Thursday, February 12, 2015

Week 1 2015

SOFTBALL COACH'S 2015 SEASON UNDERWAY
First of all, I will be retiring from coaching at the international level in July, when we finish the Men's World Championships in Canada. I can not think of a better place to retire, in Canada where my career, all facts and data all started. 
I have been very fortunate to coach at such an elite level for so long, and must say I enjoyed every minute of it. In 2001 I took over the Australian Men,s program, and now my son is getting ready to step into my shoes.
This will be my 53rd straight year of coaching, and now players come up to me and say you coached my mom or dad, and now I am coaching some players grand kids.
My first event for the year. I was asked by Tasmania if I would help coach in the U/19 boy's National Championships, which were held in Sydney.
Our players waiting to march in for the opening ceremonie, and also watching the umpires checking their bats to see if they met the rules. We lost 2 bats from 16.Umpires checking the bats.
Tasmania is our smallest state and relies on some pickup players from other states, to have enough players so they can compete.
I never hesitate to help them out, the boy's want to learn and improve. They never won a game, scored a few runs but in the long run they improved, and went home with a lot of self satisfaction.
Each day our pitcher's improved and in there last game, they held the powerful New South Wales to an 8-2 score, there best game of the tournament.
We had a few injuries, mostly heat related as the Tasmanian boy's never have the heat or humidity, that they faced in Sydney.
Shez and Brenda, who had a duel role of coach and manager, and did they do a good job. Some days they would start at 6 a.m and crawl into bed after midnight. Seventeen uniforms washed dried and sorted for next days play. Work out lineup with myself for next days play. Always made sure players had enough food, water and ice for injuries.
 Brenda and Shez in our outdoor kitchen area preparing food for the boy's. They also drove our two vans to and from the games.
The food was unbelievable, some of the parents who stayed at the camp sight, prepared some of the best pasta dish's I have ever ate.
One of the players sister is a sports trainer and offered to help us out for the week. With all the injuries she was one busy lady, but I am sure she got enjoyment out of timing their recovery time, in the ice baths. 
Boys in the ice bath, and our trainer looking at her watch, making sure everyone completed their time.
I was sorry to miss the last day, as I had two funerals of close friends, to attend to.
Back to my own ACT state, and watched our U/17 girls play last night. All this week I will be at the ball park, and we will also be selecting a boy's and girl's team to go on a Singapore invitational tour of which I am coordinating.
ACT facing Queensland in the first day of the championships, great game and Queensland won 9-6 in a real thriller.
Hope you enjoy my coching write ups for 2015 and please leave a review

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