Blessed with the state of the art facilities of the Ahorn Sportpark, which is a heavens playground for sport fans with the addition of an indoor baseball area, baseball and softball clinics, umpire and scorer’s seminars, press workshops, minor league camps and DBV meetings took place. Kids got the opportunity to play baseball with their idols Kai Gronauer, Martin Dewald and Simon Guehring. Speakers Tom O’Connell, Reggie Smith, Tim Leveque, Greg Frady, Alper Bozkurt, Georg Bull, Guehring and Gronauer highlighted the baseball program. Udo Dehmel, Lilliana Rossetti, Christina Lipp, Stephanie Kuepers, Chrissi Bruckner and Nils Hachen talked to the softball coaches.

On Saturday evening during a “party” the DBV said farewell to Stefan Hoffmann, who however will remain involved in German baseball as vice president of a regional federation and as board member of the Rhein-Main Baseball Academy. Also awards for the best German players were handed out, which turned out to be a love fest for the Untouchables Paderborn with Jendrick Speer receiving MVP honors and Eugen Heilmann getting named best pitcher. Additionally Max Boldt of the Mainz Athletics got the best batter trophy and LeRoy Ewart of the Mannheim Tornados the rookie of the year award.

But we also have to talk about the things, which need to get better. While the number of coaches on hand with about 70 to 80 for the baseball part and 40 for softball, have been promising figures compared to previous years, it seems that German coaches and players of all levels don’t understand what great opportunity these clinics are. You can find new impulses for weekly practice sessions and are able talk baseball to some of the smartest coaches in the game. Obviously there is always the factor costs, especially for the relatively expensive DBV Academy.

Also, it seemed that the softball clinic used the facilities at the Ahorn Sportpark better than the baseball clinic. They moved around and kept participants on their toes, while the baseball coaches were stuck on a mobile stand (which also has its advantages), which wasn’t really comfortable. While the baseball program featured great pitching lectures by St. Louis Cardinals minor league pitching coach Tim Leveque, the scheduling involved too many changes to keep up due problems with speakers arrival.

Nonetheless the DBV Academy 2012 was a huge success thanks to the local organization by the Untouchables Paderborn and the BSV NRW, and of course the engagement of the International Sports Group and the German Baseball and Softball Federation. In January of 2013 everybody will return to the Ahorn-Sportpark in Paderborn. However the DBV Academy will be re-named into the “DBV Convention” to avoid any confusion due to growing emergence of German baseball academies in Regensburg, Paderborn and Mainz.

Wednesday 29 February:

15.00-17.00  Youth Clinic (age 9-12) for players and coaches
17.30-17.45  Opening Ceremony
17.45-18.30  Long Term Athlete Development in Dutch Baseball by Brian Farley
18.30-19.30  Hitting Mechanics by Robert Eenhoorn
19.30-20.00  Break
20.00-20.45  Perception & Eye Tracking by Michelle Kinburn
20.45-21.45  The Athletic Pitcher by Steve Janssen

Thursday 1 March:

15.00-17.00  Youth Clinic (age 15-18) for players and coaches
18.00-18.45  How to Build a Successful Team by Brian Farley
18.45-19.30  From Long Toss to Bullpen by Steve Janssen
19.30-20.00  Break
20.00-20.45  Communicating Effectively to Today's Players by Robert Coffie
20.45-21.30  An Infielders's Toolbox by Robert Eenhoorn
21.30-22.00  Break
22.00-22.30  Panel Discussion with all Speakers

by Riccardo Schiroli

A golf resort close to the Garda lake hosted the 2012 edition of the Italian Baseball and Softball Coach Convention. The Convention was an overall success: 436 coaches attended, including a delegation from Belgium. “This was one of the best editions in the history of the Convention” said Commissioner Giorgio Moretti.

The Convention took off in 1986, but no edition before had the highlights provided by the first player developed in Italy to debut (and actually hit for the fences) in the Big Leagues. Alex Liddi was the star of the Convention, with countless requests of pictures and autographed balls. Liddi also attended a speech on talent (“Is talent overrated?”) by Team Italy’s manager Marco Mazzieri. The speaker was the first Federation coach to include Alex in a National Team back in 2003: “You could see he had potential, but was not the kid who impressed me most for his talent. He was the one who impressed me most for his will. What Alex is now, requested at least 10,000 hours on the field practicing with deliberate intensity”.

Amongst the 20 speakers, 5 where from the United States: Jim Hickey and Derek Shelton are on the Tampa Bay Rays coaching staff, Greg Riddoch (a former manager in the Big Leagues) is the mental skill coach for the organization. Craig Montevidas is the manager for the softball Dutch National Team and shared the podium with his colleague Marina Centrone of Team Italy.

During the gala dinner on Saturday 1/21, the Tampa contingent received a surprise visit: manager Joe Maddon, who was vacationing in Venice with his wife, joined the dinner. “It is always a pleasure for me to visit Italy” said Maddon “I am proud of my heritage”. Maddon‘s grandparents, the family’s original name is Maddoni, emigrated to the US from the Region of Abruzzo. Joe Maddon answered a few questions and made his philosophy pretty clear: “The Rays are still competing, even if they lost some key players, because our success is all about the team effort”

Photo Gallery

Photo: (c) FIBS

What are attendees looking forward to? Friday evening a Positive Coaching session is on deck and the Coach of the Year Award. The evening will be closed out with a round table with coaches of the Czech National Teams as well as with coaches from the Academies. Everything and anything is on the table in an open discussion.

Saturday is dedicated to the offseason program for youth sessions and in the afternoon new coaches will have their training finished with coach certification. Saturday will conclude with another open roundtable. On Sunday a new coach program will be presented as well as new coaches will receive their licenses.

The Portuguese Baseball and Softball Federation (FPBS) and Major League Baseball International (MLBI) are hosting coaches’ clinics in Abrantes, Portugal for European coaches’ levels I & II. The clinics are to be given in two parts over several weeks in February and March 2012, and are open to the international community of European Baseball & Softball coaches. A key element to the continued development of the sport in Portugal and in Europe as a whole, these clinics were developed following well-established protocols in European Union standards of coaching for all sport. These clinics will provide world-class instruction in both practical and theoretical knowledge of the sport, covering all required topics of pedagogic application for each respective level. Interested parties should contact the FPBS for more information, as spots will fill quickly.

Level I: Baseball and Softball – 41 hours – Combined clinic for Baseball and Softball coaches

Abstract:
This clinic is designed for new coaches (beginners) – coaches of young athletes ages 12 and under with accompanied supervision of higher-level coach (Level II coach or higher). It covers all aspects and knowledge of the game necessary for coaching young athletes ages 12 and under for both Baseball and Softball.

Level II: Baseball – 62 hours

Abstract:
This clinic is designed for advanced coaches – coaches for athletes of all age levels. Level II coaches are supervisors of Level I coaches and assistant coaches to those with an equal or higher-level of acquisition. The clinic covers all necessary aspects and knowledge of the game for coaching athletes of all age levels and is a continuance of Level I.

In accordance with European Union standards, the Portuguese Baseball Softball Federation has established a coaching system and development program in 2 parts: General (basic knowledge of Physical Education) and Specific (Baseball and Softball). This system aims to continue the development of Portuguese and European coaches for all 4 levels of coaching certification.

• Level I – Coaches for youth 12U teams
• Level II – Coaches for 18U teams; senior team coach for regional competition
• Level III – Senior team manager; national competition coach for all age levels
• Level IV – National team manager

Following the completion of practical and theoretical sections of this clinic, a certificate will be given to those coaches who have met the requirements of each course. This certificate will include information about level completed, the amount of hours, and will be stamped and signed by Jim Jones (International Sports Group/MLBI) and the FPBS.

More Information on Baseball and Softball Coach Clinics

Larkin will be Inducted on July 22nd in Cooperstown along with Golden Era Committee Electee Ron Santo

NEW YORK, NY – Barry Larkin, a 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glove winning shortstop, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting verified by Ernst & Young.

Larkin, 47, will be inducted into the Hall July 22 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y., along with the late third baseman Ron Santo, who was elected last month by the Golden Era Committee. Also to be honored over Induction Weekend will be Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for baseball writing and television analyst Tim McCarver, the former major league catcher, with the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasting.

A total of 573 ballots, including nine blanks, were cast by BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years’ service. Players must be named on 75 percent of ballots submitted to be elected. This year, 430 votes were required.

Larkin, who was in his third year of eligibility, received 495 votes, for an 86.4-percent plurality. His vote total reflected a 24.3-percent gain from the 2011 ballot, the largest jump in one year to gain election since 1948 when pitcher Herb Pennock received 77.7 percent of the vote after having tallied 53.4 percent in 1947. Larkin’s jump is the largest for any Hall of Fame election in which at least 400 ballots were cast. The previous highest was the 16.4-percent jump by first baseman Tony Perez from 1999 (60.8) to 2000 (77.2).

Larkin’s election brings to 297 the number of elected Hall members. Of that total, 207 are former major-league players, of which 112 have been through the BBWAA ballot. Larkin is the 24th shortstop elected to the Hall and the 11th by the BBWAA. He is also the 48th Hall of Famer who played his entire career with one club and the third to do so for the Cincinnati Reds, joining catcher Johnny Bench and 19th-century second baseman Bid McPhee.

A Cincinnati native, Larkin played 19 seasons for the Reds and batted .295 with 2,340 hits, including 441 doubles, 76 triples and 198 home runs. He drove in 960 runs, scored 1,329, stole 379 bases and had more walks (939) than strikeouts (817). Larkin became the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club when he had 33 home runs and 36 steals in 1996. He was voted the National League Most Valuable Player in 1995 by the BBWAA and hit .353 in the Reds’ World Series sweep of the Oakland Athletics in 1990.

The only players other than Larkin to gain more than 50 percent of the vote were pitcher Jack Morris with 382 votes (66.7%), first baseman Jeff Bagwell with 321 (56.0%) and reliever Lee Smith with 290 (50.6%).

Players may remain on the ballot for up to 15 years provided they receive five percent of the vote in any year. There were 13 candidates who failed to make the cut this year (30 votes), including 12 of the 13 players who were on the ballot for the first time. The only first-year candidate who received sufficient support to remain was outfielder Bernie Williams with 55 votes (9.6%). Two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez got 23 votes (4.0%) and fell off the ballot in his second year of eligibility.

Other holdovers that will remain on the ballot in addition to Morris, Bagwell, Smith and Williams are first basemen Mark McGwire, Fred McGriff, Don Mattingly and Rafael Palmeiro; outfielders Tim Raines, Dale Murphy and Larry Walker; designated hitter-third baseman Edgar Martinez and shortstop Alan Trammell.

The vote:

Barry Larkin 495 (86.4%), Jack Morris 382 (66.7%), Jeff Bagwell 321 (56.0%), Lee Smith 290 (50.6%), Tim Raines 279 (48.7%), Edgar Martinez 209 (36.5%), Alan Trammell 211 (36.8%), Fred McGriff 137 (23.9%), Larry Walker 131 (22.9%), Mark McGwire 112 (19.5%), Don Mattingly 102 (17.8%), Dale Murphy 83 (14.5%), Rafael Palmeiro 72 (12.6%), Bernie Williams 55 (9.6%), Juan Gonzalez 23 (4.0%), Vinny Castilla 6 (1.0%), Tim Salmon 5 (0.9%), Bill Mueller 4 (0.7%), Brad Radke 2 (0.3%), Javy Lopez 1 (0.2%), Eric Young 1 (0.2%), Jeromy Burnitz 0, Brian Jordan 0, Terry Mulholland 0, Phil Nevin 0, Ruben Sierra 0, Tony Womack 0.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Museum observes regular hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. From Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day, the Museum observes summer hours of 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Ticket prices are $19.50 for adults (13 and over), $12 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $7 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF-FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.

For more information visit www.fibs.it

Another interesting baseball project in the Czech Republic

IYB Farm and Purpose International prepared a very attractive development project in the Czech Republic. On 7 – 11 December 2011 – Winter Baseball Clinic and Prague’s evening practices.

To the Czech Republic will come former MLB players : Trot Nixon / 2004 World Series Champion with the Boston Red Sox, 9 years in the Red Sox, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians / Pat Watkins / former player with Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins / together with Scott Emerson / AAA pitching coach the Oakland A’s – Scott coached nearly 100 who have pitchers pitched in the Major Leagues / and Jay Stott / Manager and HC Purpose International /

These coaches will be complete the Czech coaches of IYB Farm - Richard Kania, Tomas Vavrusa, Zuzana Srejberova, Ondrej Konvalinka, Ondrej Novak and manager IYB Libor Chrastansky.

We prepared an intense evening practices in Prague for junior and men age category and Winter Baseball Clinic in West Bohemia for age 15-20. Our goal is to support the development of baseball in Central Europe and work with talented players.

We want to be partners for all the positive people who love baseball and it’s not just a game for them. For Spring we are preparing the traditional Easter Spring Training North Carolina 2012 and for summer the prestigious baseball tournament IYBST 2012 for junior category.

When you want to cooperate wit us – Contact us at “iyb-farmers@centrum.cz”

Major League Baseball International is holding its first-ever MLB African Academy at the facilities of the Athlone A’s Baseball Club in Cape Town, South Africa from December 6 to 15, 2011. 40 players from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Kenya take part in the Instructional League like training camp.

The best young players from Africa are invited to make the next step in their development. The coaching staff includes Major League experienced coaches Rick Magnante, German Geigel and Lee Smith. Besides the practices sessions and games on the field there also will be classroom seminars in conditioning, health and nutrition. MLB scouts will be on hand to evaluate the skills of each player.

Invited Players at the MLB African Academy in Cape Town:

Last Name          First Name      Nation       Position
Ajayi Omokoje      Peter           Nigeria      RHP, OF
Aklesi             Michael         Ghana        C
Asavela            Zithutha        South Africa RHP
Bibis              Kyron           South Africa 3B, OF
Blount             Adrian          South Africa SS
Brummer            Courtney        South Africa OF
Clarke             Keenan          South Africa C
Ebersoh            Rowan           South Africa LHP
Einu               Timothy         Uganda       OF, SS
Frost              Javier          South Africa OF, 3B
Gabriel            David           Nigeria      SS, 3B
Gachi              Christ          Cameroon     LHP
Gaddin             Kyle            South Africa RHP
Gonsu              Kevin           Cameroon     SS
Grundling          Gareth          South Africa 1B
Koff               Devon           South Africa RHP
Kotei              Henry           Ghana        RHP, SS
Larkins            Matthew         South Africa RHP, OF
Lebebe             Michael         South Africa LHP, OF
Lubega             Jordan          Uganda       SS, 1B
Mafany             Sihle           South Africa RHP
Mahoney            Marvin          South Africa 3B
Manyeki            Brian           Kenya        1B
Mashile            Samuel          South Africa C
Merrick            Wesley          South Africa C
Murdoza            Rodney          Zimbabwe     1B, SS
Mustapha           Abbas           Kenya        RHP, 1B
Ocen               David           Uganda       3B
Okello             Benard          Uganda       UTIL
Palmer             Keegan          South Africa OF
Pearce             Callan          South Africa RHP
Phiri              Sumani          Zimbabwe     LHP, 1B, OF
Signi              Jo Jo Michael   Cameroon     C
Siphelo            Gadudu          South Africa RHP
Ssekandi           Jimmy           Uganda       SS, 2B
Stoltz             Tyrone          South Africa C
Tawede             Akinyemi        Nigeria      LHP, 1B
Tenesi             Tapiwa          Zimbabwe     RHP, OF
Tighe              Rowan           South Africa 2B
Wafula             Paul            Uganda       OF

Catchers Kai Gronauer (New York Mets) and Simon Guehring (former pro with Milwaukee Brewers organization) as well as pitcher Martin Dewald (2011 Independent Leaguer in Frontier League and American Association) will take part in a so-called Minor League Camp.

Youth players up to the age of 16 can register through the DBV Academy website to take part. There will be sessions on Saturday and Sunday. Each costs €10 including lunch.

The 2012 DBV Academy will be held from January 13 to 15, 2012 at the Ahorn Sportpark in Paderborn, Germany. As speakers announced for the baseball clinic are Tom O’Connell, Reggie Smith, Tim Leveque, Greg Frady and Georg Bull. Udo Dehmel, Liliana Rossetti, Christian Lipp and Stephanie Kueppers will be there for the softball players.

Official Website

Flyer Coach Clinic SBSF2012 Program
Flyer Coach Clinic SBSF2012

Program Baseball

Saturday, December 10

08.30                      Arrival, Check-in and Registration

09.15-09.30                 Opening Ceremony

09.30-10.15                 Dave Schuler – Pitching, 3L’s Line

10.15-11.15                 Arnd Rose & Martijn Nijhoff – Visual Perception & Eye Tracking

11.15-11.30                 Break – “25 Anniversary Special”

11.30-12.15                 Martijn Nijhoff – How to  Improve the Visual Search Strategy’s of the Dutch National Team

12.15-13.00                 Lunch

13.15-14.00                 Roger LaFrancois – The Lau/ Hriniak Hitting Theory

14.00-14.45                 Dave Schuler – Pitching, 3L’s Load

14.45-15.15                 Break

15.15-16.00                 Tom O’Connel, Dave Schuler & Roger LaFrancois – Battery Mates

16.00-16.45                 Brian Farley – From World Port Tournament to World Championship

16.45-17.30                 7^th inning stretch and Presenting the Yearly Awards

17.30-18.30                 Dinner

19.00-21.30                 Sports Hall Session (Interactive Clinics)

Martijn Nijhoff & Luc Uijen – Vision Training

Tjerk Smeets – Working your Catchers

Steve Janssen & Dave Shuler – MLB Based Pitching Drills, Identify & Fix the Flaws in your Mechanics

Roger LaFrancois – Common Hitting Faults and How to Correct them Through Drills

21.30-01.00                 10^th inning (At the Bar)

Sunday, December 11

08.00-09.00                 Breakfast

09.00-09.30                 Brian Farley – Thrill of being World Champion with Presentation of the World Cup

09.30-10.15                 Frans Bosch – Motor Learning

10.15-11.00                 Roger LaFrancois – Communicating  Effectively to Today’s Players

11.00-11.30                 Break

11.30-12.15                 Dave Schuler – Pitching, 3L’s Landing

12.15-13.00                 Lunch

13.00-13.45                 In depth Session 1 (Pick One of the Subjects)

Tom O’Connell – An Infielder’s Toolbox

Brian Farley – Preparation Meets Opportunity

Frans Bosch & Martijn Nijhoff – Motor Learning

13.45-14.30                 In depth Session 2 (Pick One of the Subjects)

Dave Shuler & Steve Janssen – Pitching Hot Stove

Frans Bosch & Martijn Nijhoff – Motor Learning
Roger LaFrancois & Robert Eenhoorn – Hitting Hot Stove

14.30-15.00                 Break

15.00-15.45                 PANEL SESSION (All Speakers)

15.45-16.00                 Closing Ceremony

Program Softball

Saturday, December 10

08.30-09.15                    Arrival, Check-in and Registration

09.15-09.30                    Opening Ceremony

09.30-10.15                    Craig Montvidas – What do Players Expect from the Coach & What Can a Coach Expect From the Players

10.15-11.15                    Cindy Bristow – Improve your Softball Strategy I

11.15-11.30                    Break – “25 Anniversary Special”

11.30-12.15                    Karen Marr – The Effect of Core Strength in Pitching

12.15-13.00                    Lunch

13.15-14.00                    Roger LaFrancois – The Lau/ Hriniak Hitting Theory

14.00-16.30                    Sports Hall Session (Interactive Clinics)

Cindy Bristow – How to Hit in Games Like You do in Practice

Craig Montvidas – Throwing Drills to Improve the Level of Playing

Karen Marr – Drills to Develop your Pitcher

16.45-17.30                    7^th Inning Stretch (Awards)

17.30-18.30                    Dinner

18.30-19.15                    Cindy Bristow – Improve your Softball Strategy II

19.15-20.15                    Craig Montvidas – How to Coach a Team

20.15-20.30                    Break

20.30-21.15                    Karen – Calling the Game

21.15-21.45                    Panel Session

21.45-01.00                    10^th inning (At the Bar)

Sunday, December 11

08.00-09.00                    Breakfast

09.00-09.30                    Brian Farley – Thrill of Being World Champion

09.30-10.15                    Karen Marr – Extra Tools to Make Pitching Practice Fun and Effective

10.15-11.15                    Cindy Bristow – Helping Players Become more Competitive in Practice

11.00-11.30                    Break

11.45-12.15                    Marco Molleman – A Crash Course in Mental Coaching

12.15-13.00                    Lunch

13.00-13.45                    Cindy Bristow – Playing the Outfield

13.45-14.00                    Break

14.00-14.45                    Cindy Bristow – Running Slap

14.45-15.00                    Break

15.00-15.45                    PANEL SESSION (All Speakers)

15.45-16.00                    Closing Ceremony

On the agenda are 2-umpire System, Angle / Distance Theory, Timing Techniques, Reading Plays, Positioning Theory, Communication Procedures, Use of Equipment, Handling Arguments/Ejections, Survey of Official Rules, Overthrows / Awarding Bases, Obstruction / Interference, Checked Swings, Balks, Plate Stances / Mechanics and Developing a Strike Zone.

Instructors will be Jim Evans, Dick (Sarge) Nelson, Chris Hubler, Taro Hamano, Thomas Haywood, Tony Jones, Serge Makouchetchev and José Beier. For more information download the following PDF files.

2012 Jim Evans European Classic
Application Form for JEEC 2012 in Switzerland

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Minor League Baseball™ announced today the formation of a new entity to operate Vero Beach Sports Village (VBSV), formerly known as Dodgertown. In addition to MiLB, the participants include former Dodger President Peter O’Malley, his sister, Terry Seidler, and former Dodger star pitchers Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo.

MiLB will submit the proposed transfer of its VBSV lease to officials of Indian River County, which owns the facility, for approval.

Each of the five participants would have an equal ownership share in the new entity. O’Malley would be the Chairman and CEO, MiLB President Pat O’Conner President and COO and Craig Callan will continue in his current role in the operation of VBSV. Callan has worked for 33 years at the historic facility.

The VBSV grounds are where the Dodgers held their spring training camp dating back to 1948, before relocating to Arizona in 2009.

O’Malley served as the director of the facility from 1962-65 before being named Dodgers’ President in 1970. For decades, he has also heavily been involved in the promotion of baseball on the youth, Olympic and international levels.

Seidler first worked at VBSV in the mid-1950s when she was the secretary for the Dodgertown Summer Camp for Boys. She owned the Dodgers with her brother Peter from the death of their father in 1979 until 1998.

O’Conner joined Minor League Baseball in May 1993 as Chief Operating Officer and was elected President at the Baseball Winter Meetings in December 2007. O’Conner is responsible for overseeing the planning, development and program strategy within MiLB, an organization that encompasses 20 leagues and 247 teams in five countries; the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

“This combined effort of Minor League Baseball, the O’Malley and Seidler families and members of our extended baseball family will undoubtedly have a positive impact on Vero Beach Sports Village,” O’Conner said. “Peter O’Malley and his family have a long and storied history in Vero Beach and baseball in general, both domestically and internationally.

“Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo provide insight from a player’s perspective, as well as enormous credibility in Asia and the Pacific Rim. We believe this new partnership will enhance our ability to utilize the facility for local, domestic and international sports programs as we continue to attract an array of visitors.”

“I embrace this wonderful opportunity to use this iconic facility that my family has cherished for decades to promote baseball,” said O’Malley. “Vero Beach Sports Village should always be an asset and a jewel to the citizens of Vero Beach and Indian River County and I look forward to adding further luster to its rich history.

“We know the Dodgers have a long-term spring training commitment with the community of Glendale, Arizona, and our endeavor in Vero Beach in no way impacts that relationship.

“I am very happy longtime friends Chan Ho Park and Hideo Nomo have joined me in this opportunity – it’s exciting. Dodgertown will always be a treasure for the good people in Vero Beach and throughout baseball and anything I can do to help Dodgertown flourish is high on my list of things to do.”

Nomo spent all or parts of seven of his 12 Major League seasons with the Dodgers. He has been bringing Japanese youth players to the United States for the last couple of years to play against their American counterparts and share information about each other’s cultures.

“Being a part of the group that will operate a facility that provides youths with resources they can use both on and off the field is extremely rewarding,” Nomo said. “Those who come to the facility can improve not only as athletes through tournaments and training, but can also develop skills to help them mature into young men and women.”

Park played the first eight of his 17 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing with them as a 20-year-old free agent in January 1994. The right-hander also played for the club in 2008.

“I have many fond memories of Dodgertown from my nine seasons playing for the Dodgers,” Park remarked. “I love it there and look forward to seeing many teams and individuals enjoy all of the unique features of the complex and take full advantage of the amenities it has to offer, as I did when I trained and played there.”

Minor League Baseball began operating VBSV in 2009. Since then, the 67-acre sports complex and conference center facility has hosted several international teams, including the Chinese National and Italian National Baseball teams on two occasions. The Chinese National Boxing Team has also trained at VBSV.

The SK Wyverns, a South Korean Professional Baseball Team, are the latest international team to train at VBSV. They arrived on November 1 and will hold their winter camp at the facility through the end of the month.

The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, with future Japanese Hall of Famers Sadaharu Oh and Shigeo Nagashima, were the first international team to use the facility when they held their spring training at the camp. Rich in international tradition, Dodgertown was the training site for the Giants in 1961, 1967, 1971, 1975 and 1981. The Chunichi Dragons from Nagoya, Japan trained at Dodgertown in 1988. The Samsung Lions professional baseball team from Korea trained at Dodgertown in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997. The Sinon Bulls became the initial Taiwanese team to train there in 1999. In 1994, Waseda University from Tokyo visited Dodgertown for training. Hanyang University from Seoul, South Korea was the first Korean university team to train at Dodgertown in 1996.

Over the last two years, VBSV has also hosted events such as the Minor League Baseball Youth Leadership Academy, a six-day event that combines the history, principles and structure of the game of baseball to provide an opportunity for at-risk youth to develop and master leadership and life skills; spring training for high school and college baseball teams; the University of South Florida’s football training camp; the Washington Freedom professional women’s soccer team’s training camp; and various other baseball, football, soccer and lacrosse camps.

Beginning in January 2012, VBSV will also be home to The Umpire School, a 28-day state of Florida accredited school operated by Minor League Baseball that trains umpires in the latest techniques, theories and interpretations.

By virtue of the full-service amenities at VBSV, The Umpire School is the only all-inclusive school available among the three accredited ones that provide candidates to the annual Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. Evaluation Course, from which umpires are selected to begin their careers in The Minor Leagues.

Please find attached a brochure of “Concordia Hospital for Special Surgery”‘s next congress that will be held in Rome on the 14th of April 2012, organized by Giovanni Di GIACOMO orthopaedic surgeon and Medical Doctor in charge of ATP WTA Tennis Master Series in Rome Italy.

From the international faculty will participate the following:

- W. Ben Kibler ( USA )
- B. Elliott ( Australia )
- P. Renstrom (Sweden)
- K. E. Wilk ( USA )
- Todd Ellenbecker (USA)
- K. BAK (Denmark)

POSTER_50X70_INGLESE.pdf

by Pim van Nes

Saturday at 13h00 the city of Utrecht welcomed the Big Leaguers from American pro baseball, invited by Dutch pitcher Rick van den Hurk for the second European Tour since 2010. Last year Big Leaguers traveled to Haarlem, Rotterdam, Eindhoven (all in the Netherlands) and Antwerp in Belgium. After Utrecht, the present group of MLB players will meet young talents and the press in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Prague (Czech Republic) and Parma (Italy). Media attending today’s Utrecht session were main newspapers De Telegraaf and De Volkskrant, national TV system NOS for a report in same day late night sports program and Mister-Baseball.

The night before, MLB stars were special guests in a VIP dinner in Michelin starred restaurant of Barbizon Palace hotel in Amsterdam, where tables were booked by greater part of national Hoofdklasse clubs. An auction with baseball material for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald foundation produced 12.500 Euro, thanks to those senior fans. The morning after approximately 300 boys from across the Netherlands and Belgium came to Utrecht in order to attend the free clinic in Sportcentrum Galgenwaard. In two sessions, groups of 150 pupils got instructions by Prince Fielder, Adam Jones, Dexter Fowler, Mike Stanton, Roger Bernadina, Gregory Halman and Rick van den Hurk. This lineup was extended by national heroes Diegomar Markwell, Dwayne Kemp, Arshwin Asjes, Wim Martinus and Steve Janssen, all world champions since IBAF Baseball World Cup 2011 in Panama.

The event was hosted by local Hoofdklasse club UVV, instead of the local baseball academy. It was the initial intention of home land creator Wim van den Hurk, director of Bixies Academy in Eindhoven, to offer various academies a chance to meet great players from USA and greet sponsors and press. “It did not work out here as they were afraid not to succeed in the organization. So we contacted UVV club management and we quickly reached an agreement. So far everything runs smoothly here”, according Wim van den Hurk, when he had joined his son and the other Big Leaguers in action mid-afternoon. Till then he had had to regret, due to the funeral of his sister who died earlier this week. “But here we talk baseball. My guests from the States have to stay happy. Tomorrow in Amsterdam, we may decide to go out party and enjoy the Indian summer in the Netherlands!”

Photo: (c) Ron Wicklert, www.eottl.nl

The 8th EBCA Convention is taking place in less than a week now and coaches interested in making the trip can enjoy the special EBCA rate until Monday 12h00 CET.

After that deadline, coaches will still be able to register at their arrival in Prague and pay the regular 70 euros price that includes the week-end pass and the 2012 EBCA membership.

On-site registration will start from 16h30 and the opening ceremony at 17h45.

Derek Johnson will start things off at 18h00 on Friday.

Dave Hajek will close the book on the 2011 Convention at 15h00 on Sunday.

In the meantime, a wide flow of baseball talk will have happened, during, but also before and after the sessions, as it’s always the case when baseball coaches meet.

Here is the complete schedule for the event that will feature many high profile names on stage and in the audience.

Program of the 2011 EBCA Convention in Prague as PDF

He is one of the few chosen ones, selected by Strength and Conditioning guru, Jeff Krushell.
In Prague, during the week-end of the 11th to 13th of November, the Diamondbacks coach will have 2 topics.

The 1st one will focus on the importance of scapular control in baseball. In the second one, Schofield will explain how to run an in-season conditioning program.

If you haven’t booked your room for the Convention, please, proceed as soon as possible as October 31st is the last day for hotel registration.

Mike Shofield’s bio

Mike Schofield grew up in Parker, Colorado and played several sports in high school including baseball, football (American), basketball, and track and field, but baseball has always been his passion.

He studied at Colorado State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Business Administration in May of 2009.

He completed his internship at Athletes Performance in Los Angeles, CA, where he worked with NFL and MLB athletes.

Following his internship Mike spent a month with the Diamondbacks before he graduated from CSU.

Following graduation he attended the Denver School of Massage Therapy through the fall and finished the program in December of 2009.

He has been in professional baseball for two years now. He began with the Diamondbacks for the 2010 season serving as the S/C coach for Rookie affiliate Missoula Osprey in Montana. This past season he worked with the D’Backs single A team the South Bend Silver Hawks in Indiana.

Mike am a Certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), licensed manual therapist (LMT), and corrective exercise specialist (CES).

He will spend his fist Winter in Europe, working as a Strength and Conditioning coach for the MLB European academies, mainly in Germany

The fans have submitted names of coaches who they feel have accomplished some major feats in the last 12 months. Among all these great baseball persons, the EBCA had to keep only 5 names in order for the EBCA members and board to vote for the EBCA coach of the Year 2011. Here are the 5 nominees with a word on who they are and what got them in the list.

• Andy Berglund – Czech Republic
• Doriano Bindi – Italy
• Brian Farley – Netherlands
• Ivan Rodriguez – Netherlands
• Ulli Wermuth – Germany

Active EBCA members and board will now vote to determine who will be the EBCA Coach of the Year. People who are not active members yet but want to push their favorite can register online to gain access to our poll. The EBCA Coach of the Year Award winner will be announced in Prague, during the 8th EBCA Convention.

Andy Berglund

Berglund became employed by the Czech Baseball federation starting in March but already had a good experience of Euro baseball through stints with the Swedish national team and the MLB Envoy coach program. He directly made an impact on the academy that he oversees and on the Czech junior national team that captured a silver medal in Gijon, its first medal ever. With his club Eagles Prague, he fell in the semi-finals, with a significantly improved overall record (20-15 in 2011 vs 12-16 last season).

Andy Berglund’s bio

Doriano Bindi

Bindi is the coach of San Marino Titans. In 2011, he led his team to the Italian championship. Facing elimination, the Titans emerged in game 6 to force a game 7 in the Italian Series. They then defeated Nettuno to win the Crown. In the European Final 4, San Marino won in extra innings a 1-0 thriller in the semi-final versus Amsterdam before adding another trophy, defeating Parma for the European title.

Doriano Bindi’s Bio

Brian Farley

Farley was coordinating the Dutch baseball academies until he was named the new head coach of the Dutch National Team a year ago. The first major tournament under his tenure was the Baseball World Cup, held in Panama earlier this month. And saying he was up to the task would be an understatement. On October 15th of 2011, Farley and his team marked their place in baseball history as they won the Baseball World Cup, defeating Cuba for the second time in just a few days.

Brian Farley’s bio

Ivan Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez is a Venezuelan coach who arrived in the Netherlands a year ago. He was hired by the Scimitars Baseball Academy and coached their junior team. Took a Little league team to the 2nd place in the Dutch competition and he also went to South Carolina to take part to the Big League World Series with his team. Rodriguez was also the infield coach of the Dutch team that won the European Junior championship in Gijon. He ended the 2011 season by leading the Scimitars junior team to the Dutch title. He has already received some honor lately as he was voted to a 3rd place on the Venezuelan Coach of the Decade election.

Article about Ivan Rodriguez

Ulli Wermuth

In January 2011, Wermuth was promoted as head coach of Mainz Athletics. The youth-development-oriented Wermuth improved the record of its Athletics for 9-19 in 2010 to 14-10 in 2011 despite a key knee injury from his top pitcher. To achieve this record, Wermuth, who had earlier success with youth teams worked on his young talent, with U21 pitchers accounting for almost 50% of innings pitched and U21 hitters accounting for over a third of the team’s plate appearances. To mention also, the fact that the team played all its games on the road until their new stadium was completed, in June. He is also a coach for the German baseball Academy.

Wermuth’s bio

screenshot of the proposed plan

A plan to build a baseball campus near an airport in Curacao was shown at www.oeverzaaijer.nl. The project was triggered at the end of August and is supposed to include a baseball stadium with a capacity of 6,000, four youth ball parks and four baseball fields. There also will be schools, hotels, sports facilities, offices, shops, medical facilities, childcare and parking lots. There will be room for at least 300 pupils between ages 12 and 18. Regular education will be combined with baseball training. The initiators not only want to create a hub for talents from South America and the Caribbean, but also would like to attract teams from the United States and Europe to hold training camps.

Filip Vandermeiren, the 4th coach selected by EBCA for its exchange program is now back from its trip to the United States.

The collaboration with the MLB Coach Development Program allowed him to have a lifetime experience with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, for their Instructional league in Phoenix.

Filip represented the EBCA with class and demonstrated his passion for the game.

MLB International proved to be a partner of choice and the Milwaukee Brewersʼs staff has been incredibly welcoming and eager to involve him in on-field activities, so he can take home as much information as possible.

You can learn more about this adventure by checking out our EBCA Exchange Program blog.

With the Exchange season now in the books, itʼs time to look ahead and start applying for the 2012 Exchange Program.

Again, several coaches will be sent to the US, from Florida to California, but also in Massachussets, Arizona…

If you are an EBCA member for 2012 (see membership conditions), you can apply directly through our website.

If you are not an EBCA member yet, waste no time and sign up.

The membership will allow you to apply for a stay in some of US most renowned programs, but also to elect your EBCA Coach of the Year, find a growing list of useful baseball articles and presentations, and other new feature to be announced in 2012.

You can register for our 8th EBCA Convention, that will be held in Prague from November 11 to 13 and will take place in the gorgeous Grand Majestic Plaza.

Interviews will be conducted during that weekend for the candidates who have a profile that may fit the available spots.

Also, donʼt forget that each person interested in European baseball can propose the nomination of the EBCA Coach of the Year, before October 20th. Members will then be able to vote for their favourite, who will be announced in Prague next month.

Donʼt forget to register early for the Prague Convention so you can take advantage the pre-registration rate and avoid wasting time at the on-site registration.

KNBSB is busy preparing the 2011 ECC, not only to repeat the event for the 25th time, but to improve the program. Because of the 25th anniversary, special items and activities will be added to make the 2011 ECC extra special.
This years ECC will feature both baseball and softball speakers. There will be a separate baseball program with some overlapping activities and speakers.

Also new this year will be the in-depth sessions with several sessions at the same time, this will provide participants with the choice to attend a specific session that suits their interests best. This makes the ECC a lot more versatile, to create a personal experience for every participant.

The program is getting shape, the first invitations have been sent, the website is being updated. www.europeancoachclinic.nl/index.php

The ECC 2011 is officially opened for registration! www.europeancoachclinic.nl/index.php

25th_European_Coach_Clinic_2011_-_Baseball_speakers.pdf

25th_European_Coach_Clinic_2011_-_invite.pdf

The European Baseball Coaches Association is proud to announce the election process for the 2011 EBCA Coach of the Year Award.

The EBCA wants to give a chance to all people interested in European baseball to be part of the process.

If you know a coach that, in your mind, deserves some credit for his recent achievements, submit his name with a short resume and achievements of the past year.

If you want to take it a step further and vote for the coach, that you feel deserves it the most, sign up with EBCA and get access to the poll.

Nomination Process:

- Nominations including a description of the coaches’ achievements during the past 12 months need to be sent to the EBCA by October 20th at the latest. (Anyone can submit a motivated nomination)

Pre-selection Process:

- Each EBCA board member will evaluate each candidate and will grade each one of them from 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest, 5 the highest score)
- The membership record of each candidate will be taken into account in the pre-election process

- These rankings will be collected by the EBCA Award Committee, which then will nominate the 5 highest scoring candidates to the EBCA membership to vote on

Final Election Process:

- Active EBCA members (after November 2010) will receive the right to vote on one of the remaining five candidates. The votes of our EBCA membership will count for 50% of the overall votes.

- Following the same voting process, the votes of the EBCA board members will count for the remaining 50%

Announcement:

- The recipient of the Coach of the Year Award will be announced at the upcoming EBCA Convention in November.

When 28.12. – 29.12. 2011

Where Azuolyno 5, Vilnius, Lithuania

Who
Director: Virmidas Neverauskas tel. +370 69999444 lietuvos.beisbolas@mail.lt
Assistant: Diana Pupininkiene, mail: dianapupi@gmail.com

Meeting Coaches meeting will be held on Tuesday at 8:00 PM at the Azuolyno 5, Indoor Soccer field

Rules Official Baseball rules with adjustments valid for minor leagues in CEB with the following additional adjustments: All matches except finals are limited by 50 minutes + completion of a started inning. Finals are limited by 60 minutes + completion. A match can end up in a draw!
*Score = (runs / innings at bat) – (runs received / innings in the field). Team can score max 5 runs in one inning (does not apply for semi-finals and the Finals).

Tournament plays 3 balls for a walk and 2 strikes for an out.

Bunt Attempt: The batter will be automatically out if the second foul ball after the first strike is the result of a bunt attempt. There is no limit on the number of foul balls that the batter may hit by swinging.

Pitching distance: 18 meters

Base distance: 26 meters

Tournament format and System

12 or 16 teams.
Four games will be played at the same time. 6 games guarantee for every team.
12 teams play in three groups with 4 teams. 2 best teams from each group will move on to play for 1-6 place, 2 groups with 3 teams. When the final game and the games for the other places.
16 teams play in 4 groups with 4 teams each. 2 best teams from each group will move on to play for the semifinal. Playoff games will be played in semifinal for final games.

Standings in a group will be decided on the following basis:
1. More points in total (win: 3 points, draw: 1 point, loss: 0 points)
2. More winnings from mutual face-offs
3. Higher score (see below)*
4. Ballot

Home and Guest are decided depending on the interim standings (first matches) and a ballot (all other matches).
*Score = (runs / innings at bat) – (runs received / innings in the field). Team can score max 5 runs in one inning (does not apply for semi-finals and the Finals).

Balls Wilson A 1217 Soft compression – provided by the organizer

Record Is taken by the Home team on a form provided by the organizer. Should be handed over to the referee immediately after the match, referee will check for completeness and accuracy and pass on for processing. The record can be provided in any, even very simplified, way – the organizer requires just correctly filled-in top part framed in bold (ie. team, runs, innings at bat, homerunners). Without these entries, the record cannot be accepted.

Players Acceptable years of birth are 1997 May 1 through 2000. Every team must have a line-up (can be sent by email before the tournament or handed in to the organizer before the first game of the team). In case a team has more players with the same name, please distinguish them in a unique way to ensure the accuracy of records and statistics.
All teams have to send rooster with names and birth dates of players a week before tournament. On the coach meeting team rooster and passports must be presented.

Umpires each team must have one umpire

Accommodation The organizer will make pre-bookings in tried and tested facilities. Binding reservations, payments, and related paperwork will be handled by the teams themselves. Contacts to accommodation facilities will be provided by Virmidas Neverauskas .The price including. Price for accomondation and food is about 15 EUR per person

Prizes Three best teams will receive medals at the closing ceremony(after the Finals), all teams will receive Cups (all provided and paid by the organizer). The best players will receive the individual prizes. (We kindly ask all teams to remain present until the closing ceremony.)

Medical service A Medical service will be available during the whole tournament. In case of need for a medical intervention, please contact the organizer.

Entry 50 euro

Additional every team can have practises in Vilnius BC batting cages for free

Belgian coaches Filip van der Meiren and Chris Dassy are currently in Arizona with the Milwaukee Brewers organization, taking part in the Instructional League. They are there thanks to the coaches exchange program of the European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA). You can follow them through the EBCA Exchange Program blog.

The EBCA is proud to announce the participation to its 8th Convention from another national team manager.
Andy Berglund, who is in charge of the Czech baseball academy as well as the Czech Republic junior and senior national teams will be one of the speakers of the November event in Prague.

Berglund, is a familiar face in European baseball as he has been active in many different parts of Europe, as a player, a coach or a MLB Envoy program representative. He will focus on the baserunning and how to manufacture runs. Things that were taught to him as such an early age that he feels they are part of his genetic code.

Andy Berglund’s bio:

Without a doubt, Andrew Berglund is one of the most experienced Baseball coaches working in all of Europe.

During his playing days, the U.S. native played multiple positions, gaining experience in the infield, outfield, as well as on the mound.

While in University, he already started coaching–mainly youth baseball, in the US as well as in Europe and Australia.

In 2002, Berglund came to Europe to play in Sweden, where he hooked up with the Alby Stars. While playing, Berglund also coached the Eliteserien team.

In 2006, after working on his Masters Degree in Communication from the North Dakota State University, Andrew set his sights on Europe for good. He came back to Alby to serve as a player-coach.

After taking a year off from coming to Northern Europe in 2007, Berglund made the switch to the Stockholm Baseball club, which he led to its first ever Swedish Championship, again as a player-coach. In 2009 his knowledge and involvement in Swedish baseball helped him become a member of the coaching staff of the Swedish Senior National Team.

As an assistant, he was part of the Sweden team that participated in the World Cup which was played in Europe. Sweden hosted pool C, competing against Canada, South Korea and the Netherlands Antilles.

In 2011, a new chapter in Berglund’s coaching career began: Berglund was named the head coach for both the junior and senior national teams of the Czech Baseball Federation. Besides leading the national teams on the playing field, Berglund also is involved in the Czech MLB Baseball Academy and coaches the Prague Eagles of the Czech League. Only a few months after taking the leadership of Czech National Program, he led the Czech Junior National Team to its first medal ever, a silver in Gijon, Spain.

During his development as a player and coach, Berglund has helped guide ballplayers in different capacities in the US and overseas.

He has worked in all aspects from graduate assistant to head coach. He has been a coach for the Major League Baseball Envoy Coaches program multiple times. Further, he served as a successful head high school coach at Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, California.

During the offseason, Andrew has taught as an instructor at the Orange County Gladiator Baseball Academy, ProKids Baseball Academy and Lifeletics Baseball Academy in Southern California and the MVP Baseball Academy in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Adding to this impressive resume is his work for MLB´s RBI program, which is working on „Reviving Baseball in Inner cities“.

During his time coaching, Berglund has worked with and been influenced by quite a few renowned and experienced coaches and players. Among those are Former Texas Rangers Hitting Coach Rudy Jaramillo, and former Major Leaguers Mark McGwire, Wally Joyner, Bruce Hurst, Lee Smith, Art Howe, John McClaren and Bret Barberie. He also studies the modern science of pitching with leaders Tom House and Ron Wolforth.

His voice will sound familiar to a lot of participants as Berglund was also one of the broadcasters for Stadeo TV during the 37th Baseball World Cup in Taiwan.

Czech Republic to host 8th EBCA Convention
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Jim Jones
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Derek Johnson
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Dave Hajek
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Marco Mazzieri

The International Sports Group is always bringing talented speakers to the EBCA Convention as well as to clinics all over Europe. But what makes the EBCA event so special is its ability to add quality international speakers. The EBCA Convention has seen coaches from Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, Czech Republic, Netherlands and much more share their knowledge over the years. This edition will be no different as the 1st of the EBCA European speakers is no other than the reigning European champion, Marco Mazzieri.

The Italian national Team manager will speak in Prague, November 11 to 13. He will mostly focus on outfield play and team chemistry, an undervalued part of the game, that helped Italy to bounce back from a disastrous European championship a few years ago to a more fitting European crown after Marco took over the Squadra Azzura.

Marco Mazzieri’s Bio:

Description : Marco Mazzieri, Team Italy’s head coach during the WBCBorn December 20, 1962 in Grosseto, Tuscany Italy

Marco Mazzieri became manager of the Italian national team in 2007.

He played from 1982-2000 for Grosseto as an outfielder, helping them to two titles in Serie A1. He hit .297/.403/.400 in his career and stole 234 bases in 305 tries, scoring 958 runs over 1,022 games with 1182 hits).

Mazzieri played 87 games for the Italian national team as well.

He also played for Italy in the 1986, 1988, 1990 Baseball World Cups, in the Intercontinental Cup 1989 and in 1985,87,89 European Cups.

Marco coached for Grosseto, leading them to the semifinals in 2002.

Mazzieri managed the Italian Cadets team in the Babe Ruth World Series in 2003, then the Junior national team for the European Cup in 2005 and 2007 (winning the Title in 2007 after 6 years) and in he Junior World Cup in Cuba in 2006.

In October 2007 he took over as the Manager of the senior national team after a disappointing 7th-place finish in the 2007 European Championship.

Mazzieri guided Italy to a 3-4 record in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. They were the only team to beat the Gold Medalist Team USA but they lost their last three games to miss the quarterfinals.

Mazzieri was skipper of Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and then took them to the title in the 2010 European Championship, their first Gold Medal in the event since 1997 and to the first time ever Bronze Medal in the 2010 last Intercontinenal Cup in Taiwan (beating Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei).

Czech Republic to host 8th EBCA Convention
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Jim Jones
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Derek Johnson
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Dave Hajek

by European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA)

Since its creation in 2004, EBCA has tried to create opportunitiees for its coaches.

Over the years EBCA coaches have been sent with teams like the Rockies, White Sox… but not a regular basis.

Last year, EBCA decided to give a new face to its program and to make it available to more coaches.

In 2010, EBCA was able to send one of theirs with the Royals, in Surprise, near Phoenix, AZ, thanks to the collaboration with Major League Baseball and its Coach Development Program.

EBCA was then able to officially launch its EBCA Exchange Program, sending 3 coaches in US baseball organizations of various levels in the Spring of 2011.

A few months later, Filip Van Der Meiren, a coach from the MLB supported Belgian Baseball Academy is now selected to represent EBCA at the Fall Instructional League from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Van Der Meiren was an infielder in Belgium Division 1, winning many championships there. He faced the top European players with his club and the Belgian national team.

He also played college baseball and made it to the NAIA World Series tournament with Bellevue University.

In 2009, he hung up his cleats to be able to fully focus on the development of one of the 2 national MLB-endorsed academies as well as on the Belgian junior National Team he has been leading for the past 4 years.

 “This is a lifetime opportunity that was presented to me, here. Spending time in this professional environment will be an awesome experience”, says the 33 year old Belgian coach.

“It’s a great chance to learn things you can’t learn at clinics. It’s the hands-on instruction that any coach dreams about”.

As an EBCA/MLB exchange coach, Filip will be taking part to the on-field activities of the Instructional League from the Brewers in Maryvale, near Phoenix, AZ.

From the 25th of September to the 7th of October, he will be exposed to the top young talent in the Brewers organization and will sure get a feel of the level to aim for with the academy program.

He will also have the opportunity to pick brains from some of the top teachers in the game in order to be able to spread that knowledge around Europe.

The EBCA Exchange Program blog will be fully active again during that period to let everybody get a taste of the experience.

by European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA)

The European Baseball Coaches Association is launching its new website.

This tool will help the organization to communicate more efficiently and more transparently with the baseball coaches interested in growing the game in Europe.

The new website will have many new features like:

• Online membership application
• Online Convention pre-registration
• Online EBCA Exchange Program application
• Awards year by year and much more…

Check it out www.baseball-in-europe.com

Dave Hajek – Bio

1986-1989 Attended Cal Poly Pomona University – played 3 years for Hall of Fame Coach, John Scolinos

Two time All-American selection

1988 Invited to Team USA (Olympics Year) tryout, one of only 3 Division 2 players to be invited

Graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Architectural Design degree

1989 Signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros

1990-1999 Played 10 years of professional baseball with Astros, Tigers, Padres and Rockies reaching the big leagues with Houston is September of 1995 total of 70 days major league service time over two seasons (’95-’96) played majority of career in AAA (’94-’99)

Presently

· Coaching in the Colorado Rockies organization at Single A Asheville, Modesto and Double A Tulsa as hitting coach

· Private hitting and infield instructor in Colorado Springs, CO

Has been a Guest Speaker at baseball clinics in Colorado and several other states covering hitting and infield

Czech Republic to host 8th EBCA Convention
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Jim Jones
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Derek Johnson

The 8th EBCA Convention will take place in Prague, November 11 to 13. During the event, the pitching topics will mostly be covered by Derek Johnson, Associate Head Coach at Vanderbilt University. Last year, in Nashville, he presented a topic at the ABCA Convention with his most notorious student, Tampa Bay Rays’ ace, David Price.

Experience: 10th Season at Vanderbilt
Honors: * 2004 National Pitching Coach of the Year *
Alma Mater: Eastern Illinois ’94

Derek Johnson is in his 10th year as a coach at Vanderbilt and his second as Associate Head Coach. Johnson has spent the last nine seasons as the Commodores pitching coach and is regarded as one of the top teachers in collegiate baseball.

In 2010 Johnson was named the ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year.

On his watch, 34 pitchers have been drafted including 28 over the last six years and 8 in 2011.

Before he came to Vanderbilt, Johnson spent four years as pitching coach at Stetson. During that time his teams won one Atlantic Sun Conference championship (2000) and earned two NCAA Tournament berths (2000 and 2001).

He began coaching at Eastern Illinois in 1994, one year after he was an All Mid-Continent Conference pitcher at the school. In 1995 he was hired by Southern Illinois, where he worked for three years as a pitching coach. He also has had summer stints as manager of the Decatur Blues in the Central Illinois Collegiate League (1994-95) and pitching coach for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots (1996).

A native of Normal, Ill., Johnson is married to the former Tasha Huster. The couple has a seven-year old son, Teague, and a four-year old daughter, Taite.

Czech Republic to host 8th EBCA Convention
EBCA Convention Prague 2011 – Meet the Speakers – Jim Jones

The International Sports Group is running clinics in Europe for over a quarter of century and is a key partner of EBCA since its creation in 2004. Jim Jones, ISG’s president will be the clinic leader in Prague. He will talk about hitting plans and drills for pitchers during the mid November event.

Jim Jones

Jim Jones has over 40 years of baseball coaching experience at the youth, high school, college, semi-pro and international levels. He served as assistant coach at Stanford University before becoming head coach at the University of Wyoming and St. Mary’s College (CA). Presently he is retired from teaching and serves as President of International Sports Group, Inc.

In 1991, Jim began his international experience by becoming coach in residence in Czechoslovakia as part of a IBA-MLBI program. Following that “Lone Ranger” assignment, he served with Bill Arce as MLBI’s Co-coordinator of Game Development in Europe. His duties there allowed him to over-see the selection and evaluation of Envoy Coaches assigned to various European federations as well as overseeing many of MLBI’s winter coaches’ clinics.

When his MLB duties took him further away from the baseball field and into the administration offices, Jim decided he wanted to return to activities that allowed him to work directly with European coaches and players. That desire allowed him to take a new path in international baseball – an assignment with the Czech Baseball Association to serve as a national consultant as well as head coach of the National Junior and Under 23 Teams. He also worked as pitching coach for the Czech National Men’s team through the 2001 European Championships.

The summer of 2002 found Jim working as a MLB Envoy Coach with the French Baseball Federation – spending the majority of his time with the National Cadet and University Teams in international competition.

From 2003 to 2006 Coach Jones worked as an Envoy Coach in Spain. During his trips to Spain he has worked with local clubs, schools, regional federations and the national team programs. The 2003 Senior Team finished 3rd in the European Championships and qualified for the World Cup. In the summer of 2005, Jim worked primarily with the National Senior and Junior teams, concentrating on the pitching and catching areas of the programs. Both of the 2005 Spanish teams finished 3rd in the European Championships and the Senior team participated in the World Cup in Holland.

At the 2006 European Baseball Coaches Association’s winter convention, Jim received EBCA’s Achievement Award in recognition of his work in European Baseball since the early 1990′s.

During the summer of 2007 Coach Jones was an MLB Envoy Coach in Holland where he worked with coaches and players throughout southern Holland. Since 2008, Jim was the regional coordinator for the MLB Envoy programs in Portugal and Spain. He has spent the summers of 2008 & 2009 working the top young players and coaches in both countries.

The past two Springs Coach Jones worked with the French Baseball Academies in Toulouse, Rouen, Montpellier and Talence, helping them prepare for various up coming international tournaments. During June 2010, Jim served as head coach of the Armed Forces team, US9, during an exhibition tour in Western Wisconsin.

An additional international opportunity arose in 1998 when he joined with Bill Arce and International Sports Group to take over the administration of the winter baseball and softball clinics. The demand for coaching clinics remains high in Europe and ISG is committed to fulfill that game development need with the help of outside sponsorship.

Jim has had the opportunity to work with players of all ages and coaches from many European countries as well as staging baseball camps in New Zealand. These experiences combine with his USA coaching to give him a strong background to help game development programs in those federations desiring outside assistance.

Jim and his wife, Sally, have two grown sons

The European Baseball Coaches Association in collaboration with the Czech Baseball Association and International Sports Group will hold its 8th Annual Convention in Prague.

The prestigious Grand Majestic Plaza, located in the heart of the historical and business center of Prague will host the 8th edition of the most international yearly coaching clinic in Europe.

Participants will have the possibility to stay in one of the 196 spacious design rooms of the gorgeous hotel from Friday November 11 to Sunday November 13 of 2011.

As usual, International Sports Group will bring over top American speakers that will be ideally complemented by a selection of coaches who have an extensive knowledge of European Baseball.

The clinics will start on the Friday night and will be followed by the annual awards ceremony. It will end in the afternoon of Sunday 13.

The Convention will allow coaches to meet and learn from each other. The EBCA staff will also conduct the bulk of the interviews for the EBCA exchange 2012 hopefuls .

The EBCA will reveal the speakers names and bios and more exciting news in the coming days and weeks.

The Cologne Baseball School is holding two tryouts for players aged 10 to 18 in September. Last winter 25 players got the chance to practice indoors at the facilities in Cologne, taking advantage of three indoor batting cages, an indoor mound, slow-motion cameras and other interesting stuff to improve their skill level. Coaches this year will be Georg Apfelbaum, Alper Bozkurt, Brian Lee Roberts and Martin Osterloh. The tryouts will be held on September 6 and 15 between 6pm and 10pm CET. You can apply to participate via tryouts[at]baseball-school.de. The deadline is September 3. For more information also go to www.baseball-school.de.

Mister-Baseball: How did you like your stay at Butler University?

Benjamin Kleiner: It was impressive, formative, and motivational. The people at Butler gave me the access all areas pass.

MRBB: What was your daily schedule?

BK: my daily schedule was different every day and pretty busy. Here is a sample of a day.

In the morning: Having a cup of coffee and writing the EBCA coaches exchange blog. Eating breakfast (French toast and homemade maple syrup) with Head Coach Steve Farley and talking about how to get the Butler Baseball team to come over and do a camp + play in Berlin. Getting into Butler University at about 11.30 am. Meeting up with Coach Matt Tyner, Coach Throneburg and talk about the line up for the game.

In the afternoon: Catching lunch with coaches and players at the college cafeteria. Going to class (how to become a masters student) with a student/baseball player Jordan Goldschmidt. Walk back to Butler baseball field and get changed for the game. Watch Butler play Taylor University, a D2 school, and win 16-5.

Night program: A player, Radley Haddad, and his family invite me over for dinner, his step dad is originally from Germany. After that, assistant coaches D.J. Throneburg and Scott Jackson show me some of the Indy nightlife.

MRBB: Did you get a chance to work with the players too?

BK: Sure, I was hitting fungos during practice and throwing batting practice. Coach Farley had me talk to the players about what opportunities they are for college graduates to pursue a pro career in Berlin Germany and in European Baseball. Hopefully one or two are going to be coming over here as soon as they graduate this year.

MRBB: What things stood out for you?

BK: Indianapolis overall is just a great place to be. The heart of the nation.

MRBB: What are the differences in comparison to German baseball?

BK: The ranking of the sport baseball in the society. Everybody knows there is baseball in the U.S. but nobody really knows there is Baseball in Germany.

MRBB: You are about to start a Baseball Academy in Berlin. What are your plans for that?

BK: Helping get the sport more popular and professional in the Berlin area. Make better baseball players and coaches. The DBA (German Baseball Academy) is supporting the project with quality coaches who help run clinics. Also the Baseball Club Berlin Roadrunners support the Academy by letting me use their Indoor and Outdoor facilities, which includes the only indoor batting cage in the Berlin area. Also supporting is the Cologne baseball School by sharing valuable information and more.

MRBB: The Berlin Sluggers are back in the German Baseball-Bundesliga. What do you expect for the 2011 season?

BK: The first goal is to make the game day more interesting for the fans to come, stay and get back there, the second Goal is to stay in the league, the third goal would be getting into the playoffs.

Meanwhile the second coach, Bertrand Rue from Mulhouse, France, arrived in the United States to pick up the brains of coaches Al Budding and Pete Caliendo. He is going to stay in the Chicago area until March 17. The third coach Pietro Sollecito from London, is going to be hosted by John Vodenlich of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater next week. He will join their team on a trip to Florida. The EBCA is planning to extend the program over the next few years.

The Baseball and Softball Clinic DBV Academy 2011 is already in the books since a few weeks. However just now the organizers released a six-minute video clip, which shows some impressions from the three-day event in Paderborn. They also published some material of the speakers on the DBV Academy website. They also revealed that the 2012 DBV Academy again will be held at the Ahorn Sportpark in Paderborn.

The European Amateur Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA) is going to send three coaches to the United States this spring as part of their exchange program. Benjamin Kleiner will be at Butler University, Pietro Sollecito at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater and Bertrand Rue at Caliendo Sports. The three coaches will report about their experiences via a blog, which you can find at www.ebcaexchangeprogram.blogspot.com

The European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA) is proud to announce the three selected participants for its Coaches Exchange Program 2011.

The Program was put in place by coaches for coaches. The idea behind it is for developing European coaches to receive coaching insight in every aspect of the game from experienced American coaches. For this purpose European coaches will travel to the US to spend time at high quality baseball University and high school programs.

By spending time in those overseas programs, the Europeans will be able to receive insight into running practices, handling teams and game coaching situations. Participants can pick the brains of their hosts regarding mechanics, strategy and philosophy.

From Berlin, Germany, Benjamin Kleiner will travel to Butler University. The 33-year old is currently involved with the Berlin Sluggers and recently started his own Baseball School in the german capital. For ten days Kleiner will be hosted by Butler´s head coach Steve Farley. Butler University is a renowned NCAA division I school based in Indianapolis. Coach Farley, who received ABCA 2011 Ethics Award and is in his 19th season leading the Bulldogs, will tutor the German coach from March 1st until March 11th.

Pietro Sollecito from England will also represent European Baseball Coaches in the United States. Sollecito is currently coaching for the London Mets Baseball Club. He will be hosted by John Vodenlich of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. The Warhawks have been ranked 5th in NCAA D3 pre-season Poll. Coach Vodenlich, who is no stranger to Europe after speaking at several clinics for ISG Sports Group in the past, has invited Sollecito to join his team on its spring break trip to Florida.

French Coach Bertrand Rue is traveling to Chicago to spend time at Caliendo Sports International. Founder Pete Caliendo will host the Mulhouse Royals coach from March 5th until the 15th. During that time Rue can improve his knowledge and skill in planning and running indoor practices. Caliendo Sports is an organization focusing not only on player development, sending out teams to baseball events all over the world. The Academy also helps improve the level of coaching by offering an in-depth coaching library and its own coaching books and manuals through the Website www.baseballmadeeasy.com Upon request Caliendo hold workshops and certifies volunteer coaches in order to help the instructors improve the skill level of their players.

Topics ranged from “Building a Championship Program” over “Taking your practice to the next level” to “Building a mental game to go from good to great” as a few examples. Europe was also well-represented at the 66th edition of the ABCA Convention. The French Baseball and Softball Federation had an own booth at the ABCA Convention and brought President Didier Seminet, Benoit Ribeil, Sylvain Virey, Boris Rothermundt and Jeff Zeilstra over.

Additionally John William Dubaut (Scimitars Academy), Dene Guillot (Apeldoorn Series), Sven Hendrickx (Belgian NT Head Coach), Filip Vandermeiren (Brasschaat Braves, Belgian Baseball Academy North), Rik Ruts (former Belgian NT Player), Christophe Dassy (EBCA, Namur Angels, Belgian Baseball Academy South) and Giorgio Moretti (Italy) made the trip from the old continent.

Also on hand were German national team head coach Greg Frady and Kristsaps Aldins who is coaching the Latvian national team this summer during the European Championship Qualifiers. MLB International had Jason Holowaty, Tom Gillespie, Pat Doyle, Mike McClellan and Mike Shupin at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Overall there were over 4,600 coaches at the convention, the largest crowd ever according to the organizers. The next event will be held at the Marriott and Hilton Hotels and Convention Center in Anaheim, California from January 5 to 8, 2012.

Some quotes:

Chris Dassy

(EBCA, Namur Angels, Belgian Baseball Academy South)

The incredible Gaylord Opryland from Nashville was hosting the ABCA Convention and, like every year, it was great. Not as many international coaches as the previous years, maybe a consequence of the loss of Olympic funds for some European nations. That’s too bad but the EBCA should probably reinforce its role of networking place for European coaches, we will see. The ABCA, much like the EBCA but at a different scale, is really a good place for networking, finding suppliers and of course learning how other coaches teach our game. One of the evens that hate to miss.

Sylvain Virey

(Former Head Coach French NT Seniors, Manager Cadets French NT, Baseball Academy in Rouen)

The 2011 ABCA, as usual, was at the top of the world conventions. Many good speakers and many contacts for our federation: MLB, college coaches, material… The French federation had a booth for the first time; it gave us the opportunity to present our goals and tools. This allows us to develop the international aspect of our player development system.

Tom Gillespie

(MLB International)

It’s always great at the ABCA to see so many old friends, from baseball in the USA to players and coaches with a European baseball connection. It’s also one of the few times when coaches are in a common location without having a team to worry about, so it can be a very productive time. I enjoy the presentations and the displays, but the key to the convention for me is the gathering of people and the conversations and connections that result.

Jason Holowaty

(MLB International)

It was a great clinic with one of the largest turnouts ever for the ABCA. For me the highlight was a special dinner hosted by MLB to honor Bill Arce, one of the first US college coaches to start visiting Europe and a central figure in the development of European baseball and MLB International. Through the years he has influenced so many people in international baseball, including myself. It was great for everyone to get a chance to say “thank you” to such an important man.

Greg Frady

(Head Coach, German NT, Georgia State University)

I saw many of my International baseball friends at the clinic and world baseball talk was everywhere. The speakers were very good, the hotel was fantastic and the exhibits were excellent. There was a change this year from previous ABCA conferences. Thursday night is usually when all the International community meets unofficially and discusses baseball affairs. This event has been sponsored by MLB International and they have served as a great host. However, this year MLB International hosted a dinner for Bill Acre and pay tribute to a man that has always brought needed attention to the International baseball community. This dinner for Bill was much deserved and honored a man for his lifetime commitment.

MLB International should be congratulated for their efforts, but some Internationals didn’t get invited to the dinner and Thursday night was confusing and lost for them. I would love to see the ABCA make Thursday night a part of the clinic for all International people by setting an official meeting time in the hotel and securing sponsors for this very important event. This meeting could inform everyone of current information and give recognition for deserving people. This is not the responsibility of MLB International to host this event; however they are always a much needed and valued partner. I will discuss this issue with Dave Keilitz, Executive Director of the ABCA about our possibilities for the coming years. At the end of the conference I was asked by Tom O’Connell to serve on the ABCA “Ethics Committee” as the Division 1 representative. This committee recognizes coaches that have demonstrated honor, integrity and sportsmanship to the great game of baseball. I am happy to serve on this committee and look forward to one day seeing an International coach win the award.