OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association and Liberty Mutual announced today the Summer 2008 Responsible Coaching award winners for the sport of softball. Winners will soon receive a $250 gift card and personalized Responsible Coaching trophy from Liberty Mutual and recognition on ResponsibleSports.com and ASASoftball.com.

The Responsible Coaching Awards were established by Liberty Mutual’s Responsible Sports program to recognize the men and women who volunteer their time to coach Junior Olympic ASA Softball. Liberty Mutual realizes that these individuals are an integral part of the fabric of the community and are key to instilling in our children the lessons learned from softball, both on and off the field.

Below are the 2008 Award winners:

Ronald Aoki

Mililani, Hawaii

Team: Island Ladies Softball

Nominated by a Head Coach

His coaching philosophy:

My philosophy in coaching is to keep everything positive. By being a positive coach and giving positive feedback the girls will in turn become positive players. I feel I have been successful all these years due to the fact that I have earned the girls respect. I feel that if the players do not have your respect, which to me is earned, not a right, then you don’t have much of anything.

Katie Duffin

St. Louis, Missouri

Team: St. Louis Classics

Nominated by a Player’s Parent

Her coaching philosophy:

My coaching philosophy is centered around creating a positive environment for success for the athletes that play for me. I try to create an environment of personal responsibility for team success as well as create awareness of the world outside softball. Our team building activities are centered around volunteering for the community, as I believe that the girls need to have a healthy respect for those less fortunate.

Joy Marie Galliart

Tulsa, OK

Team: Comets of Bishop Kelley High School

Nominated by a Colleague

Her coaching philosophy:

I expect and demand my players give their very best effort at all times. There are things in softball we have no control over – the other team (their strengths and weaknesses), the officials, the weather, etc. But, there are as many things we can control (our attitude, our hustle, our heart, our pride, our effort). I want my kids to control the things they can, and do everything in their power for the good of team rather than for themselves.

Dave Gray

Salt Lake City, Utah

Team: Utah Shock

Nominated by a Player’s Parent

His coaching philosophy:

To teach all of my players the fundamentals of the game and to have them perform to the best of their ability. To be disciplined athletes that show respect to the game ,officials, their team mates, as well as their opponents. To be their friend, as well as their coach. To earn my players respect through example, hard work and knowledge. To help each of my players to reach the next level–whether it be college or their high school team.

David Jett

Valley Mills, TX

Team: Texas Thunder

Nominated by a Player’s Parent

His coaching philosophy:

Do no harm. Keep it as simple as possible and always explain “why” we do or do not do something a certain way. Provide a sound foundation of proven fundamentals. Call on elite level playing friends and former students as much as possible. When talking to a player always find something positive about their performance first, then tell them what they did wrong and how to correct it.

Danielle Lopez

Concord, MA

Team: Concord Raiders

Nominated by an Assistant Coach

Her coaching philosophy:

I’m the head coach of a 12U softball team in Massachusetts. My coaching philosophy encompasses the development of not only skill but character, work ethic and sportsmanship. With young kids it is especially important to instill the value of working together to achieve a goal. As a softball coach, one of the greatest challenges and goals is maintaining self-confidence and pride in a sport where failure happens more than 50% of the time.

John McManus

Rochester, NY

Team: NY Nitro 16U

Nominated by an Assistant Coach

His coaching philosophy:

To teach sound fundamentals and never expect a player to execute something they haven’t been taught. To lead by example, own your mistakes and learn from them, to never give up & always be able to say I did my best. Stay positive, focus and leave the negative energy behind; competition is no place for temper tantrums, inflated egos & self pity. Respect all opponents but fear none. For myself, never stop being a student of the game.

Beth Singleton

Lincoln, NE

Team: Nebraska Nemesis 98’s

Nominated by a Player’s Parent

Her coaching philosophy:

I coach fast pitch teams that compete at the A level which allows players to gage themselves against the best the game has to offer and encourages them to be the best they can be. I believe that teaching girls to compete as a team and to push themselves to improve their individual skill sets teaches them lifelong lessons about perseverance, heart, work ethic, drive, goal setting and ultimately confidence and self esteem.

Ed Winchester

Fresno, CA

Team: Teague Elementary Knights

Nominated by an Administrator

His coaching philosophy:

I suppose my coaching philosophy can best be expressed by the statement “Learn the fundamentals, practice and play hard, give the best you have to give, have fun and we win!” I believe the main responsibility of a coach is to create a learning environment where players can learn the game, develop character and learn the value of team work. All my players play in every game and I constantly remind them that no one player wins or loses games.

Kevin Wise

Pocatello, Idaho

Team: Diamond Queens

Nominated by a Player’s Parent

His coaching philosophy:

It is my personal belief that softball, or any sport, involves so much more than just participation. Any athletic event that children can participate in is a segway to the real world. Athletes learn skills such as hard work, commitment, team work, perseverance, and how to deal with, and overcome, failure. These skills will be beneficial in the classroom, both high school and college, and in the real world.

John Woods

Pe Ell, Washington

Team: Pe Ell High School Trojans

Nominated by a Fellow Coach

His coaching philosophy:

My philosophy is to lead by example. It’s not all about winning or losing but learning to work together as a team to respect self and others to set team goals as well as personal goals. I also enforce the importance of a education and hopefully what the kids learn on the field and court will follow them into the classroom and community.