The website that I chose for my website evaluation is the National Center for Education Statistics website (http://nces.ed.gov). The website itself is very detailed with at least five sections of links to different areas of the entire website from the home page. Each set of links is set off from each other with different font, color, style, etc., which makes it very easy to figure out which section and which area within each section that I would like to navigate to.
       The positive aspect of this website is the great detail that the developers used to make it easy to navigate throughout the entire website. The links also make it easy to go back to the previous pages or to the home page without any difficulty at all.
        The only negative thing that I see in the website is that the font may be a little bit too small for those who struggle with their vision. That is easily solved for those that know some of the tricks of Internet Explorer where you can increase the size of the font on the webpage without changing the information. I would also tend to think that the website has so much information that someone looking for information for research could get so involved in exploring this website; they could lose their focus and spend time researching items that are not relevant to their original intentions. That is not a bad problem though.
        This website is important to 21^st century education is that it offers educators a medium to read and compare notes with other educators concerning issues that are important in education today. The website also offers educators an alert system using email that alerts educators when articles are published on the website that are of interest to educators.
         After exploring the website, I felt that it is important for us as educators to keep ourselves informed in the latest information that will help us facilitate learning for our students in the 21^st century which evolves in an almost daily basis.

The first issue that I think should be discussed is the allowance by the NFHS concerning the use of metal cleats in high school softball. This issue and rule caught everyone in Texas off guard and was a major concern going into this year. From what I was told at the NFCA convention in Las Vegas this year is that the push for this rule came from northern states where the field conditions aren’t as favorable in the early season as they are in Texas, and other southern states. I know I was very concerned about this change, but after a full season of our girls using them, I am all for the continuation of the rule. Some of the shoe manufacturers were also caught off guard and were behind in getting the cleats out, but once the girls got them, most were very happy with them. I know my girls that play select/travel ball are disappointed that they have to go back to the old cleats for the summer and fall.

I know many coaches were concerned about injuries and about other coaches teaching their girls to slide with the metal cleats high on purpose, but I didn’t hear of any increase in injuries, and best of all, heard very few comments about girls sliding illegally on purpose with their cleats. Kudos to all of Texas high school coaches and players for adjusting so well to the new rule.

The 10 second rule that was in effect for the batters this year was of very little impact and was a positive rule for our sport.

I’ve been hearing from coaches concerning the new ASA bat standards for 2008-09 and their worries about possible changes in bats. I’ve been reading reasearch (yes, I do read!!) that says the “hot” bats are more lively after they are used for a certain amount of time (”break in period”) than they are when they come out of the box. This revelation I guess has the people at the ASA concerned and has them looking at new testing. ASA has an article concerning equipment (bat / ball) concerns at http://www.softball.org/about/getStory.asp?nid=1619 that you might be interested in reading. I know that ASA has come out with a new list (http://www.softball.org/about/certified_equipment.asp and follow the links) that was updated this month. You might want to check it out.

I feel that the 2008 high school softball season was a great success and there will be a great state tournament starting on Thursday in Austin. I know we had a great year at my school and are all very happy with our team’s progress this season. Congratulations to the coaches whose teams made it to Austin, and congratulations to ALL high school coaches who positively affect the lives and educations of the girls who participate in our programs.

I also want to commend those who posted their real names on a couple of their posts. A couple of the coaches have taken a risk of being looked at as a “rebel rouser” or of being looked down upon by others in our profession. I applaud them for that.

I know that some of the posts have caused some concern with some of the administrators with the TGCA. I know that one of the posters has spoken with a couple of them and from what I’ve heard, they were able to tell each other their reasons for why they have their beliefs. I don’t think they were able to close the gap on their ideas, but at least a discussion was held. I think that is good as long as it’s kept in a civil manner.

Keep visiting the forums and keep posting your ideas and discussion. You never know when a good idea will occur that will help our sport!

BH

One thing that drives me crazy about volleyball is that they use kids to call the lines during varsity games. I know that it is impossible to get referees to call lines because of the shortage, but many times I feel that we are doing the kids a disservice by making them call lines.

What bothers me is if they make a call that goes against the other school, the parents in the stands go haywire and start yelling at the kid calling lines. THAT IS WRONG!!!! I don’t care if they yell at the adults, but to yell at kids who have been told they have to call lines or not play the next match just disgusts me. Our parents at our school are just as bad as anywhere else. We were at a tournament last week and one of the host schools who was eliminated early had their players call lines. One, the girls were probably not happy that they lost 2 and out, and probably thought that calling lines was punishment. The girl made a call on a close play that was against us and our parents started yelling at her like we lost the state championsip. I saw her face and really felt bad about her. She didn’t say anything and continued to do her job. I and the head coach went to apologize to her when the match was over.

I think the parents need to learn that it is not win at all cost and they need to treat the kids like kids. I know if that was my daughter calling lines and a bunch of parents started yelling at her like that, they might have had to take me to jail because I would have gone over and attempted to kick one of their arses.

If you were on the list before and didn’t get an e-mail, let me know. If you have moved, send me your new e-mail. If you are a new head softball coach and want to be on the list, let me know.

I have 6 or 7 open date requests right now and I am ready to send them out sometime on Thursday morning.

I got back to College Station in time to watch the finals of the 18U A National Tournament played at Aggie Field at Texas A&M University. That is a great place to have a national final and the game was also exciting. The Artesia Punishers ended up scoring 2 runs in the top of the 7th and held on in the bottom of the inning to defeat the California Breeze 6-5. The Punishers (undefeated) seemed to have the game under control with a 3-0 lead until the Breeze scored 2 in the 5th and 3 with no outs in the 6th. When the Breeze scored 2 in the 5th, the Punishers seemed to add some insurance with one in the top of the 6th, but the Breeze stormed ahead in the bottom of the 6th. The Punishers weren’t finished by retaking the lead in the 7th on a double with no out scoring 2 runs. An exciting offensive game at the end.

The two other tournaments were good to watch also. The weather in Sioux Falls was very pleasant, especially in the morning and evening games. With temperatures in the low 70’s at those times, some people were donning light jackets. The day games at 88-90 degrees with a little breeze and low humidities, weren’t bad to watch either. Broken Arrow was HOT!! But the fields had covered stands and the tournament officials kept the water coolers full in the dugouts so the players were well hydrated. They also watered the fields between each game which kept the dust down and the fields in good shape.

The only concern that I really heard a lot was the price of hotel rooms for these tournaments. I don’t about College Station, but a lot of people were complaining in Sioux Falls. I was lucky — I found a room at the local Motel 6 for $42.00 per night for the 2 nights I was there. Parents of my players told me that they were staying at a Super 8 (reserved by the ASA) for over $100 per night when the regular rate this week is $53-60 per night. At Broken Arrow / Tulsa, the prices weren’t high at all, unless you stayed on Sunday night when the PGA Championship folks started coming in for the major golf event.

 Overall it was a great experience for me, especially confirming what I heard about the large numbers of college coaches attending the 16U national tournament. Also, it was nice to have my trip paid for by the black jack tables at Harrah’s in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the Choctaw Casino at Grant, OK.

There was discussion with the college and high school coaches at McKinney and at Beaumont (ASA Regional) about the new NFHS rules concerning metal cleats. All of the college coaches told me that it takes about a month to get used to them and then the players never go back. My former players who play in college tell me the same thing. But until ASA changes their rules to let them use metal cleats, I think many girls may stay in the current cleats they use now. It will be interested to see if ASA changes their rules on cleats.

There was also some interesting discussion on pitching distance. The gist that I get from it all and also my belief is that high school will stay at 40 feet until ASA adopts 43 feet for 18U and 16U. Only 18U Gold has it now (AFA too) and if or when they go to 43 at the lower levels, then the high schools may change to 43. At 16U, that would almost include all high school kids except most freshmen who still may play 14U at 40 feet. Rumor says that ASA might adopt 43 at 18U and 16U to lower the number of teams that are playing 18Gold right now. I know of many teams who have no chance of qualifying for Gold nationals, who try anyway because they throw at 43 and that’s where many of the college coaches are at. If all 18U & 16U throw at 43, then that could move some of the college coaches to watching those tournaments too because then they can see how the girls react to 43. Also ASA I hear would like to reduce the number of teams trying to qualify for Gold nationals because that is supposed to be for the best only and now it might be watered down some (according to my sources).

I know from what I’ve seen this summer, there hasn’t been a real noticable increase in scoring or offense at 43 feet than at 40 feet.