IT'S TIME FOR POLAND!

Meet Dave Majeski - the new softball head coach!

At the beginning of the year, David Majeski became the new head coach of the Polish softball women's senior and U22 national teams. The experienced American coach with a Polish background has already cooperated with the Polish Baseball and Softball Federation, but in a totally different role. Now, only a few months ahead of the historic Women's Softball European Championship, which will be co-hosted by two Polish cities - Żory and Rybnik - he achieves his dream of being a head coach in the country of his heritage. He is hoping that the team led by him will show their best on home soil. Formerly a promising player at the University of Florida, Dave graduated from UF becoming a certificated trainer. It was also at this university that he took his first steps as a coach.

You are a very experienced coach - you were in charge of softball teams at Presbyterian College, University of Memphis, University of Florida, and you are also the owner of Softball Futures. Could you please tell us what was your motivation to become the head coach of the Polish team?

- My motivation was simple. The chance to coach and teach the sport I love on an international level is very appealing, but the ability to represent the country of my heritage is first and foremost. I will soon get the chance to qualify Poland for the Olympics, as well as improve and grow the younger players for years to come.

Is it going to be very challenging to be a head coach of both senior and U22 team?

- There are many challenges that lie ahead of me. First of all, I must gain the trust and respect of the current players. If they are to make the changes and improvements I see necessary, they must understand my passion for doing so. Secondly, I must help raise the level of softball in all divisions. (senior and U22 included). There is a good foundation and short history of improvement, and hopefully I can be a part of the next step up. Currently, this spring I will coach at Erskine College and watch my daughter play at Anderson University. My wife (who played at the University of Alabama) and I coach 10 teams in the summer ranging from U18-U12. In addition to this, we host tournaments and camps all over the south-eastern US. We are headed to Texas this weekend to run a camp with Jennie Finch, a famous USA Olympic player.

You have cooperated with the Polish Federation as an international softball coordinator, helping to recruit international players. What - at this point - do you think about the Polish softball team and their perspectives?

- I have not yet set foot in Poland and have not seen the teams compete. It would be unfair for me to pinpoint exactly what needs to be changed until I witness their games. To solve this problem, I will arrive in Warsaw in late April. I will then be able to watch the teams compete against each other and see where the most improvement is needed.

This year is going to be special for Polish Softball, as for the first time in history, Poland will co-host the European Softball Championship, which will also be the European Olympic pre-qualifier for Tokyo 2020. What do you think about the chances for Poland. And what's your goal for this event?

- Coaching in the European Championship is a great thing anywhere. The tournament this year being held in Poland adds even more excitement. I envision our Polish team playing harder and with more passion with the home crowd cheering loudly for them. Hopefully, I can lend my experience in running tournaments to make this year’s Championship an even bigger event than in years past.

Looking further ahead, what would you like to achieve with the Polish teams?

- I would think that I have done a good job if I have made the senior team more competitive, helped the younger teams and coaches to improve, encouraged more girls to play softball all over the country, and raised the excitement and passion for this sport.

Do you have any message to the Polish softball players which you would like to share?

- To the Polish players: I am extremely honored to be your new Head Coach. I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your goals in any way I can. The vision of seeing red and white uniforms with Poland across the front is truly one of my dreams.

The 2019 Women's Softball European Championship is the first edition ever to be hosted in two countries - Poland (Rybnik and Żory) and Czech Republic (Ostrava and Frydek Mistek). The event is going to be held from June 30th to July 6th. In addition, the championship will be the pre-qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Qualification for Europe and Africa (Utrecht, NED 23-28.07.2019). The top six finishers from the Women’s Softball European Championship 2019 will progress to the qualification event where they are going to face as well the two top teams from the African Championship, with all eight teams fighting for the one available Olympic spot for this region.