European Development Facilitator – Report from period January-March 2005

While first three months were used for setting office, equipment, documents and plans, the second period was more „work itself“ – that means that we could start with main tasks, which is in general trying to help european associations/federations to set and develop their programs.

1. Office

Office is set, everything works, no problem. After ESF elections during the Congress in Prague new Dvelopment Commission Chair Mr. Gabriel Waage was appointed. We meet regularly (approx.2 times a month) to coordinate our efforts and check the plans and reports. DC asks for quarterly report for ESF countries and officers.

There was Euroepean Development Website created with basic information – it was used  like test: http://esfdevelopment.euweb.cz/index.htm

There will be new site with its own domain from May - www.softballdevelopment.com

2. Development database

Done – is regularly updated

3. Federations/Associations

Not much requests or questions, tried to meet them all during the ESF Congress and than again during the baseball meeting in March – myny of the delegates are the same.

4. Priority Countries

Priority countries are at the moment divided into three groups:

1. Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, possible others as well)

2. Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland)

3. Others (Ireland, Malta, Greece….)

we plan in all of them basic development programs including clinics and equipment support for school programs.

5. Basic Clinic Program

There are set or planned local clinics in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Finland, planned for near future in Ukraine, Sweden, Norway. Program is prepared and contains two days coaching and one day basics from umpiring and scorekeeping. DC respects and tries to accommodate different clinic format (Malta, Greece, Bulgaria)

6. Other Clinics

There are preliminarry planned three different international clinics in 2005:

  1. NFCA Clinic in Prague, Czech Republic, December 8-12 – elite level, national team coaches
  2. Players Clinic with gold olympians J.Mendoza and Stacey Nuveman in Prague, September 24-25 – players and coaches
  3. Pitching course during the European Championship Women in August – any pitchers invited

The last one is not official yet, depends on how much interest would come from the federations/associations.

7. Equipment

Project of european store in Prague slowed down, waits until ISF has enough equipment

8. Promotional materials

Currently available copies of games from Olympic in Athens and Mens World in Christchurch, NZ. Plus promotional video Mens Fastpitch, video Olympic Pitchers and PowerPoint presentation What is Softball. They are all in DVD format and are listed on EDFs website. These sets were already distributed to 12 countries.

9. Men and Boys promotion

EDF cocentrates on promotion of our weaker categories, currently on promo of men and boys, mainly by giving out info and promo stuff especially to those countries or clubs where they do not know about it. This is also part of all promo produced and presented by EDF. We go on on project of  so-called European Challenge, serie of three international tourbaments in Prague, Haarlem and London. It has some dificulties in 2005 due to European Championship dates., it will probably be played fully in 2006.

10. ESF/ISF

I do keep permanent contact with both organizations represented by ISF Develpment Director Cindy Bristow and ESF Development Commission Chairman Gabriel Waage, cooperation goes well.

11. General

Six month of this work shows according to me that this project could be very usefull and could help to move development of our sport both in some particular countries and  in Europe in general.  We need to improve communication to and from the national associations/federations.

We also need to start work on preparation of a workshop regarding administration especially in the beggining countries. This project should be done within next quarter.

Pavel Prachar

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