If you want to be miserable, all you have to do is be selfish. Joyce Meyer

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1 If you want to be miserable, all you have to do is be selfish. Joyce Meyer If you want to really enjoy the high school softball experience, then you must value everyone on the team. You must positively support and encourage all players while not manipulating things for your child s benefit. I have come to the conclusion after 21 years of coaching high school athletics, that an athlete cannot truly enjoy the experience if the parents are negative at home. Players listen and absorb what the parents say and carry the emotion of home into the practice and games. If the parents are killing the other players or coaches, the player cannot help but to be impacted. The impact of negativity steals the joy from the game, ultimately hurting the team. When the atmosphere is positive and encouraging those attitudes are reflected in the energy, enthusiasm and effectiveness of the players. -Ed Shilling (Paraphrased by James C. Marlow)

2 2018 Softball Lugoff Elgin High School Lady Demons Program Manager James Marlow Varsity Staff JV Staff B Team Staff James Marlow Savannah Starling Tiffany Lee Casey Stevens Anthony Bell

3 ALUMNI DINNER The Alumni Dinner is Feb. 6:00 No JV/B practice Feb. 23 Varsity will practice from 3:30 5:00 All players must met at LEHS 5:45 Wear jersey tops We need parent volunteers for this event. We will have a sign up sheet via coming this week. We will be asking ALL Alumni for donations to the program

4 Alumni Game Saturday, Feb 11:00 a.m. Varsity players must arrive by 9:45 a.m. All JV players must work this event (concession, gate) B team does not have to work $5 charge $1 for LE softball player s parents and siblings only All proceeds go to softball program B softball players get in free with jersey on only!

5 Here is something that all our coaches, student athletes, and parents should review, reflect on, and take into consideration... As we all know high school ball and travel ball are two very different organizations. If we do not acknowledge and understand the vast differences between the HS organization and the travel organization, we are all set up for major disappointments during the course of the HS season. I will not argue for or against either side, but their stark differences are an unfortunate reality that we will all deal with. Please, everyone take time to read current articles on this subject, discuss your own research, personal observations, and feelings with your student athlete. We cannot change the dynamics of the HS system, or the dynamics of the TB system, but we can adapt, understand, and embrace each one as our children pass through them. Again, please discuss this topic with your athlete. Please see both sides, and appreciate both for what they are. We cannot pit them against one another and expect to enjoy the HS season. Together let's make LE a great environment for our kids to play softball.

6 MENTAL TOUGHNESS Our focus has been on MENTAL TOUGHNESS since September. Mental toughness has zero to do with physical strength and zero to do with athleticism. Mental toughness, as I define it, is the ability to overcome adversity, the ability remain calm and focused in high pressure situations, the ability to manage emotions when you fail, the ability to control your reactions, and the ability to push yourself to do better each day. I will be sitting girls out of practice and games that adversely affect the team due to their inability to be mentally tough and lack of ability to control themselves and their negative emotions.

7 2017 Softball Representatives Athletic Director Matt Campbell He is in charge of the 2 on campus softball accounts (1-Pupil Account) (2-On campus fundraising account) See him if you have a question about the softball budget or school softball account Off Campus Fundraising Account Holder Christy Mooneyhan Casey Stevens See one of them you have a budget question or concern. Trident Club Representative Leslie Spradley James Marlow

8 Trident Club (Athletic Booster Club) FACEBOOK: The Trident Club for Lugoff-Elgin High School Each sport has at least one parent representative to be the voice of their team at the monthly meetings. This will help the club stay connected to the wants/needs of each sport. Please keep in mind, the Coaches and Athletic Director will still manage how the overall budget is spent, but this will be a way for the club to help the communication gap between the Athletes, Parents, Coaches, Athletic Department, and the Booster Club. Meetings are the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the LEHS Library. Meeting are open to the public.

9 WHERE DOES YOUR MONEY GO? Expenses Golf cart to drag the fields New windscreen Batting circles Batting practice mat Rye Practice balls Game Balls Field name sign Tournament entry fees

10 Tournament Committee Needed Tournament Committee Chairperson needed See Christy Mooneyhan We will have a tournament committee that oversees the logistics of our home JV tournament, which is our largest fundraiser. The tournament is March 17, 2017 at Wateree West. Here are some of the responsibilities of this committee Checking teams in upon arrival Securing entrances & taking money Feeding our team Keeping the facility clean (trash can, bathrooms, dugouts, etc) Field prepping between games

11 Conflict Resolution Protocol 1. Player to coach 2. Parent to coach 3. Parent to AD 4. Parent to Principal Do not assemble in small groups & complain about the coaches & other players. Be a team & together find ways to win! Step 1 is often skipped. Encourage your daughter to speak to the coach if she has a concern. This is a real world learning experience.

12 What is High School Softball at LEHS? An opportunity represent your school and your community with pride An opportunity to compete with other communities around the state A opportunity to play with the friends that you have gone to school with your entire life An opportunity to be on local radio, and in the local newspaper An opportunity to win a region, a district, and a state championship An opportunity to be a hero to younger girls in the community An opportunity to have fun with friends on long bus rides, and make memories that last a lifetime This is LEHS Softball!

13 To play, or not to play, that is the question? LEHS high school softball is not travel softball. Travel softball is an apple and high school softball is an orange. Each one is distinctly different from the other. There is a thought process floating around that suggests some players do not need to play high school ball anymore in order to get college offers, get recognized, etc That is a not a question, philosophy, or debate that the LEHS softball coaches will entertain in any capacity. This new concept is irrelevant to the LEHS softball program. One either plays, or they do not play high school softball at LEHS. LEHS will not be in the business of influencing, or convincing player(s), or parent(s) to be a part of the high school softball program. Either you are, or you are not. No conversation needed. LEHS will not be in competition with any travel organization over a player and their future. LEHS will not endorse any travel teams.

14 The Dynamics of Travel Ball vs. HS ball Please understand the difference in the design, construction, or blueprint of a travel softball program vs. a high school softball program. High school teams make a roster out of the players zoned for their area. You don t choose your HS High school teams have to move girls around from their normal travel ball positions in order to field all 9 positions. The amount of games played in a high school season is limited to either games, and 2 tournaments. Other than the 2 tournaments, only one game is played per day. As a result, players will not have the same opportunities in regards to the playing time they are accustom to on their travel teams. Its not a reality! I will not respond to the following: In travel ball my daughter played, but you have her playing We will do whatever it takes to get 9 committed players on the field that do not make excuses! Players will play where the TEAM needs them to play.

15 High school teams have find their team s strengths and weaknesses and adjust to the players accordingly. The coach, to the best of his/her ability, attempts to put the 9 best players on the field that work together as a single unit (not just 9 athletes). Just because you are a starter on a travel team it does not mean you will be a starter on the high school team. This is difficult for some parents to deal grasp. Do not to compare playing time between the two teams. Again high school ball and travel ball are distinctively two very different creatures. Not understanding this can cause frustration and create friction between your expectations and reality.

16 As long as I am the caretaker of the softball program, all players will be required to earn their position, and playing time in front of the LEHS coaches only. How you performed over the Summer and Fall has zero weight, or influence in regards to what happens in the Spring. I know we have all-star quality players on our roster, but players cannot be on the field at one time. I also know there is a possibility I could have 5 shortstops, 5 pitchers, and 4 first basemen. However, they cannot all play at the same time and at the same position. A team first attitude must be had by all in order for this to work successfully. If you do not understand the information I have presented, I will gladly discuss it with you in more detail privately.

17 Concessions Parents need work concessions for games that do not involve their child If you do not help in the concessions, we will not open concessions. This is a source of funding for the program. The money made in the concessions goes directly back to the program Each parent needs to work a minimum of 2 concession events Please see the link in the parent newsletter. The hyperlink to that site will be on the electronic version of the newsletter, on Facebook, on twitter, on demonactivities.com, and ed to you. Please sign up. First come, first serve on the concession dates.

18 Injury If your child is injured they must let us know. Ice is always available in the training room for injuries. We suggest that your child see our training staff immediately if injured. Our training staff may save you a trip to the doctor. Also, they can get you in to see a doctor quickly if needed. Rehab for an injury can be done afterschool in the LEHS training room too. An injured player must report to the training room immediately after school to receive necessary attention. Once the player has received treatment they must report to practice. Players need to notify a coach if they are going to the training room.

19 Travel All players will ride the bus to each event. All varsity players will ride to and from each event. The only exceptions for varsity players are: injury, illness, or family emergency. For JV parents a bus waiver is located on demonactivities.com under the tab Demon HQ. Click Forms and download the document titled Athletic Department Bus Waiver

20 Missing Practice Players should not miss practice. The only excuses are: illness, family emergency, or severe injury. Players must notify the head coach ahead of time if they are to miss practice, or partially miss practice due to tutoring, or attending to an injury.

21 Playing Time Please know that playing time is a topic I will not discuss with parents, or players I will only encourage the players to continue to work hard and take advantage of their opportunities. As coaches will evaluate their abilities and tell them what they need to work on to get better. That s the end of the playing time discussion. I look for the group of girls that can perform together as a team, not just an athletic group of girls to put on the field. If a player has a concern they feel needs to be addressed they need to talk to the head coach first. If the issue cannot be resolved, then the parent of the player can request a conference with the head coach. If the parent and the coach cannot come to an agreeable outcome, the parent may take the issue to the Athletic Director. Please follow the proper protocol for solving conflicts in the softball program.

22 March 17 JV Tournament OUR HOME JV TOURNAMENT Our JV tournament is a huge source of revenue for the softball program. We plan to have the tournament at KC West this year. The date is Saturday, April 8th. We will need a lot of help from parents. We will be responsible for field maintenance after the first game. We will also need help taking tickets. This is a huge undertaking, but our tournament has become very competitive, and one of the largest in the state in regards to a junior varsity tournament. We are seeking out parents who will commit to forming a tournament committee. If you are willing to be a part of this committee please contact Christy Moneyman ASAP. Thanks.

23 THANK YOU DO NOT WEAR YOR TRAVEL TEAM SHIRTS OR JERSEYS TO LEHS SOFTBALL PRACTICE! We are thankful for all the travel team coaches that give their time in the Summer and Fall. Those coaches have provided a great resource for the girls to become better softball players. Thank you for all that you do for the girls!

24 HANDBOOKS It is the players and parents responsibly to know the contents of the KCSD Handbook and the Softball Handbook. Everyone will be held accountable for the information in both handbooks. The handbooks are available on the demonactivities.com site. Please take time to read these documents.