We have looked at where the programme will have the greatest value going forward as well as having had discussions with the national female coaches.

We believe that the work in establishing a good base has now been set in developing a wider group of pitchers and catchers and a shared general knowledge of the technical, training, and mental skill requirements required going forward. In addition to this we have also developed a great base of resources on information for these requirements and given great access to the athletes in the battery programme in what has been a very difficult period for them during Covid.

Now that this base has been established, we believe the best way forward is for the programme to continue, but as a support mechanism to the three national women’s programmes, being the Developing Sox, the Junior White Sox and the White Sox. This will mean that the athletes in the programme will be the selected battery athletes for each of these programmes. In addition, we will set up a buddy programme from these athletes to a wider group to ensure that we are developing not only the battery athletes that have been selected but also the other identified athletes in these positions.

There will no longer be a need for national and regional camps for the NFBP outside of the National Team Camps, but we will continue with one on one sessions when required for our athletes in the programme.

In practical terms we have discussed and agreed with the WSX and JWSX the following program/role that the NFBP will play.

• The NFBP will offer any technical instruction on pitching and catching on specific topics.
• Gym Membership, for battery athletes in the programme.
• Rapsodo, will be used by the athletes in the National teams as part of the testing.
• Stephen Ratu and Dave Elder will support catchers and pitchers when required at National team camps, if required.
• Coordinating an alignment of the 3 programmes based on the requirements for each age group.

Both the athletes and the National Coaches have expressed their desire for the programmes to remain separate but aligned with the National Programmes and I am confident that this will now deliver the greatest benefit both practically and financially with the fuller international programmes that are now ahead of our women’s programmes.

Dave Elder

NFBP Director