To our JV and Varsity players and their family members,
 Our softball “Meet and Greet” is scheduled for April 12 at Kingswood Commons o Starting Time:
 Promptly @ 6:30 p.m.

We will stop at 8 then at 8:30, so that people that need to leave can do so.
 There will be a set time for V players/parents to meet with the V coach and the JV players/parents to meet with the JV coaches o Purpose:
 To introduce this year’s JV and Varsity teams

AD Vennell has asked the coaches to discuss their sport with the parents
 Another important document: “The CK Student
Athlete Handbook”

Go to the sections below that are of interest and then if you would like specific issues highlighted at the meeting, please send an e-mal to
BarryRBerlin@comcast.net
o Dinner:

Pot Luck Dinner
 If you plan to contribute, please contact our “PC- Parent
Communicator, Cheryl Goin (Kelsey’s mother)
Enjoy your spring break!


CranNet is your primary source of information e.g. schedule, announcements, notices of a cancellations on CranNet by 1:30 p.m. o Key games to start the season:

April 4 th
: 1 st
Scrimmage (V @ CK and JV away)
 April 11 JV’s first game

April 14 @ CK versus Warren Lincoln (2 Games: V versus V at 10 a.m. followed by the JV game.

April 18 Ceremony: 1 st
Home game of the Metro Conference

April 25: Possibly @ CK A Benefit Game v Detroit Country Day

The CK softball website: www.leaguelineup.com/thebear . This site provides a softball related information and is updated frequently. Please familiarize yourself with the site. As an example, go to the left side of the Message Board page and then

Click on Handouts o Tryout Handouts o Arizona Handouts o Feb 10 Agenda and Summary of the meeting o Draft Definitions o Compare yourself to other high school players that want to play college softball. o College Prospect Evaluation (by opponent’s form) o Varsity Player’s Profile
1.
Softball Coaching Staff:

Varsity Coach: Barry Richter Berlin Ed.D. (Coach Bear) > resume on site

Assistant V Coach: None

JV Head Coach/On Staff: Karl Mathieu

Assistant Coach/On Staff: Troy Dostert Ph.D.
2.
Our JV & V Rosters: The following bullet points as put forth by AD department.

Our softball student athletes will o Work to Excel in Academic Work o Put Team Goals ahead of Individual Goals o Be a Good Role Model Before, During, and After School o Accept Results, Learn From Mistakes, and Never Give Up o Have Pride in Yourself, Your Team, and Your School o Care for School Facilities and Property o Exhibit Good Sportsmanship towards o Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and Spectators:

3.
For those interested, some of the memory cues and terminology used

Acronyms and Initialisms - used as memory clues

The CK SB Way
 WAAM, RPT, DONE, CUTE, BEE, TOT, SAM,
SOSO, PEP, PUP, BOB & others

School Colors: Blue and Green
 Key words e.g. ‘THE” & if signs are stolen - Locations

The use of numbers & touches: 1, 2 , 3 and, sometimes 4 o The main #s are 1, 2 , 3 and, sometimes 4 o Def. Positioning uses higher numbers
4.
Points of Emphasis:
 #1 Priority: “Health and Safety”

Softball is both a team sport & an individual sport
 TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More
 Without “U”, there can’t be S _ CCESS
 By rule you can’t play this game without teammates, but the game is made of up continuous mono – o – mono battles.
 The sport is a statisticians’ dream sport
 We want to compete, but we can’t lose perspective – it is a sport to enjoy

While I am a softball junkie, I realize that not everyone is like that. So when you look over the site and when you receive my e-mails, read only those sections that are of interest and delete or skip the rest.
 Perceptions, Misconceptions and/or It doesn’t have to be that way re fast pitch softball at the high school level: i.
There is just too much standing around or down time ii.
Lack of Kinetic Energy iii.
A pitcher needs to throw in the upper 60’s to be successful iv.
You need speed to be a great base runner v.
The ball is soft vi.
The demands are the same on student athletes in the fall as they are in the spring vii.
AS = Absolutes v Style viii.
Practices are easier than games ix.
Our student athletes will get into college so success in sports is not as important as it is at other schools with other high school athletes

Our Pre Tryout Meeting highlighted these facts o There are prospects that dream of playing college softball o There are prospects that are curious about the sport.

o There are prospects that want to be with their friends, while at the same time satisfying a CK requirement.

o The coaching staff did not need to implement the Tryout Eval

The JV and V Rosters will be set relatively quickly. .

The objective for both is to get ready to compete - CUTE
 The players will focused on the five areas that make up the
Five (5) tool athlete – s (squared) – Sub Areas of each

Running

Catching

Throwing

Hitting for contact (average)

Hitting for power

SS = Softball Savvy or Softball Sense o From the above, the coaches will assess the strengths of the team.

To have a lineup (starters, rotation of subs, etc) by our
April 4 scrimmage or by our 1st game JV 4/11 and V 4/14)

A lineup that gives our team the best chance of competing/winning

This might not result in a lineup of your top athletes.

Play smart SB, while keeping the pressure on our opponents
 ONE VOICE re expectations

I f
… then …. & Risk/Reward softball

Keep things balanced and in perspective
5.
Team Policies:

Attendance: All players will attend each practice and all softball related activity, while playing a full schedule.. o V players have been asked to determine if there are any conflicts with the 07 schedule.
 If a player finds any conflicts they will submit them in writing
 It is understood that ‘Unexpected’ conflicts might occur o Both are dealt with by an Honor System & the SOSO = Special
Options for Special Occasions.

Behaviors - We have a roster of girls with Character, thus, I do not anticipate the need for too many rules, outside of what is stated in the
Athletic Handbook:

o Once the team is selected, we will discuss the need for any additional rules with consequences. o 3 basic rules to start the season:
1.
On time to all softball events
2.
Prepared with all equipment and clothing items to participate in any conditions or practice/game situations
3.
Eye contact without interrupting the person (umpire, player, coach) that is talking. o Consequences:
 A starter would not start a game & risks….
 A sub would not be the first off the bench & risks….
6.
Expectations of Student-Athletes:

They are expected to continue to represent CK, their community, their team, their family and, above all, themselves with Class and Character.

They will do their best on that given day
7.
How the Team is Chosen: See previous remarks. A copy of the planned Tryout
Evaluation is found in the handout section of my website.

All prospects are continuously evaluated re the five tools: Running,
Throwing, Catching, Hitting for power and Hitting for average.

If a girl made V or JV last year – they will at least return to that team.

A Tryout Format is used if there is competition for Roster Spots.

3 Possible JV categories:
1.
JV Roster only
2.
Floater: JV Roster, but might play on V
3.
Student/Manager

4 possible V categories:
1.
Varsity only
2.
Varsity Roster, but will play on JV
3.
Manager/Player – basically a manager but might play occasionally
4.
Manager Only
8.
Team size: Could change depending on a season’s tryout numbers. :

JV: 12 to 14

V: 14 to 16.
9.
How Playing Time is Allocated


While the girls have a spot on the roster who starts is determined by there actions and performance at Tryouts, at practices and during games

All players will be given the same opportunity to win a starting position

All players will be given ample opportunities to demonstrate what they can do re the execution of softball plays.

Note: As the V coach, I want a player to ask for a meeting whenever she feels that she is not being treated fairly or she is unclear on what she needs to continue to work on
10.
Captains:

We have great 07 Varsity Captains:

The AD wants the coaches to have only 2 captains, except when he coach can make a case for a third.

The AD wants us to look at Seniors first then others

Their role is substantial, but is determined by how much time they can allocate without sacrificing academics. Their roles will evolve throughout the season: e.g. Initial Face of the Team e.g. umpires’ meeting before each game, explaining the rules to the team after such meeting, coordinating team bonding activities, meeting with the coaches and meeting with the team as a liaison between team and players.
11.
Travel Policies; All players are expected to travel to and from games with the team. However, SOSO = Special Options for Special Occasions - is in place and is based on Honor – TBE
12.
Equipment: The expectation is that each player will purchase all of the items on the Player’s Order Form.
13.
Season Schedule: Crannet and my website.
14.
All outdoor/indoor practices

Outdoors @ Duck Field: 3:45 to 5:45 (15 minute clean up) so it ends at 6 p.m.

We will practice every day from April 2 to June 2 unless we have a game

Indoors: We will practice/have a meeting at the same time @ Wenger gym

Noted Exceptions: Cancellation communicated by our Captains or Coaches or announced via the Athletic Office. .

See #14 below - Notifications and Announcements
15.
Notification Procedures and Announcements: Two (2) Sources

Crannet by 1:30 p.m.

Back up my website at www.leaguelineup.com/thebear

16.
Team Requirements:
 Players are expected to purchase the items on the Player’s Order Form

Any additional fees. are the responsibility of each player e.g. food

Any additional equipment will be provided via the program or a discussion will take place between player, her parents and the coaches.

Players will have equipment and field maintenance responsibilities
17.
* See P.S. Below – because of its’ importance: Procedures for Injuries: As in all life’s events, there is Inherent Risk in life and while playing a sport...
 See site “Feb 10 Meeting – Health & Safety” e.g mouth guard, mask, break a way bases etc

During Practices Or Contests

First Aid Kit, Water and Ice available

Designee to have a cell phone available

@ Home a way to contact the Athletic Trainer

Emergency cards available

@ Away games – there might not be a trainer.
18.
Requirements for Earning a Varsity Letter: All Varsity Roster Players and, possibly others if they play in over half of the games and/or contribute
19.
Communication with the Coaching Staff: Student Problems – Student Solutions

While I concur that student problems should be resolved by the athlete first, there are situations where for whatever reason this is not possible.
 With this in mind, I do not want any of the girls to have a ‘bad” experience with softball.

I do not want things to fester.

So please, if a player comes home and she is upset about anything related to softball, please ask her if she has discussed it with the coach,

If not, please ask her to see the coach or ask her to send an e-mail to set up a meeting.

I will leave it up to the athlete, but I both welcome and encourage the parents to attend the meeting.
20.
Appropriate Concerns to Discuss with Coaches

The Treatment of the Child Mentally and Physically
 Concerns about a Child’s Behavior

Note: If I have a concern, I will talk to the player first & I will let the athlete know when I must contact the player’s family about an issue.

21.
Concerns Non Appropriate to Discuss with Coaches:

Playing Time – have your child ask the coach how s/he can improve

Team Strategies

Play Calling

Other Students or Athletes
22.
If Parents Have a Concern, Call and Set Up an Appointment.

Please DO NOT Attempt to Confront a Coach After a Contest or Practice
26. Goals for the Season and some additional points re Philosophy: I endorse the statement from the Student Athletic Handbook re a player’s worth and so much more.
I want each girl to feel that she was treated fairly and when she looks back, she had a great experience with wonderful memories. .

NMG: While this can change throughout the season, at tryouts and before someone agrees to be on Varsity, she should know her anticipated role e.g.
Projected Starter, Substitute, Player/Manager or Student Manager

Varsity Roster only, Varsity with time on JV, JV with time on V

Starters are selected by their approach and performance at practices and during games.

Looking for V players that want the ball when it counts most.

Looking for V players that will compete on every play and until the umpire calls the game.

Practice Tempo/Mentality (DOS & HA) versus
Game Tempo/Mentality (Rs and Gs)

One Voice – options for involvement by any parent

She is proud of how she handled herself with Class and Character.

She has improved her individual skills in softball.

She was a contributing and valued member of the Team.

She will look back at her softball experience with great memories.

Finally, she represented her community, CK, her team, her family and, most importantly, herself with Class and Character – THE CK SB WAY