Our softball coaches see the sport as more than a game and are working hard to develop a program that represents that belief. Head coach, Crystelle Fischer, played for the Dolphins softball team in 2001 and brings with her 16 years of coaching high school and select players.

All of these years working with youth have helped guide her coaching philosophy to one that focuses on the players as individuals and meeting them where they are at. Coach Fischer says that one of the main lessons she has learned and will apply to the SCC softball team is to “become a more active listener.” This shows how significant it is to her that each of her players have their own unique voice on and off the field.

Assisting Coach Fischer, is Heidi Aarestad, also an alum of the 2001 SCC softball team. She has several years of experience coaching youth sports. Coach Aarestad touched on why she accepted the assistant coach position of the team, “our calling, we felt, was to come and help these young athletes with their transition into adulthood at the college level.” This holistic thought of mentoring and coaching the student athlete as a whole is the message that the SCC softball team wants to carry. The priority is coaching to create a better future for their players, and also hopefully have a successful record as a team.

The chemistry between Coach Fischer and Coach Aarestad is supported by their share of the same philosophies regarding the team and the respect they have towards their players. The result is that respect runs both ways between players and coaches. The method of coaching by the staff of the SCC softball team is one that should be modeled by other sports teams.