Preparation is key!

The SUNY New Paltz Softball team is now underway with preparation for season. Unlike Division I schools, the program is limited to how may pre-season practices that a head coach can hold.

Coach Denise Marchese knows this set back and approaches it with confidence in her team.

Since mid-October, the team has been running group practices. These practices are based on strength conditioning and skill improvment.

Instead of focusing on running situational drills, each individual player focuses on self progress. The phrase "you are only as good as your weakest teammate" is a prime motivation for players to put 110% in each work out and skill building program.

By putting this responsibility on each player, a sense of maturity and trust is built through the team. Competition as a whole raises the bar for each team member.

Last year the phrase "H.E.A.R.T." was a driving factor that the team followed.

H-Hustle :

Each player should hustle on and off the field during practice and in play. Hustle drives a player to stay motivated. Hustle creates a professional expectation that each player should have for one another. Hustle establishes a sense of work ethic that drives a player to want to raise the bar. Expectations rise. Passion is created. Performance increases. Success is expected.

E-Effort:

Effort can be easily described in a few phrases - "Perfect practice makes perfect play. " "If you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail."

A-Attitude:

The only way to succeed is to keep a positive attitude. Dwelling on the past does not allow progress. The more a team is willing to move forward and forget about past mistakes, the more apt a team is to succeed. You can learn from past experience and succeed. You cannot succeed if you dwell on the past and fear to overcome obstacles. Expectation determind results. Every pitch determines a different outcome. Softball is a game of chance. You have an equal amount of success that you have failure. It is how mentally prepared and confident you are that you will succeed.

R-Respect:

The amount of respect you have for yourself reflects the amount of respect you have for your team. The amount of respect the team has for the program reflects the amount of respect the team will recieve. Respect determines success not only on the playing field, but also in the real world. Respect is reflected on one's reputation that carries out into every day life. If one respects their opponent, play with generate an intensity that cannot be matched.

T-Teamwork:

There is no game without teamwork.

The preparation in the "off season" will determine the outcome in season play. This year the team has an opportunity to play against top ranked teams during their spring break trip.

It is up to the new team to adopt this phrase, if not another that unifies the team to spark enthusiasm, determination, responsibility, trust, and pride. Most importantly it is up to each individual on the team to be better than the best they can be. Potential of a true athlete is insurmountable.

"A true champion is someone who wants to make a difference, who never gives up, and who gives everything she has no matter what the circumstances are. A true champion works hard and never loses sight of her dreams."

- Dr. Dot Richardson