Glory Host Softball Tryouts

Published on August 11, 2008 under National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Washington Glory News Release


The mission of the Diamond Elite Academy Teams is to develop fully rounded amateur players who exhibit character, integrity and elite athletic performance. It is Diamond Elite Academy's vision to take good, dedicated athletes and help them develop to their maximum potential -- and ultimately -- to create strong Division One scholarship prospects.

To that end, the organization is seeking players who will work year-round, training both outdoors and in the Diamond Elite indoor training academy in Dulles, Virginia. Diamond Elite features state-of-the art -equipment including the Right View Pro Video Analysis System.

Of the moment technology, coupled with training by our champion staff (including many Washington Glory players & coaches) will allow us to produce a very special organization with an elite training environment. The Washington Glory coaching staff of Head Coach Carie Dever-Boaz and Assistant Coach Erin Goettlicher, named 2007 NPF Coaches of the Year, will help direct curriculum for overall player development.

We've received some inquiries as to why we've decided to start our own travel ball teams.

Three years ago I met with a group of elite softball leaders to discuss a strategy to raise the level of softball in the DC metro area so that more of our players could compete nationally with the level of play that occurs out west, and so that the trend of losing more & more kids to soccer and lacrosse decreases. From this meeting we concluded that it was imperative to build the exposure level of softball in our area so that more girls enter and stay in the sport; to stem the tide of losing kids to other sports, or because they aren't learning and having fun. And, at the same time provide better year round instruction and training that allow them to succeed more at the sport and therefore enjoy it more, and want to continue participating in it.

Our dream was to help kids build their dream of playing at a higher level , through exposure to the players of the Washington Glory, and by providing a place for them to train year around to work at getting better at their sport. By bringing the Washington Glory here and opening Diamond Elite, we have accomplished both of these goals. With our travel ball program we will provide solid examples of what year around dedication and elite training can do for individual players and teams, as they have with so many of the successful travel ball programs on the West Coast.

We'll continue to offer training with the Glory players and coaches to all who desire it -- it is a major component of our goal to elevate softball in our area. By teaching the coaches and organizational leaders in the house and travel ball leagues, we can continue to help raise the level of softball in our area to what it is on the West Coast.

Helping to develop softball players at all levels and raise the level of play in our area is and always will be a main goal for our operations.

Our vision is to have teams that are developmental in nature that will be led with the understanding that winning comes as a result of hard work and dedication.

Since there has been some confusion on this point, we'd like to repeat -- we will continue to teach and train any and all coaches and players at all levels of skill, even though they aren't part of our travel ball program.

Another point of confusion that bears highlighting -- we are not recruiting coaches or players to play on our teams. We put the word out to check the level of interest, and based on the response, we are announcing our tryouts in the papers and through our email list.



National Pro Fastpitch Stories from August 11, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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