The Quesnel Girls Softball Association (QGSA) is committed to helping each of its players continue to improve their skills on the field.
This year, the QGSA even offered a Winter Ball program for 10 weeks at the Quesnel Indoor Sports Centre to help the girls improve on the fundamentals of the sport.
“What we wanted to do was figure out what the issues were that we found last year when we were coaching,” says QGSA vice-president Craig Delwish.
“Some of those included running the bases properly, throwing and we found that some were not making great contact with the ball. After figuring out some of the issues, we decided to put some stations together so they could get a better understanding of the basics of the game.
“At the end of the program, the coaches evaluated each player and draft them onto teams, ensuring each team is evenly balanced before the season begins.”
Delwish says it’s all about helping the players improve their game.
“With this program, we are really hoping it will help them out in their seasons. They have had some basic coaching and are feeling a lot more confident now with the season approaching.
“It will also be interesting to see the potential difference between the kids who have been coming out for three months to the kids who couldn’t make it out.”
The cost of the program was $30 for the 10 weeks which started the second week of January and ended April 12.
Delwish says a program like this couldn’t be done without the volunteer coaches.
“We have had some parents here from other cities who just moved here and they were very impressed with the amount of volunteer coaches we have. We have 14 coaches in town who have taken their Level 1 or higher coaching clinic with Softball BC.”
A program like this shows the passion that exists for the sport of softball in Quesnel, which will only help the players and the sport as it grows in the community, he concludes.