ACE Coaches,
As we begin the New Year, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many great athletes that have worn the USA uniform along with the outstanding coaches and support staff for the past eight years during my involvement with USA Softball. It has provided me some of the greatest memories of my life that I will cherish forever. As I continue my relationship with the Amateur Softball Association and USA Softball in a different role, I look forward to the future to help provide coaches, players, and parents with information and insight regarding our great game that continues to grow in numbers all over the world. As we find ourselves with tremendous challenges in the near future to return Softball to the Olympic program, the game has never been more popular in the United States.
Excellence begins with a tremendous amount of passion and pride in what you do and who you represent. We must cherish our role as a player, coach or the toughest of all - a parent! Our ultimate challenge is to make an impact in young people's life's that will go way beyond the game of softball. The greatest lessons that we learn by competing in athletics are life long lessons that equip us to deal with the curve balls that are thrown at us in everyday life. Persistence, preparation, hard work, discipline, focus, pride, and sacrifice are a few of the common traits that are associated with a successful learning environment. We have all heard that the process is more important than the end result and that is never more evident than preparing a team for competition. As a player, coach or parent, the process must be well planned and we must realize that we can only control the things that we actually have control over. Every year will bring a new set of obstacles and mountains to climb and it is important that we understand that our job is not to judge players on who they are today, but more importantly who they can become in the future!
I look forward to sharing my experience as a coach, parent and player over the next year and discuss various topics that will allow players to gain insight, coaches to provide a quality process that enhances the experience of your athletes and information for parents to understand the challenges that our game presents to all that are involved.
The job of the athlete is to perform, coaches to teach and parents to support!
Candrea's Coaching Tip:
"An effective leader develops the ability to correctly identify the pertinent detail or details - incidentals in a market, industry or sport that might create an incremental advantage."
- John Wooden, Basketball Coach
Often, it is not the magnificent or marvelous that gives you the competitive advantage. In truth, it is often the boring and mundane elements, once discovered, that offer the most significant gain. It is the meticulous search and identification of that boring element that puts most pursuant to sleep. Stay diligent after your search becomes boring, for the next detail may be the key to your victory.
Keep your focus on the search for competitive advantages all around you. Look for my email next month and best of luck in the 2009 season.
Sincerely,
Coach Candrea