On June 6, 2011 near the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, 25 top softball players and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame coaches representing 160 national and international medals, will join together to launch the Champions Festival, an event designed to create a new standard of personal excellence for the player, parent and youth coach.

The first in a planned series of Champions Festivals spanning many sports, this day long event includes a Champions Panel where the stars will discuss college recruitment, mental toughness, and college life, and an NCAA Compliance Officer will offer information on college preparation and recruiting.

The Olympians in attendance will span four quadrennials. Olympic star Jenny Finch commented “I am looking forward to hearing the common thread of champions and hearing it from my peers and the women I looked up to growing up. I’m extremely excited to be a small part of it.”

Other features of the Champions Festival include a Champions’ Toolbox and Game Day Routine, insights on pitching, hitting, and defense play, and discussions of nutrition and wellness. The day will conclude with a Celebration where participants can interact with the Olympians and Hall of Famers in a casual setting, followed by game one of the Finals of the Women’s College World Series.

Champions Festival was the brainchild of Sue Enquist, former UCLA head coach, 11-time national champion and 4-time Hall of Fame inductee. “I realized long ago that anyone can be a champion if they are willing to understand and embrace the champion mindset” Enquist said. With Women’s Professional Softball League Coach of the Year Cindy Bristow and business executive Robin Pokoj, Enquist launched Champions Festival in January, 2011. “We want to recalibrate how the youth player views competition”, she continued. “It’s about committing to a Champion’s Declaration that shapes your actions day to day and year to year”. The player, her parents, and the youth coach will spend the entire day, with the best teachers in the game. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap for excellence and have a lot of fun in the process!”

In cooperation with NCAA, Champions Festival expects to roll out to Champions Festival to several more events in the coming months.