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Hitting a Grand Slam
Volunteer coaches can make a game even more fun
Most, if not all, community-based
organizations rely on volunteers to
make them work. The Orleans
Amateur Fastball Association (OAFA),
also known as Orleans Softball, is no
different. Its biggest group of volunteers
are their coaches and assistant
coaches. These are the folks that have
made the OAFA so successful for the
last 37 years. Their actions often determine
whether the kids learn, have fun
and want to keep playing. Therefore,
providing them with proper training
has to be a priority. In recognition of
this, the OAFA has a long-standing policy
to provide their coaches with this
training.
The OAFA was a pioneer in the
Learn to Play (LTP) program and ran
coaching clinics right from the start.
This was in 2003, when a pilot
National Coaching Certification
Program (NCCP) Learn to Coach
Clinic was held. The clinic is now the
Canada-wide standard for coach initiation
training. Each year the OAFA con-
tinues to offer it free of charge to its
LTP coaches and assistant coaches. In
addition, the association is in its fourth
year providing a women’s-only LTP
clinic as part of the national Women in
Coaching project. It also provides
financial assistance to any of its competitive
coaches who need to meet certification
standards and attend an
Intro to Competition clinic.
Starting in 2008, the OAFA is
offering a new Softball Canada clinic
for coaches who are coaching houseleague
players between the ages of 11
and 16. Association president Ken
Naylor is excited about this new ongoing
participation clinic, called Keep
Coaching, because “it will give our
coaches the skills needed to continue
player development in a safe and fun
environment.”
These three hands-on clinics are
all part of the new NCCP curriculum
and are aligned with Softball Canada’s
long-term athlete development plan.
Naylor adds, “I personally believe that
Due East Magazine • Page 24 • Summer 2008
(top left) Michael Tatlock cranks
a soft toss from Coach Dad, Buddy
Tatlock, as Roch Lamarche awaits
his turn.
(above top) Coach Pam Naylor
watches Brent Nolan as he practices
his throwing mechanics; “Step, point,
throw, follow through.”
(above bottom) Coach Rob
Douthwright watches Gabrielle
Banville as she follows through
on her target throw.