The 28th edition of the highly-regarded European Coach Clinic (ECC) for softball and baseball coaches will be held in Rotterdam in the Netherlands on the weekend of 13-14 December, and places for coaches who wish to attend are still available.
The ECC, organised annually by the Royal Dutch Baseball and Softball Federation (KNBSB), allows experienced baseball and softball coaches to share their knowledge and experience on numerous aspects of the sports. This year's location is the Van der Valk Hotel in Rotterdam-Blijdorp.
The deadline for registration is Sunday 30 November, and coaches can register by going to http://www.knbsb.nl/verenigingen/ecc-english/participation and clicking the blue button on the right of the screen to complete a registration form. After completing the registration form, coaches will need to log in to PayLogic to complete payment.
Packages
Six ‘packages’ are available for the weekend, and coaches can use the registration form to indicate which package they prefer and whether they want to take part in the softball or baseball programme.
The packages include options for attending on one or both days, staying overnight at the clinic hotel and for single or double rooms. Depending on the options selected, the cost, including the clinic, hotel and meals, can range from 99 to 230 euros.
Softball coaches and sessions
Softball coaches who will deliver sessions at the clinic include:
- Michele Smith, former Team USA pitching great, two-time Olympic champion and eight-time Japanese Pro League champion.
- Jen Schroeder, widely regarded as one of the top softball catching instructors in the United States and currently an instructor with her own business, Jen Schro Catching.
Sessions will include:
- Hitting (theory and drills)
- Defense (throwing, catching and fielding)
- Catching
- Pitching mechanics
- Mental toughness
- Pitching and catching demonstration sessions
- Strength training and motor learning
- Outfield
- Baserunning
- The short game
Wytse Dijkstra, a mental, physical and tactical trainer and education developer for special police and military forces worldwide, will deliver sessions on mental toughness at both baseball and softball clinics. Wytse’s specialty is reducing stress by creating the right mental blueprints for human tasks.
Baseball coaches and sessions
Baseball coaches who will deliver sessions at the clinic include:
- Jerry Weinstein, currently active in player development for the Colorado Rockies and former college coach and Minor League Manager.
- Larry Young, former Major League Baseball umpire and adviser to the game’s Playing Rules Committee.
- Kyle Boddy, founder of Driveline Baseball, a company set up in 2007 to develop pitchers through the use of advanced biomechanical modelling and cutting edge training methods.
Sessions will include:
- Hitting and pitching philosophy
- Mental toughness
- Pitch calling
- New approaches to offense
- Hand-eye coordination in hitting
- Arm care and recovery protocols
- Catching
- Injury rehabilitation
Recommendation
European Softball Federation President Andre van Overbeek is enthusiastic about the benefits this clinic can bring to European coaches.
"The European Coach Clinic gathers together some of the world's leading coaches to present the most up-to-date information related to coaching both high level and recreational baseball and softball players," Andre said. "The Clinic also provides an opportunity for coaches from the region to meet, exchange ideas and further strengthen the good cooperation between European countries."