Dec. 14, 2006
After going on a steady diet of conditioning drills, practices and classes in the fall, the winter offseason for the UCF softball team could easily be a time of relaxing and easing of the brain after some very tough classes. But the Golden Knights always had something on their mind: the upcoming 2007 campaign.
Since programs are allowed 22 weeks out of the year to play as a team, UCF used four weeks during the fall semester for drills and team concepts. It also was a good opportunity for the newcomers to get adjusted to their surroundings and know what to expect as the season progresses.
However, when the Golden Knights wrapped up two victories in scrimmages against Indian River C.C. and St. Petersburg C.C. Nov. 3, they faced a long period where the UCF Softball Complex would not see any action until January 8.
"We can't require our players to do anything during winter break, that's an NCAA rule," said head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie. "But during an offseason, it is really tough to get a lot of instruction in. We always tell them that they should keep their arms strong and also get on a tee and work on their basic skills."
During the 2005-06 campaign, the Golden Knights were loaded with young student-athletes, including 10 true-freshmen and not a single senior on the squad. While a lot of them had never endured a long collegiate softball season before, UCF also had another problem to deal with in the fall.
"Last year, the university was in the process of moving us into our new facility, so for all of our skill work, we didn't have a place to go," Luers-Gillispie admitted. "We were trying to practice on the baseball practice field when we could. We finally had something up in January when we got back after the break, but we were already eight weeks behind. That hurt us a lot, and that was part of the problem we had last year.
"But we also lost seven starters and that will hurt any program. This year we have some great players that we've brought in and we've made some adjustments that I think makes us stronger. Our pitching is stronger, our hitting looks a lot better, defensively we are much more solid than last year and we have more speed in the outfield. Overall, we have made some big changes to help us out this year."
Those changes could easily make UCF a threat in just its second trip ever through a Conference USA schedule. The Black and Gold finished in ninth place in 2006 and had a 19-37 overall record, but have all nine offensive starters coming back, as well as three pitchers returning from a year ago. Add to that mix a couple new faces, including pitcher Ashleigh Cole, who is a native of Pace, Fla., and everyone is anxious to prove that the Golden Knights should not be taken lightly in 2007.
First off, though, they need to embark on a month-long affair beginning in early January that tests every part of their game. It will be an important time for UCF as the coaches are out to challenge their team with plenty of physical activities.
"The first week we do a lot of extra lifting and conditioning," said Luers-Gillispie. "We do try to get them back into shape after the time they have off. But we work with the players individually at first, then put them into small groups and then we start to practice as a team each day. So we are always working their individual skills first before the team workouts.
"Tracy Prosser, who is our strength coach, does send the players a workout sheet to help them stay on track over break. But we know when they come back if they have worked out or not. You can tell the first week, and that's why we make it very difficult for them when they return."
It may take awhile to determine if the countless hours of preparation will translate into a journey deep into the postseason. The Golden Knights can be sure, though, that when they face teams like UCLA, UNLV, Florida and Florida Atlantic in 2007, they will be ready.