright State University10:30 AM “NCAA RulES diSCuSSiON” Dee Abrahamson, NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor11:30 AM “kEy ElEmENTS OF ThE RiSE BAll” Mike White, Head Coach, University of Oregon11:30 AM “OuTFiEld: dEvElOPiNG ThE lAST liNE OF dEFENSE” Mike Larrabee, Head Coach, University of Arkansas11:30 AM “AThlETiC SPORTS TESTiNG” Frank Spaniol, Professor, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi12:30 PM “dRillS, dRillS, dRillS” (BOx Connie Clark, Head Coach, University of LUNCH) Texas (pitching) Carol Bruggeman, Associate Head Coach, University of Louisville (team defense) Michelle Venturella, Head Coach, University of Illinois at Chicago (catching)2 PM “dROP ThE lECTuRE ANd TEACh ThE dROP: A GuidE TO TEAChiNG ThE dROP BAll wiTh dRillS” Beth McClendon, Head Coach, Florida International University3 PM “mENTAl SkillS & TOuGhNESS TRAiNiNG” Spencer Wood, President, Icebox Athlete4 PM “hiTTiNG lESSONS FOR ThE 21ST CENTuRy” Martin Rubinoff, Lead hitting instructor at the Texas Baseball Ranch6 PM NFCC COuRSE 405 through noon Monday NFCC COuRSE 406 through noon Monday

10 AM “STRENGTh & CONdiTiONiNG FOR SOFTBAll” Teena Murray, Director Olympic Sports Performance, University of Louisville11 AM ExhiBiT hAll dRAwiNGS – ExhiBiT hAll ClOSES AT 1 Pm1:15 PM “SEE A FAST GAmE iN SlOw mOTiON” Ryan Harrison, Slow the Game Down Visual Performance Training2:15 PM “hOw ANd whEN wE AdjuST TO SPEEdS ANd lOCATiONS” Don Slaught, President, RightView Pro3:15 PM “ThE mOST CRiTiCAl SuCCESS FACTOR TO ANy SPORTS PROGRAm: ThE COACh-AThlETE RElATiONShiP” Bo Hanson, Four-Time Olympian and Coaching Consultant4:15 PM “kNEE iNjuRiES, PREvENTiON ANd ThE ACl PEP PROGRAm” Kate Grace, RPT, OPA-C, founder of Kate Grace Physical Therapy6:30 PM NFCA hAll OF FAmE BANquET

Convention attendees are encouraged to take part in a special mentoring

session from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 9. Look for more

information on the NFCA’s website and in Fastpitch Delivery.

thursday night Mentoring Workshop

tHeRe ARe tHRee wAYS to RegiSteR foR oUR CoURSeS: 1. Complete the Convention Registration form; 2. Complete the form in the NFCC course listing brochure; 3. Or, go online to www.nfca.org and complete either the convention or NFCC forms.

COuRSE 403: POSiTiON PlAy & iNdividuAl dEFENSivE SkillSOvERviEW: This course emphasizes how to analyze and teach the skills required to play each of the nine softball positions with live on-field practice players. In addition you will:

• Study the mechanics of throwing, tossing and fielding within a full team practice;• Examine the techniques used to cover bases, back up, check runners, retrieve balls and func-

tion as a cut-off;• Identify and break down the skills required, to play each defensive position;• Analyze and correct typical errors during on field, live practice instruction, and• Learn techniques from live demonstration position play drills.

iNSTRuCTORS: Bill Edwards, head coach at Hofstra; Stacey Nuveman, assistant coach at San Diego State; and Margie Wright, head coach at Fresno StateClASS TiME SChEDulE: Sunday – Noon to 5 p.m.; Monday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday – 8 a.m. to noon

OvERviEW: Learn how to put your individual players together to build a winning defensive team, through classroom instruction, video analysis and live practice.

• Study various defensive sets and discuss how to select the appropriate set for various game situations with a purpose in mind;• How to teach your team to execute pickoffs and rundowns;• Learn how to deliver in special situations (wild pitch/passed balls, dropped third strikes, intentional walks);• Increase your team’s ability to remember assignments for steals, extra-base hits, bunts and slaps;• Develop your team’s understanding of angles, principles of jurisdiction, communication systems and primary/secondary

back-up charts;• Observe teaching methods and analyze live drills for practice of team defensive skills and strategies;• Achieve a high fielding percentage through practice progression demonstrated in a live practice session, and • Observe and evaluate counter offensive/defensive strategies to prepare for games.

iNSTRuCTORS: Heather Tarr, head coach at Washington; Gayle Blevins, retired head coach at Iowa; Eugene Lenti, head coach at DePaul ClASS TiME SChEDulE: Sunday – Noon to 5 p.m.; Monday – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday – 8 a.m. to noon.

COuRSE 404: SOlid TEAm dEFENSE & STRATEGy

NFCC COuRSESAt 2010 nfcA nAtionAL conventionCOMe eArLy Or stAy LAte!

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AS A SPECiAl CONvENTiON OFFER, TWO OR MORE COAChES FROM ThE SAME STAFF CAN REGiSTER FOR ANY OF ThE CONvENTiON NFCC ClASSES AND RECEivE $100 OFF ThE SECOND, ThiRD AND FOuRTh COACh’S REGiSTRATiON.

COuRSE 405: ExPlOSivE TEAm OFFENSE & STRATEGyOvERviEW: Extend your offensive mind and learn how to score and manufacture more runs. In addition, you will:

• Examine the pieces of an explosive offensive puzzle (power, running and short game);• Learn the elements of play-mapping and apply them to numerous tactics and strategies;• Counter offensive/defensive strategies and prepare for games;• Examine your offensive philosophy and your evaluation of offensive performance, and• Observe the performance of offensive team skills and strategies.

iNSTRuCTORS: Sharon Drysdale, retired head coach at Northwestern; Mike Candrea, head coach at Arizona; and Tim Walton, head coach at FloridaClASS TiME SChEDulE: Saturday — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday — 8 a.m. to noon

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OvERviEW: This course examines theories, methods, and tools that can be used to maximize a player’s ability to learn your system. The class starts in the classroom and moves to the field/indoor practice facility for demonstration and evaluations of different practice plans to develop your own master plan.

• Actively participate in drills designed to improve your personal coaching skills;• Take an in-depth look at planning, organizing and conducting practices from the ground up;• Construct a draft of a master practice plan – discuss sample daily plans – consider differences in pre-season, pre-game

and off-season plans;• Develop practice policies, procedures, and protocol;• Discuss eight mistakes coaches make when teaching drills and how to prevent them;• Learn how to boost your players’ performance by understanding how they learn;• Discuss and observe proven teaching methods to maximize learning, and• Evaluate sample hitting, pitching and position play during a live practice.

iNSTRuCTORS: Carol Bruggeman, associate head coach at Louisville; Carol Hutchins, head coach at Michigan; and Deb Pallozzi, head coach at IthacaClASS TiME SChEDulE: Saturday — 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday — 8 a.m. to noon

COuRSE 406: SOlid TEAm dEFENSE & STRATEGy

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NeeD MoRe iNfo?Contact the NFCA:

phone 662.320.2155 fax 662.320.2283

email nfca@nfca.orgweb www.nfca.org

Discover a spectacular waterfront setting in the heart of America’s Finest City at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, featuring one of the best locations among downtown San Diego hotels. Conveniently located within walking distance to downtown San Diego and the Gaslamp Quarter, it offers easy access to all of San Diego’s popular attractions. You’ll find numerous shopping and dining options right outside your hotel.

RESERvATiONS The easiest way to make reservations is through the NFCA’s web site link to the Marriott’s page for our event. You also can call 800/266-9432. Online and phone reservations will be accepted through Novem-ber 10, 2010. Visit: https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=2651017. All reserva-tions must be guaranteed with a major credit card.

ChECk-iN By 4 p.m. is guaranteed; checkout is noon.

RATES The NFCA has acquired the following rates beginning Wednesday, December 1, through Tuesday, December 14: $139 single or double.

PARkiNG On-site parking is available at the hotel for a daily fee of $24 for self-parking and $34 for valet. There are addi-tional parking options in the Gaslamp Quarter lots.

hOTEl AmENiTiES FOR NFCA ATTENdEES NFCA attendees will receive complimentary admission to the hotel fitness center as well as complimentary in-room internet, usually a $12.95 charge for 24 hours. The complimentary in-room internet also includes complimentary local and national phone calls and complimentary wireless internet in the hot spots located in North & South Tower Lobby.

AiRPORT/AiRPORT TRANSPORTATiON More than 20 airlines service San Diego International Airport, including many discount carriers. (www.san.org/sdia/flights/airlines.aspx) The airport is just three miles northwest of downtown San Diego, where the host hotel is located. Airport-to-hotel transportation options include shuttle ($6 each way on SuperShuttle with advance reservations; see link on NFCA web site) or taxi (from the airport, estimated cost is $12, which includes $2.50 to start the meter and then $2.70 per mile; no extra cost for multiple people). Rental cars are not recommended because of the excellent ground transportation options and costly parking fees in the downtown area.

lOCAl GROuNd TRANSPORTATiON You can easily take public transportation to get to all parts of San Diego. A trolley and bus stop are right across the street from the Marriott. To use the Metropolitan Transit System Trip Planner, visit: www.sdcommute.com/tripplanner/index.asp

California’s second largest city and the United States’ eighth largest, San Diego boasts a citywide population of nearly 1.3 million residents and more than 3 million residents countywide. Within its borders of 4,200 sq. miles, San Diego County encompasses 18 incorporated cities and numerous other charming neighborhoods and communities, including downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, Coronado, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, Hillcrest, Barrio Logan, Chula Vista just to name a few.

San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park, Sea World San Diego and LEGOLAND California. San Diego offers an expansive variety of things to see and do, appealing to guests of all ages from around the world. sA

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San diego marriott hotel & marina

333 west harbor driveSan diego, California 92101 uSA

Phone: 619-234-1500Reservations: 800/266-9432

Fax: 619-234-8678