A crowded room of attendees at a coaches convention in Spain last month. (Photo courtesy of Hector Torres)

CLINIC ACTIVITY KICKS OFF NEW YEAR
2007-02-09

Two weeks from today an umpire certification seminar will be in progress, but it will by no means be the first course of 2007.

Last month the International Softball Federation (ISF) sent clinician Hector Torres to Pamplona, Navarra (Spain) to participate in the IV Coaches Convention. Despite its name, the intermediate and advanced level session was actually for both players and coaches. According to Torres, “The focus was to work on the basic and advanced fundamentals (hitting, defense, and pitching) of the game such as mechanics, techniques, and strategies. Philosophy of training was also addressed.”

A mixture of lecture and participation, the clinic attracted 30 attendees. In the end, Torres deemed this year’s edition of the annual event a success and a pleasure to be a part of.

Meanwhile, the ISF sent Olympic Softball gold medalists Natasha Watley and Jessica Mendoza (Team USA) to Cape Town, South Africa, for clinics and participation.

The two conducted three main clinics (see photo, bottom of page): a coaches clinic on a Friday night, a clinic for all ages (boys and girls) the next day, and an elite clinic for the provincial men’s and women’s teams on Sunday. Saturday’s goings-on were captured by Supersport (television station). Mendoza said, “Natasha and I both thought the coaches clinic went very well and were very happy with the number of coaches and variety of questions asked.  We both thought it was a very good idea on the part of the Federation to have not only the clinic for the players, but also for the coaches who would be carrying out a lot of what we were teaching as well.” She added that, “On Saturday, the clinic also had a good turnout of many young girls and boys.  The kids were so energetic and attentive -- beautiful smiles and a lot of heart.”

Olympic Softball gold medalist Jessica Mendoza bats for the "President's team" in an invitational game in South Africa last month. (Photo courtesy of Softball South Africa website)

After the three clinics, Watley and Mendoza played in an invitational game between the Western province Major team and a Presidents’ team that, in Mendoza’s words, “drew some pretty big crowds for the area and brought out a lot of media attention.” While their team lost, 3-2, the two had a lot of fun playing with many of the younger girls – seven of their teammates were South African Under-19 players who will play in the ISF Jr. Women’s World Championship in June in the Netherlands – and were able to experience the fun of South African softball first-hand.

The significance of the event wasn’t lost on the local community. The two Olympians attended an official welcome function their first night there. Sponsored by the City of Cape Town, it was attended by Councilors, city officials, the media, and Softball South Africa Secretary General Denise Paulsen. During their time in South Africa, Mendoza and Watley were also interviewed by a local radio station and newspaper.

Next up comes the ISF fast pitch/modified pitch umpire certification seminar, February 21-25 at the world headquarters complex in Plant City, Florida. Ironically, Noore Nacerodien, the Western Province Softball Federation President who coordinated the Mendoza/Watley visit, will be at the ISF for the seminar, which will be conducted by ISF Director of Umpires Merle Butler and Deputy Director of Umpires Bob Stanton.

Over 20 participants are expected for the seminar, which is a requirement for umpires wanting to be eligible to work in ISF competitions. The attendees of this month’s clinic – who will undergo both classroom-type sessions (including a 100-question rules examination) as well as live game situations outside on the playing fields – will come from eleven different countries: the Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Spain, and USA. (To qualify to attend the five-day school, umpires have to be certified at the highest level in their respective country and be in good standing with their National Federation.)

The ISF Regional Umpire Coordinators will also have meetings at the ISF in conjunction with the certification seminar.

The ISF is also anticipating clinics already this year for Belize in April and Denmark in June.

Youth players in South Africa gather around and listen to infielder Natasha Watley of Team USA (center, wearing white shirt) during the Olympian's visit last month. (Photo courtesy of Softball South Africa website)