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23 June 2021
The mixed softball team at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools enjoyed a training day led by one of the country’s leading coaches.
David Lee, assistant coach of the Great Britain Men’s Slowpitch Team, delivered superb tips and advice to the Monmouth Rockets.
It was the ideal preparation for the Rockets, who have some upcoming fixtures to look forward to.
Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball and the British Softball Federation (BSF) is the sport’s national governing body in the United Kingdom.
The vast majority of UK softball is played in the co-ed (mixed) slowpitch format but there are numerous single-sex slowpitch teams and a growing fastpitch community.
Mr Lee was supported by fellow coaches, including present and former international players, in the session at Monmouth School for Girls.
The Monmouth boys and girls took part in drills that boosted their batting and fielding skills.
They dived into the programme with enthusiasm and discipline, followed the instructions and improved throughout.
A three-innings game with full umpiring rounded off the day, and the pupils also learned tactics and game-play tips.
Afterwards, Mr Lee, who has coached previous generations of Monmouth pupils, said he thought the current crop of Rockets’ recruits was the most promising yet.
And, if they kept up the training throughout the winter, Mr Lee believed that the Rockets would become a very hard team to beat.
“We owe a huge thank-you to Mr Lee and his team for giving up a Saturday to help the Rockets, and to the groundstaff for kindly drawing out the softball diamond for the event,” said Mr Gareth Dunn, a teacher, who runs Monmouth Rockets.
“Our girls and boys should be proud of the energy and commitment they showed on the day and the way in which they took onboard the advice from the coaches. A bright future of softball awaits them.”
