Windmills Girls Fastpitch Organization Overview
The Windmills Girls Fastpitch Organization in Oak Park, IL, established in 1989, aims to train elite softball players for college scholarships and national competitions. Their goals include teaching dedication and teamwork principles, advancing coaching techniques, and promoting community service. The organization's board members oversee policies, manage finances, and organize events, while the academy enforces specific rules for player use. Coach selection criteria prioritize experience, qualifications, and background checks to ensure the best fit for the teams. Various age groups from 10u to 16u make up the Windmills teams for the 2021-2022 season.
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Oak Park Windmills All Organizational Meeting 2021-2022
Mission and Charter The Windmills Girls Fastpitch Organization was established in Oak Park, IL, in 1989. Since its inception, the goals of the organization have been to: Train girls to be elite softball players capable of earning college scholarships and to compete at a national level Teach girls the principles of dedication, perseverance and teamwork Learn and advance the most successful training techniques to our coaches and players Encourage girls to participate in community service
Windmills Board 2020-21 Paul Steinhofer President, 14u Solberg Gail Shelton Vice President, 13u Hammerschmidt Bill Hendle Treasurer Vicki Tysseling Secretary, 14U Topel Ben Stone Facility Manager, 15U Chambers David Mendell Communications, 12U Young Sarah Kilburg 16U Levine Mike Leavy 15U Chambers Peter Hasapis 14U Solberg Michael Luciano 12U Runquist Yvette Escanio 11U Cruz Bridget Rhea Dore 10U Sakellaris
Board Responsibilities Board representative for each team Formulate and uphold organizational policies Mediate team, player and parent issues Coach approval Finances Windmills Academy Organizational events Organizational marketing Tryouts
Windmills Academy Policies The Academy is for the use of current Windmills players only. No food or drink (other than water) allowed. NO SEEDS! Windmill COVIDPolicy is followed. Each team is allocated specific team practice times. There are reserved days/times for lessons. Players may use the Facility for individual workouts when it is not reserved for team practices or private lessons, as long as the player is accompanied by (i) their parent or legal guardian or (ii) by an adult and at least one other person over the age of 12. Under no circumstances should any player be alone at the Facility with an adult who is not their parent or legal guardian. 5
Coach Selection Coach application Previous experience Coaching credentials Former Windmills players Female coaching candidates Background checks Board review and approval Most qualified/best fit selected 6
Windmills 2021-22 Teams 16u 15u 14u 14u 13u 12u 12u 11u 10u Jeff Levine Laura Chambers Greg Topel Mike Solberg Andrew Hammerschmidt Jerry Runquist Adam Young Damian Cruz Nick Sakellaris
Pinwheels with the Pros The goal of the Pinwheels clinic is to introduce 7+8 year old girls to travel softball through sessions run by experienced softball player- coaches. There will be 8 sessions (2 each in Nov, Dec 2021 and Jan, Feb 2022) Each session will include drills focused on hitting, throwing, base running and pitching led by our 2 Pinwheels coaches and supported by 2 Windmills players from either the 14U, 15U or 16U teams. These sessions will be held at the Windmills Indoor Facility (WIF) with a maximum of 15 participants in each session. Cost to participate is $15 per session. A discount will be offered if a participant signs up for all 8 sessions and pays in full at the start. All COVID protocols as governed by the State of Illinois and the local health department will be required and followed. Check your email for a copy of the Pinwheels Clinic flier - please share with anyone who may be interested Questions please contact Sarah Kilburg, Windmills Board Member & Pinwheels Chair at sarah.kilburg72@gmail.com or 773-456-9491.
Windmills Finances 2021-2022 Nine teams contribute $7,000 per team towards the organization operating costs. Facility and related expenses account for about 2/3 of the total budget. Each team has a business manager that handles the team s budget. Team budgets include tournament fees, the organizational contribution, college coaches fees, etc Scholarships are funded through donations and organizational fundraisers.
COVID-19 and Safety Policies and Procedures Player, Coach and Medical Waivers Windmills follow COVID protocols as governed by the Cook County Health Department Safety precautions in the facility - Cameras - Fans
Softball Facilities Windmills Academy 5000-square-foot indoor facility for pitching, batting and fielding practice Each team is allocated specific practice times Certain days and times are allocated for private lessons Open times can be utilized by any Windmills player to work on their game. Schedule is on website and posted in the WIF. Oak Park River Forest (OPRF) High School Indoor Field House and Gyms OPRF Outdoor Field use April to October Oak Park Park District Various softball fields in the Park District system
Team Volunteers Volunteers needed from each team! Needs vary from team to team Coordinate with organizational goals Business manager Charitable events Team parties/activities coordinator Public relations Online marketing *If you are interested in any of the above or would like to help at all communicate with your head coach.
Organization Volunteers Windmills Committees Raffle Snowball Spirit Night Fundraising / Corporate Sponsorship Scholarship Charitable Events Alumni * If you are interested in any of the above please contact your team Board Representative
Organizational Events Raffle Snowball event Each player was asked to sell $10 tickets-$100 Profited $20,000 that went to support college exposure teams, scholarships, and each team received a portion to use as they needed. Donated items such as Cubs tickets, OPRF spirit wear, hitting/pitching/catching lessons, etc Spirit Night Celebrate Windmills player s 4-7, 10 year milestones Planned for Forest Preserve Stay tuned for plans for next year Family Meal Nights Every quarter Chipotle, Panera, Lou Malnati s and Portillos
Windmills On-Line Marketing Windmills Website (www.oakparkwindmills.org) All New Organizational Main Site Organizational Information Windmills History and Accomplishments Photo Albums Team Sub sites One sub-site for each Windmills team Controlled and organized by individual teams Windmills Facebook/Instagram Accounts Fan Page (Facebook/oakparkwindmills) Publishes Current Events/Accomplishments/Photos Please like us on FB and Instagram!!!! Team Facebook Sites Available per team When paired with Twitter provides real time communication
Windmills Public Relations Each team needs to appoint a representative to report back weekly team accomplishments for the purposes of team recognition, brand development and on-line and media distribution. Report Accomplishments (tournament placements) or media worthy news information to: david@oakparkwindmills.org Major reported events will be published in local media
Windmills Community Service To encourage girls to participate in community service
Windmills Community Service
Holly Roadruck Scott Scholarships Created in 2020 to help families in financial need offset a portion of Windmill player fees Board of Directors review applications and make final decisions on scholarship recipients based on financial need and sportsmanship Awarded seven scholarships in October 2021; scholarship funds transferred directly to team account Will likely call for a second round of scholarship applications in January 2022
College Preparation and Recruiting Process Goal: To develop a repeatable process in which the Windmill Organization facilitates players being recruited by colleges Key Aspects: 1. Assist in player evaluation of skill level 2. Creation of videos 3. Development of player profiles, tear sheets and key metrics 4. Assist in drafting communications to coaches 5. Develop database of college coaches/contacts 6. Information sharing relating to college camps and exposure tournament 7. Expectations with respect to academics 8. Information with respect to culture of college team Initial State: 1. Evaluated vendors for videos 2. Identify potential replacement for Holly Scott and Abby Ramirez Future state: 1. Organization college recruiting consultant 2. Leverage Alumni network 3. Reinitiate relationships with college coaches 4. Evaluation of value of exposure tournaments/camps 5. Develop process for future teams
Private Lessons Windmills offers group and individual lessons from professional instructors Sunday and Monday evenings. Contact lesson coordinators for availability. *Jess Mrozek(Jeff Levine, coordinator), hitting instructor. Former infielder at James Madison University, played for Beverly Bandits and Fenwick High School. *Paige Alt(Rolando Alvarez, coordinator), pitching instructor. Played for College of Coastal Georgia, Windmills Alum and Schaumburg High School. *Eva Stees(Vicki Tysseling, coordinator), catching instructor. Former catcher from Northwestern University, Windmills Alum and played at Lane Tech High School.
