DENVER, Colo. – Sara Schoenhoft, in her second year as Head Softball Coach at Emory & Henry College, recently attended the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, held December 8-12 in Denver, Colorado. The Academy provides skills training for coaches at all levels to assist them in being more efficient, productive, resourceful and successful. Attendees learn skills that are not sport specific, yet ones that are relevant and necessary for coaching responsibilities, beyond the X's and O's.
"We attended classes where we talked about the importance of building support systems to keep females in coaching and to continue to bring females into the coaching profession," said Schoenhoft. "It was inspiring to meet so many different coaches with stories of overcoming challenges and being successful in the coaching profession."
Founded in 2002 by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics, the Women Coaches Academy (WCA) was started as an initiative to train, support and retain female coaches. It focused on giving coaches the opportunity to understand their expanding role as a coach, along with perspectives and skills to help them make the most of their situations.
The WCA has three objectives: skill development, retention and mentoring. Within these objectives are four educational tracks of the core curriculum covered over the five-day format: Philosophy & Fundamentals, Management Skills, Communication Strategies and Career Development.
"I met coaches that I will stay in touch with and share ideas with so that we can all become better coaches," continued Schoenhoft. "It was a great experience, and I am excited to get the season going to implement some of the new ideas I learned at the academy with my team."
Schoenhoft also completed the requirements to become a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist in February and is now one of two members of the E&H athletic staff to hold the certification. Under current NCAA Division III rules, only a staff member with a CSCS certification can have contact with student-athletes outside their 18- or 19-week playing seasons. Without a certified strength coach, there is no way to monitor and instruct student-athletes on how to safely and effectively use their time in the weight room during the offseason.
"Since I became certified, I have been able to develop strength & conditioning workouts for my team in the offseason as well as the women's tennis and volleyball teams," added Schoenhoft. "Being able to have a CSCS certification is a huge advantage, because I can work with my team to become faster and stronger. It has also been nice working with other athletes on campus that I don't usually work with to help them get in the best possible shape for their upcoming season."
The Emory & Henry Softball Team will open the 2013 season on Friday, February 22 when it travels to Fayetteville, N.C., to play in Methodist University's Early Bird Tournament.
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