Strength and Conditioning
One of the nation’s premier softball strength and conditioning facilities rests on the southeast corner of the University of Kentucky’s campus. This facility, combined with UK Women’s Softball Strength and Conditioning coach Jamie Givens’ professional/collegiate softball training background, places the University of Kentucky Women’s Softball program on the cutting edge of gender- and sport-specific strength training. This model is the first of its kind and will become the model from which other women’s softball programs will follow.
The foundation of the softball strength and conditioning program is the fact that Givens trains the individual athletes on a gender- and softball-specific regime. This ensures that each athlete will receive the most beneficial and individual tailored workout, enabling them to be competitive, not only in the SEC, but also in the NCAA. The end result of this program leads to “bulletproofing,” i.e., greatly diminishing the chances for injuries and, just as important, making each athlete bigger, quicker, stronger, and faster. “I have two goals in preparing our athletes, ” says Coach Givens. “First, I want them to be as fit and as healthy as possible in order to prevent injury. Secondly, I want them to be in a position to compete physically at the highest level. Obviously, these two goals go hand in hand.”
To reach these goals, Givens utilizes the finest equipment available. The Shively Sport Complex weight room is a state-of-the-art 2,000 square foot facility that features free weights, Hammer Strength and Nautilus equipment, stationary bikes, treadmills, and stair machines. In fact, the weight room boasts over 25,000 pounds of weight available. The newest addition to the weight room, however, is the most exciting.
In June, UK acquired the Frappier Acceleration Program, designed by John Frappier, MS. UK is the first NCAA Division I school to implement this cutting-edge program for its softball athletes and will be instrumental to constructing future protocols for other women’s softball programs. This program is designed to increase the overall athleticism of athletes by focusing on five main components: speed, agility, quickness, power and jumping ability. General results show average improvements in speed (two-tenths of a second in the 40-yard dash), vertical jump (four inches), and throwing velocity (four miles per hour). Frappier’s system includes plyometrics (floor and box drills), strength training, sprintcord application, and a super treadmill.
“Our girls are good athletes now, but the use of the Frappier system will make them great, and make us rise to the top,” said coach Beth Kirchner.
The future is now for Women’s Softball at the University of Kentucky.
Softball Complex
On Feb. 9, 1995, ground was broken for the new UK softball stadium. In less than two years, the once-vacant field has been transformed into one of the top softball playing fields in the Southeastern Conference.
The stadium has seating for approximately 500 spectators and lights for night games. The playing surface is Bermuda grass and has an underground irrigation system for quick drainage. The dimensions are 190 feet down the lines and 220 to center field. Off to the side of the field, two full-size batting cages are set up, allowing extra space for batting practice.
The stadium is equipped with a press box that sits atop the bleachers. The press box, which seats 10, includes space for scoreboard operation and comfortable seating for media.
“Our field is outstanding, not only for the student-athletes, but also for the fans,” Kirchner said. “I am proud to be able to showcase UK softball in such a venue.”
Off the field, the UK softball team will be treated to state-of-the-art facilities. In cases of inclement weather, the $8.5 million E.J. Nutter Field House is available for practice. The field house has a computerized netting system that can be lowered to accommodate many softball situations. The nets can be lowered to provide four full-size batting cages and two full-size fields
“In my opinion, we already have in place the finest coaches in the country,” Former UK Athletics Director C.M. Newton said upon construction. “The addition of the indoor facility means we have the ability to attract the finest student-athletes in the country. The facility is a multi-purpose building, something that is a tremendous boost to all of our programs.”
The Shively Sports Complex houses a fully-equipped training room and additional batting cages. The Complex is located next to the E.J. Nutter Center that is home to state-of-the-art weight and training facilities. The Center was completed in 1987 at the cost of $5.7 million. The weight room encompasses over 9,000 square feet and contains 100,000 pounds of equipment. The training room has 5,400 square feet of space for taping and treatments, a separate rehabilitation room and physicians’ and trainers’ offices.
“The softball team’s primary facilities are first-rate,” Kirchner added. “Nutter Field House, the Shively Sports Complex and our softball stadium are outstanding facilities that give us the space and equipment to practice efficiently and operate a top-flight program all the way around.”
