I have a passion for softball.  I assume that because you are reading this site that either you or someone you care about has a similar passion.  2009 will be mark my 10th year in travel softball and my 6th at the 18u level.  During that time, and especially in the last few years, I have noticed two very specific things.

The first is that there are very few female coaches in travel ball.  The second is that there are many girls who are gifted athletes who do not have good fundamental softball skills who are trying out for teams at the 18u level.  I believe that there is a connection between those two things.

Many, if not most, of the travel ball coaches, at least here in the northeast, are men who grew up playing baseball.  When these men had daughters, their attention shifted from baseball to softball.  Now these men should be applauded for making the commitment to coach teams and help the girls.  But it needs to be recognized that not all of them are great teachers of the game or the skills necessary to created good ballplayers.  This is especially true of some of the coaches at the youngest levels.  The problem then is that by the time the girls get to an age that they are serious about the possibility of playing ball successfully in college, they don't have the skill set to play the game at the highest levels and it may be too late to teach them.

The success of this great sport depends entirely on the quality of the players, which in turn depends a lot on the quality of the instruction and training that they receive from their introduction to the game.  So I implore young women who played the game at the college level to give something back to the players who are coming up behind them by getting involved in coaching at the Little League and travel levels.  You understand the game in a way that the men who taught you probably never will.  You are uniquely qualified to train the next generations of players in a game that brought you much joy and may have helped pay for your education.  Give something back.

If you don't think you can give the time commitment to be a coach, then do other things to help the game.  Become an umpire, give private lessons, help out at clinics--but do something. Being any umpire is a great summer job for college students. 

Umpires on the travel level make about $35.00 per game.  Over a weekend, if an umpire does 10 games that is $350.00 for a weekend.  A summer job at $10.00 per hour would require the same person to work a 35 hours week to make the same money.  I will posting information about how to get certified as an umpire shortly. For more information on being or becoming an umpire, please visit these websites: 

www.umpyouthfp.org

www.softball.whispers.org

www.cactusumpires.com

www.asasoftball.com/umpires/index.asp

Personally, softball has given a lot to me any my family.  This is phase one of my own efforts to give something back to the game.  In addition, I hope to sponsor tournaments, showcases and teams.  My long range plan is to build a softball complex in Southeastern Pennsylvania with enough fields and amenities to host first class showcases and tournaments.