Every baseball coach wants to attend it once in his life, the convention of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). This year’s event was held in Nashville, Tennessee from January 6 to 9. Among the speakers were well known major league coaches like Jim Tracy (Colorado Rockies) or Howard Johnson (New York Mets), major league pitcher David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays and college coaches like John Savage (UCLA) and Andy McKay (Sacramento City College).
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.