NCAA coaches hold inaugural forum at ITRC

ARLINGTON, Texas - Coaches from 25 NCAA bowling programs visited the International Training and Research Center over the weekend to learn from Team USA coaches how to improve player performance.

The inaugural National Tenpin Coaches Association NCAA Coaches Forum brought together 33 head coaches and assistant coaches from across the country. Training included equipment analysis and management, lane maintenance pattern analysis and competition management.

Among the representatives were coaches from perennial NCAA bowling powers Vanderbilt, Maryland Eastern Shore, Central Missouri and reigning NCAA champions Fairleigh Dickinson.

"When the idea of creating the first coaches forum for our organization came up, many sites were suggested," said Becky Kregling, NTCA President and Sacred Heart University head coach. "I believe selecting the International Training and Research Center is what helped us have a larger turnout than we anticipated for our first year. Our goal was for all 33 attendees to share their knowledge, learn from the seminars and leave with more skills to run a great collegiate program."

The coaches received tips on helping improve their players' physical games as well a bowling-specific training and exercise routines. The staff at the ITRC also helped offer tips on team building exercises.

"Anytime you can get this many coaches in one place sharing ideas it only works to better the sport," ITRC assistant head coach and former Delaware State coach Kim Terrell-Kearney said. "All of these coaches want to see college bowling succeed, and all of them are willing to lend a helping hand to help strengthen the field."

Kregling said the feedback from her fellow coaches was very positive and before leaving Arlington the decision was made to continue the Coaches Forum next year.

"The event was such a success that we have already decided to go back to Arlington for next year's Coaches Forum," Kregling said.

Six NCAA programs already have scheduled trips to the ITRC and will hold dual matches in the coming weeks. Morgan State will take on Delaware State on Sept. 20, Prairie View A&M battles Maryland Eastern Shore on Oct. 10 and Stephen F. Austin takes on Sam Houston State on Oct. 17.

"We are very pleased to see NCAA programs are taking advantage of the great coaching and state-of-the-art technology the ITRC has to offer," USBC Collegiate Manager Gary Brown said. "We look forward to a continued successful partnership between USBC and the NTCA."

A United States Olympic Committee-recognized training center, the International Training and Research Center is a join venture of the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. It is the most innovative and advanced training, research and testing facility in the sport of bowling with 14 lanes for training and six for research and testing.