For those that asked for the “Coles Notes” Version. Any questions let me know.
The “R.O.O.T. 4 BASEBALL” project has the following available for your registrants and associations.
- Xmas Camp on Dec.18th and 19th OPEN TO ALL organizations and put on by www.bat-unlimited.com
- 5 slots of 5 hours (or portions of) to run evaluations, team tryouts, Pitcher’s Workouts, etc. (On Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Feb.27th, March 6th, 13th and 20th. Sat, March 5th is also available from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.).
- We’ll begin running 1 ½ hour Sunday Sessions again in the New Year from Jan.16th – March 27th. (From 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. depending on the age group. Excludes Super Bowl Sunday).
***This can be open simply to individuals amongst your associations that want an opportunity to enhance their baseball experience when the season starts or, as discussed with a couple associations, complete teams with equipment and/or Instruction provided. Note: There are 5 concurrent dates (Feb.20th – March 20th) that a section of the area is available for a team to do some “throwing, footwork, T-Work, etc” while we’re there set up…This would be with your own coaches / instructors but under our “facility” supervision. (“Hitting” is limited to T’s. and soft toss is this area.)***
- Anyone interested in helping run a “Charity Tournament” one day in this facility, let me know.
First 2 pictures show 2/3rds of the Inside Track Zone and is what we use on most Sunday nights.
Last 3 pictures show ENTIRE INNER TRACK ZONE available at times.
The effort to bring “Diamond Sports” to the Richmond Olympic Oval (www.richmondoval.ca) keeps motoring along and gaining momentum. Having said that, the task is far from finished…..Here’s a few programs that are being considered viable as we march onward.
1) Xmas Camps being held on Dec.18th and 19th at the Richmond Oval. Please consider the following as part of this offering.
- The registration form at www.bat-unlimited.com indicates you must have played “Little League” in the prior year to have the opportunity to participate. That’s a faux-pas that’s being corrected. Note: B.A.T. stands for Balanced Athletic Training which is the group running the camps.
- Some associations indicated they may use this camp – and the opportunity to share in the “Oval Experience” – as an incentive for “Early Registration” (in the way of a draw for “Early Birds”) or perhaps even for “Volunteers” for stepping up and taking over the coordination of a Division within their organizations. I’m sure there’s many other ways we can collectively think of in helping out the game and the offering of such.
- As the “R.O.O.T. 4 BASEBALL” project is being administered by The Dugout Club – while not actually being the one’s running this camp – we’d like to extend the opportunity for 5 young players that would otherwise not normally be able to afford to attend such a camp, to do so. (The application being developed is similar to that of KidSport, with that being one of our preferred charities.). If you have any questions or input on this, please contact serj@dugoutclub.ca
2) Opportunities to have your “Player Evaluations / Coaching Development” hosted at The Oval.
Coming off the extremely positive experience of hosting the Girl’s National ID Camp on the same weekend as the Baseball Canada Convention, ( http://www.baseball.ca/eng_news_story.cfm?NewsID=1784 ) we’ve opened up 5 opportunities to do the very same for any associations/organizations that are interested. (From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. running into our Sunday night sessions.). Please contact me for further details on this opportunity – especially if you’re concerned about the “worst winter in history” coming at you during your eventual tryouts, etc.
3) Proposed “Charity Wiffle Ball Tournament”.
I’d very much like to know if your organizations would be willing to “help build” an effort as seen on this link…. http://littlefenway.com/fenway/home
While it may be a “farfetched” idea, is it really beyond our realm to perhaps begin an “Annual Indoor Icebreaker” down the road some???… (with perhaps the charity being the Challenger program and/or “KidSport” – with specifically those wanting to play Baseball??)….Thoughts? Volunteers?..If not at the lower age, I’ll pursue it at the older ages down the road. (As they have in the link.)
4) Ten Sunday Night Sessions for the New Year – ( Jan.16th – March 27th excluding Super Bowl Sunday)
Truth be known, if I had a way to take the “R” (Richmond) out of “R.O.O.T.”, I would. Players have come from all corners of the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to participate in these inaugural sessions. (And will be given 1st priority to re-register for the New Year thus filling the spots). Having said that, we’re presently working on taking the final 8,400 sq. ft of floor space on Sunday Nights– for a total of just over 29,000 sq. ft. (Think about that for a minute!!)….Adding to the present 45 participants would clearly allow us to do so, and to continue to send the message that “Our Game Matters”.
5) Jr. Men’s Western Canada Team – We’re being asked to put forth a team of 19-21 year olds and commit by April 1st. As many as 8 Jr. Men from B.C.Minor associations are presently working out at the Oval. Perhaps it’s a start of the “core group”???….Vote on the Poll Question to give us some kind of “indication” of interest…After all, the Jr. Men’s Div. started on a “Poll Question”…..no reason why this effort couldn’t as well!!
In closing, I’d like to thank all those that have assisted in moving this effort along and we look forward to continuing to add to the group of “believers”. Should any of you be interested, we continue our series of sessions each Sunday night until Dec.12th (4:30 – 9 p.m.)…..Drop by!!
Cheers, Serj Sangara
P.S. Some have said that you can get things done “cheaper” or have referred to “cheapest” as a way to go……..BUT, if you look in the Webster’s Dictionary, that’s defined as “low in price: inexpensive; easily obtained; and of little value or estimation”……..Enough said on that, I believe…ONWARD HO!!!!
B.C.Minor Director
Baseball B.C. Director
Richmond Sports Council Member
DCBBC Director
RICHMOND, BC- In February 2010 all of Canada was consumed by the Olympics as the city of Vancouver welcomed some of the finest athletes in the world. The Olympics also provided Vancouver and surrounding areas with some of the finest athletic facilities in the world that will leave a lasting legacy to the sporting community.
For fifteen female baseball players, they had the chance to work out at the Richmond Olympic Oval as Baseball Canada held an Identification camp for girls in conjunction with the annual fall convention. The camp was open to current baseball players or those coming from the softball world that would like to give baseball a try.
“We want to increase the pool of players and get more athletes,” said André Lachance (Ottawa, ON), Head Coach of the Women’s National Team. “The facility here is incredible and if it (Identification Camp) can help bring baseball in Richmond into the Oval that would be great.”
Players were tested in speed, agility, plyometric and endurance drills before getting into traditional baseball drills. Towards the end of the session, pitchers were able to throw and receive instruction from Lachance and other guest coaches.
“The biggest thing for me is that I’m looking for athletes,” explained Lachance. “Once you have those physical tools and you see that a girl is committed, you can teach them the proper mechanics of hitting, pitching and other skills of the game.”
Participants also had a chance to receive instruction and learn about the Women’s National Team program from three current players as Kate Psota (Burlington, ON), Nicole Luchanski (Edmonton, AB) and Becky Hartley (White Rock, BC) helped conduct the camp.
“I didn’t have an opportunity like this when I first started,” said Psota. “I wanted to let the girls know that there is an opportunity to for them with baseball and to give it a shot.”
One such player that took advantage of the camp was Hailee Renkers (Surrey, BC) who was a member of the national champion BC team that won gold at the Bantam Girls level in August.
Renkers started playing softball when she was four and switched to baseball when she was ten. She doesn’t hide the fact that she’d like to continue with the game and see how far she can take it.
“I’d like to play baseball as long as I can, keep pushing myself and hopefully I can make the national team.”
For Renkers this was her first step towards reaching her dream. She has to look no further than to Kate Psota for proof that it truly is a special experience to represent your country.
“Playing for the National Team is something that you can’t understand unless you do it, it’s incredible.”
Baseball Canada would like to thank Richmond City Baseball, B.C.Minor and The Dugout Club for making the event possible.
| October 24, 2010 4:30 pm | to | December 12, 2010 9:00 pm |
The first FULL training sessions went “pretty well” by all reports last week.
Having said that – just as with the players – we want to make sure we’re just “a little bit better” in our approach here each and every time out. To that end, the Dugout Club has had some great dialogue this week, both with the Oval and amongst ourselves. Hopefully you’ll see those changes take place this coming week. One thing that will remain constant for now, is the usage of the ENTIRE area for our groups. Something, as we move further into this, I believe we should really try to do.
We’ve also had a few more players wanting to join the mix. To that end, we’re taking steps to add instructors, as well as reviewing the way we use our “core instructors”, Jeff and Derran.
See you all this weekend..(Or most of you!!!). PLEASE vote on the Poll Question before leaving the site…I can use the help with my “picks”!!
Serj
Mosq / Pee Wee – 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Jr. Men / Out of Town Midgets (Unless those advised otherwise)- 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Midgets - 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Contact serj@dugoutclub.ca if you’d like to enroll your son OR daughter amongst the 40+ that have already enrolled!!
Play Ball!!!
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