The 7th convention of the European Baseball Coaches Association (EBCA) was held in Cologne from Friday to Sunday last weekend. About 80 coaches from Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Sweden had signed up to attend the three-day clinic, which again has to be considered as a big success for European Baseball.
The EBCA had invited an impressive lineup of eight speakers to the clinic. Just one week into his new job as hitting coach of the Houston Astros, Mike Barnett talked about the five “Ss” for a successful swing, situational hitting, a winning game plan and an approach at the plate. Brent Strom, the minor league pitching coordinator of the St. Louis Cardinals, emphasized posture, rotation and connection in the pitching delivery, why proper movements are the key to pitching development and effective velocity.
Newly appointed Dutch national team head coach Brian Farley talked about Long Term Athlete Development and how to implant it into daily practices. Strength and conditioning coach Tim Rodmaker of the Chicago White Sox and MLB International introduced dynamic warm-up routines, balance and agility drills. German National Team and Georgia State University head coach Greg Frady spoke about game strategies and positive coaching. Tom O’Connell of ISG talked about how to make practices real. Chris Teusch and Martin Russ, doctor and physiotherapist of the German national team, explained to the audience what they are doing during a tournament and how important the relationship between them and coaches/players really is.
The EBCA also handed out two prizes. The EBCA Coach of the Year Award in 2010 went to Greg Frady for leading the German National Team to a bronze medal at the European Championship. “The EBCA Award means very much to me, because it means that the German team had success. When you win an award like this, it also represents many people, players, coaches, DBV administration.” (read the full interview) The EBCA achievement award went to Georg Bull of the Mannheim Tornados and head of the DBA (Deutsche Baseball Akademie).
The EBCA also announced that several coaches will get the opportunity to participate in an exchange program with American colleges and universities. The University of Wisconsin in Whitewater (Div III), Butler University (Div I, Indianapolis) and Caliendo Sports in Chicago (mix of high school and college experiences) already have expressed their interest with others more likely to follow.
During the raffle on Sunday the Savigny Lions won the main prize of sponsor Tanked Customs, a complete set of 15 Jerseys and Pants with a total worth of about €1,500. Additionally two coaches got awarded participation fee and membership to the 2012 ABCA Convention in Anaheim. The 8th EBCA Convention will be held in November 2011 in Prague, Czech Republic.