For some people softball camps are a place where players go to be seen by college coaches. For some people softball camps are a place to make a buck. For the people who want more than just station to station mundane softball talk, FloSoftball has selected the best softball winter camps for players and coaches that do more than just blow a whistle and rotate stations. The Best Softball Camps change the game.

1. Florida State Softball Winter Camp

December 11-13, 2015

What makes the Florida State Softball Winter Camp so great? The Florida State Softball Winter camp is by far unlike any other softball camp in the country. Lonni Alameda and staff go above and beyond in what they deliver to players, coaches, and even umpires. Yes, umpires are included at the FSU camp too. FSU's mission is to give back to the game and to ultimately grow the game. This mission is apparent when you step foot on the facility grounds. Coaches are warmly greeted by current and former players. Everyone is excited to connect and learn from one another. Coach Alameda has created an environment that embodies sharing, connecting, and learning. The waiting list for players grows with each day and so does the instructors who want to teach at the FSU camp. There are three different camps going on in Tallahassee:

What do the players get from camp?
130 players travel from all over the world to learn from 40-45 different instructors that specialize in hitting, infield, outfield, catching, pitching, vision, and sports psychology. Players will fly to Tallahassee from Canada, Washington, California, Georgia, Texas, New York, and West Virginia.

Craig Snider, Travis Wilson, Mark Doran, former Major League baseball player take the lead in hitting with support from Howard Dobson, LSU Assistant Coach and company on hitting. On top of hitting technique, Ryan Harrison from Slow the Game Down will show players unique and fun exercises to improve vision.

Brian Cain, Sports Psychologist of Peak Performance and protégé of Ken Ravizza, conducts classroom sessions with each group of players to discuss the mental game. Players will learn how to navigate past fear to swallow fire, crush boards, and bend rebar with their throats. But more than just the flash of fire, players walk away with a better understanding of themselves and how they respond emotionally to the game when they fail. Players walk away with tools to get to the next pitch.





What do you coaches get from the FSU camp?
Coaches will without a doubt learn something new. A new way to express game approach, concepts, and technique. I've worked some camps where I'm by myself explaining the same thing five to six times in a row. At the FSU camp, the staff gives you the flexibility to learn from all the coaches involved. I could spend some time learning from Coach Alameda on the field or get in the cage with Mark Doran to understand the importance of hitting posture. A coach could sit in on Brian Cain teaching process over outcome and what to do when shit hits the fan. This is as much a learning experience for the coach as for the player. Coaches can ask questions about drills and approach and get honest feedback.

What do umpires get from the FSU camp?
Hey…Umpires are people too. FSU believes strongly in growing the game and umpires are included. Christie Cornwell and Mike Raynor coach up the umpires on best practices, positioning, and rules. Game scrimmages are scheduled where umpires have the opportunity to practice their craft and receive feedback from Christie and Mike.




2015 FSU Attending Coaches:
Annie Smith - Georgia Southern University
Lori Goodart - Florida A&M University
Roland Rodriguez - College of Ozarks
Chris Malveuax - Bradley University
TJ Goelz - Tampa Mustangs
Jimmy Abbott - New Lenox Lighting
Maggie Liveri - University of Utah
Jill Higdon - TN Fury
Jeremy Higdon - TN Fury
Curtis Liveri - Southern Utah Jason Gwyn - Mizuno Impulse
Jimmy Hendrix - Chipola College
Jim Heuker - Missouri Espirit
Shelby Pendley - New Mexico
Kendall Fearn - Marshall University
Shonda Staton - Marshall University
Joanna Hardin - McNeese State University
Todd Bradley - Campbell University
Russell Cooper - Men's Fastpitch / Pitcher Instructor
Carly Wynn - Fresno State University
Ryan Harrison - Slow The Game Down (Vision)
Lisa Navas - University of South Carolina
Brian Cain - Peak Performance (Sports Psychology)
Howard Dobson - Louisiana State University
Mark Doran - MLB / Team USA Hitting Instructor
Sue Kunkle University of Southern Indiana
Tim Cossins - Minor League Coordinator at Chicago Cub
Cody Thompson - University of Utah
Victoria Hayward - UMass
Julie Towers - Campbell University
Courtney Barbour - McNeese State
Kaleigh Rafter - Buffalo
Whitney Cloer - Scrapyard Dawgs
Carlton Salters - Hitting Instructor/ Minor League
Tiffani Brown - FSU Alumni
Celeste Gomez - FSU Alumni
Lacey Waldrop - FSU Alumni/ Chicago Bandits
Shelby Burchel - Fury Academy
Jason Gywn - Texas Impulse

2. Mohegan Sun World Softball Coaches' Convention

January 23, 2016

Thousands of coaches travel to Connecticut to learn from Sue Enquist, Jessica Mendoza, and Pat Murphy. This event blends speakers, break out sessions, and live demonstrations of hitting, infield, pitching, and catching. Coaches have the opportunity to choose from breakout sessions that spark their curiosity or fills their needs. This year the Mohegan brings in another slew of top level coaches:

Sue Enquist, Former UCLA Head Coach
Lisa Dodd, UNLV
Carol Bruggerman, NFCA
Sam Marder, College of Charleston
Cheryl Milligan, Tufts University
Jen McIntryre, UConn
Bobby Tewksbary, Tewksbary Hitting
Denise Davis, Planet Fastpitch
Rob Crews, Complete Game Sports
Rachel Balkovec, Strength & Conditioning St. Louis Cardinals
Jen Hapanowicz, USA Elite Training

3. National Softball Coaches Clinic

The National Softball Coaches Clinic starts with the coaches. Coaches are most instrumental in the development of softball players all over the world. The National Softball Coaches Clinics mission is to educate the coaches that will impact the future college players and people. These clinics are hosted all over the country.

Chicago - December 11-12, 2015
Jessica Allister, University Minnesota
Bill Edwards, Hofstra University
Boo Gilette, University of Arkansas
Lori Sippel, University of Nebraska
Mike White, University of Oregon

Chicago - January 8-9, 2016
Cindy Bristow, Softball Excellence
Kelly Inouye-Perez, UCLA
Lauren Lappin, Roosevelt University
Melyssa Lombardi, OU
Michelle Venturella, University of Illinois-Chicago

Minneapolis - January 15-16, 2016
Carie Dever-Boaz, Northwest Mississippi CC
Patty Gasso, OU
Alyson Habetz, University of Alabama
Jacquie Joseph, Michigan State University
Beverly Smith, University of South Carolina

Portland - January 15-16, 2016
Chelsea Spencer, University of Oregon
John Tschida, University of St. Thomas
Deb Hartwig, Just Softball
Carol Bruggeman, NFCA
Heather Tarr, University of Washington

Charlotte - January 22-23, 2016
Patty Gasso, OU
Lisaa Navas, University of South Carolina
Kirk Walker, UCLA
Mike White, University of Oregon
Marissa Young, Duke

Nashville - January 22-23, 2016
Calvin Beamon, University of South Carolina
Gayle Blevins, former coach of Iowa
Yvette Healy, University of Wisconsin
Kyla Holas, University of Houston
Rhonda Revelle, University of Nebraska

Kansas City, January 29-30, 2016
Caryl Drohan, Northwestern
Diane Miller, University of Nebraska
Randy Schneider, University of Wisconsin
Beth Torina, LSU
Margie Wright, former Fresno State Head Coach

Want to know more on Recruiting? Check out the Dirt on Getting Recruited!

Related: 
The Best Fall/Winter Camps in 2016