by Dirk Fries, EBCA, www.baseball-in-europe.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.