Nighthawks

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As an organization, we strive to provide an opportunity for girls to develop their physical abilities, mental skills and character.  
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We are a softball travel team, but we are not like most other teams out there.  We do not seek out the most talented players in our community.  Rather we seek those with the best attitude.  We do not expect all our kids to play college, or even high school ball... but we do like them to entertain the possibility.  To that end, we travel to Oklahoma City to watch the College World Series, and to the Iowa High School Tournament in Fort Dodge.  It is most important to us, that players learn good softball skills and ENJOY playing the game.  At the end of the season, if our players tell us that they enjoyed the season, then we have been successful.  



Too often travel teams are solely focused on winning.  In today's travel team culture, what often happens is that a coach will piece together a team of talented athletes from different, often far-flung, communities, practice sparingly, and simply play tournaments.  When a player is injured or quits, another one is recruited and the slot filled.  Not unlike pro sports.  There is little team unity, because it is not really a team.  We are fundamentally opposed to this approach.  Rather, we prefer to start with a group of girls in February and play together through July.  If someone gets injured, then someone else steps up until that person returns.  Players don't quit the team, because it actually IS a team.   



We also believe that our team consists of players, parents and coaches.  With this being the case, we seek to improve the skills of all three of these groups of people.  The coaches on this team are certified in many areas and continue to improve their coaching skills.  We seek constructive criticism from players and parents.  One of the greatest things about this organization is that players feel comfortable suggesting to coaches ways they can improve.   Likewise, coaches will offer suggestions on how parents can be more successful in guiding their young athletes.  



Our hope is that, years from now, when former players return, they will say, "Of all the sports I played, the best time I ever had was when I was a Nighthawk."