You can play: The Freising Grizzlies softball players will start the new Bundesliga season with two home games on Saturday.
However, without a trainer.
Freising
- No coach and the effects of the corona pandemic: These are the biggest challenges for the Freising Grizzlies softball women in the coming Bundesliga season. Even the preparation was anything but easy for the team. It was only about two weeks ago that the 15 women were able to start training as a team again. For the team, the starting shot was a real moment of happiness: "We were really happy to be able to start again because it gives us more normality again," says the team's spokeswoman, Rebecca Hillebrand. "But it is also a bit strange that we are allowed to start even though we are not actually professional athletes."
The training was no different than usual - keyword contact-free sport.
However, and Hillebrand admits, the Grizzlies go into the season more ill-prepared than ever before.
The reasons for this include the lack of indoor training in winter and the fact that the team currently has no coach.
Last year, the US coach Mariesa Davies had to return home after two months due to the corona pandemic.
The club wants to bring them back this season.
“We're still waiting for the visa,” says the team spokeswoman.
"Health is more important than sport."
Given the circumstances, the expectations for the upcoming round are not so high.
Hillebrand: "We see the season a little more relaxed than the previous ones, because health is definitely more important to us than sport." Now the focus is on having fun in the game.
It is important for the girls to be able to play at all and to pull together as a team.
They just prove that in the difficult situation without a coach.
For example, when designing the training units.
“At the moment we're always taking turns creating the training plan,” says Rebecca Hillebrand.
Double header against the Tübingen Hawks
Experience plays a big role here and the women can support one another.
So they still want to find a solution together for the match days, how they can compensate for the lack of a coach.
But now the troop is looking forward to the new season - and a bit of normality.
Together with the youngest team member Laura Krüger, who is supposed to get a taste of the women's game from this year, the Grizzlies want to enjoy their time as a team.
The first home game will take place on Saturday at 12.30 p.m. against Tübingen.
The second match then begins around 3 p.m.
The special thing about it: Both games will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel “Grizzlies Baseball & Softball”, as no viewers are currently allowed due to the corona pandemic.
The Grizzlies roster for the 2021 season
Chiara Steffen, Elinor Weyer, Fiona Brosch, Franca Brosch, Lea Salomon, Lioba Biswas, Mara Sandner, Nadja Honstetter, Nina Mann, Rebecca Hillebrand, Regina Guth, Shaya Raziorrouh, Tamara Biswas, Teresa Vanah, Laura Krüger.
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Full hard work: Freising Grizzlies are ready for the summer season
