European Development Facilitator – Report from period July-September 2005

1. Office

Regular admin work, regular meetings with ESF Development Chairman Gabriel Waage, website updated regurarly. Preparation of international events this period.

2. Development database

Done – is regularly updated

3. Federations/Associations

Meetings with many coaches, delegates and representativs during Euro-Championship Cadette Girls in Russia, Euro-Championship Women in Prague.

4. Priority Countries

Priority countries are still the same: divided into three groups:

1. Eastern Europe (Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, possible others as well) – Poland had their clinic in June (M.Stapleton) – they plan follow-up
2. Nordic Countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland) – Finland was helped to built National Team fro Euro Championship (P.Prachar), follow-up will be discussed in Prague in August. Sweden and Norway we plan for afterseason.
3. Others (Ireland, Malta, Greece….) – Malta had their clinic in May with help of Danish Association and its instructor, Guernsey had another with instructor from Holland.

All of them were informed about the plan to help them with post-season clinics and seminars. They are requested to inform us and get coordinated.

5. Basic Clinic Program

See item 4, depends on requests. We are prepared to help with local clinics during the whole winter – clinics with basics of coaching, umpiring, administration.

6. Other Clinics

We had two major international clinics, one is still to come –m finalizing the details

1. Pitching Clinic in Prague during Euro-Champ. Women: Excelent, more than 30 students, Clinician Micheal Bastien – report on Development Website/Events
2. Players Clinic with Olympians – great event with J.Mendoza and S.Nuveman from US Gold Medal Team – unfortunately not many interested from Europe, Czech juniors and coaches filled in – see report on website/events.

Still to come:                                                                                                                          NFCA Clinic – most of organization done, after the  registration deadline on October 17 will be all the details finalized and final info sent to students and federation. It will be almost 50 people involved, local organization is for Czech Softball Association, coordinator in Europe Pavel Prachar (EDF).

7. Equipment

Project of european store in Prague frozen, need to be discussed again with ISF, probably in octber during the ISF Congress in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

8. Promotional materials

All videos, dvds, booklets, brochures or magazines, presentations are given to evrybody any time we meet – i.e. local clinics, tournaments, championships and any other occasions – continuous work

9. Men and Boys promotion

ESF Development Commission dutring its meeting Prague extended proposal for „Pick-up Rule (rule change) not only for men but both, male and female. It is given to EC ESF to discuss and bring it to ESF Congress in Sofia in February 2006

10. ESF/ISF

Since Cindy Bristow has resigned, we need to discuss and reestablish almost permanent connection between EDF and ISF Dev.Director. This is to be discussed in Kaohsiug.  Contact with ESF DC Chairmen G.Waage is excellent.

11. General

In general I can say at the end of the first year that all the foundation and basic plans for this position were done, everything is established and regular, communication with partners and work itself goes smoothly. Main areas of help were local clinics in priority countries, international events for all european countries, educational and promotional materials and its distribution and help to ISF with Equipment program. The last item could be improved with European Storage.                                                                                                                   Plans for next thre months are mainly help with local clinics, sort out the Equipment Program and its coordination with ISF and have succesfull NFCA Clinic with the evaluation and plans for next years.