University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Players Coach Youth Level
8/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Crossing the line from player to coach is no easy task, but that did not stop five Gopher softball players from taking on the challenge.
Danielle Parlich, Sam Macken, Hannah Evavold, Taylor LeMay and Kylie Stober all coached youth softball over the summer. They all have different inspirations for getting into it.
"To be able to give back to a sport that has helped shape me to be the person I am today is the reason I do it," LeMay said. "I want to help my youth players achieve the same goals that I had at that age."
Parlich, a native of Queen Creek, Ariz., said Arizona has a month or two of summer break, so this was the longest summer she has ever had off. This was also the first summer since she was seven years old that she has not played club softball; so she thought she would get into coaching and see a different aspect of the game.
"Katie (Richardson) coached me so I thought it would be cool to try it out," Parlich said.
Parlich called up her club softball coach from junior and senior year and helped him out for the summer.
Macken's parents have been heavily involved in youth softball over the years. Her mom Becky helped start the Rochester Softball Association in Rochester, Minn., and her dad Mike put in over four years of work to help build the Rochester Softball Complex.
"I wouldn't coach if I didn't love it, and my parents loving the game has made it so much easier for me," Macken said. "I actually coach with my parents so that has made it a fun little family gathering."
After spending their whole lives as students of the game, the biggest thing the players had to adjust to was stepping into a teaching role.
"This is the first time I have been on the other sides of the lines. It has been a huge process of learning to teach rather then expecting them to know everything," Macken said. "Every player is different and you have to move at a slower pace for some people. It is fun to see when things start to click in their heads."
LeMay has been coaching for three summers now and said she has learned a lot about communication. "Each player responds differently. I have learned how important it is to talk to each individual player and find out what works best for them. It is fun to see when they grasp something and to watch their gradual improvement."
The players have all taken what they have learned from the Gophers coaching staff and put it into use coaching their youth teams.
"I have been coached by some of the best coaches in the world, so if they tell me to do something then all my players are doing it too," LeMay said.
LeMay added that she just has to take what she has learned and tweak it to a younger age group so they will understand it. Macken said her youth team runs a lot of the same plays the Gophers do. She said she also tries to make the game fun like head coach Jessica Allister has done with the team.
"Coach Allister brings a positive energy to our team that I have tried to carry over to my youth team," Macken said.
Parlich used a motivational phrase with her youth team that the Gophers often talked about throughout the season. "Play every game as if it's a championship. Go all-out every day."
With another school year right around the corner, "Go all-out every day," is what the Gophers will strive for as they prepare to build off the momentum from the past couple of softball seasons.
