Dec. 3, 2015
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The first Irish Softball Elite Team Camp, scheduled for Jan. 30, 2016 in advance of the annual University of Notre Dame softball winter clinic, has officially sold out. Any subsequent sign ups will be placed on a waiting list and notified if a spot becomes available.
Limited slots still remain for Notre Dame’s annual winter clinic that will commence on Jan. 31, split between the Loftus Sports Center and the indoor batting cages at baseball’s Frank Eck Stadium. The five-session clinic, featuring instruction from the Notre Dame coaching staff and select players, is officially scheduled from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (ET) and is open to players ages 5-18.
“Pitching to Success: Power, Spin, Location” (SOLD OUT)
is slated to run from 8-9:30 a.m. inside the Loftus Sports Center. The unique training session will take pitchers through 90 minutes of drills and instruction aimed at strengthening power, maximizing speed, and improving location. Each pitcher will need a parent to catch specific drills during the session, with the session limited to 25 pitchers.
“Skills and Drills for Developing a Dominant Catcher” (SOLD OUT)
will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. inside the Loftus Sports Center. Catchers will attain helpful drills, game knowledge, and other key information necessary to catch at the Division I level. All catchers are required to bring their own gear, with the session limited to 20 catchers.
“Five Minute Fundamentals that Lead to Greatness”
will round out the 8-9:30 window as a combined offensive/defensive period. Players will rotate through five-minute fundamental drills that cover all aspects of the game of softball. Each offensive, defensive, and baserunning drill has been selected by the Irish softball team, and will build the foundation of becoming an elite level player. The session will take place in the Loftus Sports Center and is limited to 40 players.
“Irish Defensive Practice” (SOLD OUT)
is a defensive-specific instructional session set for 9:30-11 a.m. at the Loftus Sports Center. Players will engage in specific defensive drills by position that the Irish utilize in game preparation, as well as team related drills to enhance overall defensive skill development. All positions are welcome to register, with the session capped at 50 players.
“Hit, With the Irish” (SOLD OUT)
will take place from 12-1:30 p.m. inside the indoor batting cages at Eck Stadium. Each participant will be matched with a Notre Dame hitter and go through drills and swing analysis with their Irish mentor. The unique clinic opportunity will couple extensive drill work and mentorship along with instruction. The session will be limited to 40 hitters.
“Competitive Irish Hitting” (SOLD OUT)
caps the day of instruction from 1:30-3 p.m. inside the batting cages at Eck Stadium. Participants will learn how to effectively train like an elite Division I hitter, combining lecture, drills, and competitions. The session is limited to 40 hitters.
All sessions at the 2016 Irish Softball Clinic are $75 per player, with the clinic registration form available under the `Schedule’ tab at UND.com/softball. Interested participants are asked to follow the registration procedure located on page two.
For additional information on the 2016 Irish Softball Clinic, contact Notre Dame associate coach Kris Ganeff at Ganeff.2@nd.edu.
For the latest news and updates on all things Notre Dame softball, visit www.und.com/softball, follow the Irish @NDsoftball and @NDcoachGumpf on Twitter and at Instagram.com/notredamesoftball, and Like the team at Facebook.com/NDSoftball.
Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball and men’s soccer programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.