ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The 2019 NFCA Convention officially kicked off festivities on Wednesday at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City. NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman and President Karen Weekly welcomed the attendees and keynote Justin Patton captured the audience with his enthralling address.
Patton kept the attendees engaged during his hour-long presentation. His high-energy and positivity was absorbed by his audience as he put them through several interactive and captivating exercises, including bringing a group of coaches up on stage for an exercise in confidence, self-awareness and body language.
Wednesday featured the previously mentioned “First Pitch” Opening Welcome, along with the Rookie Orientation for first-time attendees and several committee meetings. The evening was capped off with an evening of socializing at the NFCA Opening Reception.
Prior to the official opening, NFCC 401 and 403 classes concluded with coaches completing their course work to become Four-Star Master Coaches. Those were followed by a pair of three-hour Pre-Convention seminars. Celia Slater of True North Sports touched on building trust, managing conflict and investing in your growth, while a quartet of well-known pitching coaches – Trisha Ford (Arizona State), Michelle Gascoigne (Northwestern), Kyla Holas (More Than a Game) and Kirk Walker (UCLA) – discussed individual pitch development.
Thursday starts with a bolt of energy during Jen Williams’ (Dartmouth) annual early morning Boardwalk Boot Camp or join Cassie Moore (Bethany College) for Shore Stretch Yoga and then grab some food at the Schutt Sports Breakfast.
The first full day of Convention programming focuses on business, exhibitors, the first of two Drill, Drills, Drills sessions and two speaking slots featuring the UCLA coaching staff (“An Exclusive Look Inside the Bruin Bubble: Coaching Staff Dynamics”), followed by India Chiles (Tennessee) and Caitlin Lowe (Arizona) (“Accelerate Your Offense”). Additionally, the evening always features the popular mentoring session and two sponsored social events in the Scrap Yard Sports Happy Hour (Exhibit Hall) and the Diamond/PGF Social Pool Party at Harrah’s Pool After Dark.
Click on the Scheduleor download the Convention Appto see a complete list of Thursday’s activities.
Be sure to check out the sold-out Exhibit Show, which opens its doors to members at 11:00 a.m. and runs through 6:00 p.m. and will feature education for the first time. In conjunction with the Exhibit Hall, the digital silent auction is back. The highly-anticipated event in the Exhibit Hall allows you to bid on your favorite items from the comfort of your phone by stopping by each booth. Find your favorite companies or Convention promotion, scan the QR code and make a bid.
Visit www.biddingforgood.com/nfca to view all of the items available and register to bid.
You MUST visit the company/booth of the item you wish to bid on and scan the QR code in order to begin the bidding war. Helpful hint: download a QR code reader on your phone to participate