George Washington University Athletics
GW Softball Revamps Home Field as Team Building Exercise
11/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Nov. 9, 2011
WASHINGTON - Over the weekend of October 29 and 30 the George Washington softball team made several enhancements to its Mount Vernon Softball Facility as part of a team building exercise. In addition to repainting and branding the dugouts, the Colonials made significant improvements to their bullpens, pitcher's mound, home plate and equipment shed as a means to also improve team camaraderie.
"Every day, the coaching staff thinks of small projects we could do to impact the appearance of our field," said second-year head coach Stacey Schramm. "We thought this would be a quick and inexpensive way to spruce things up, as well as a great team building exercise for the players to take part in."
Standing at home plate and looking out on the field, Schramm and her staff admired the renovations to the adjacent Ames Hall. However, Schramm said, when looking from the outfield in toward the dugouts, some adjustments needed to be made.
"I think it's extremely important to take pride in your home field," said Schramm. "I gave the girls a few ideas and let them run with it. They really did a great job with everything they accomplished, and their small improvements went a long way."
Some members of the Colonials squad decided to paint the dugouts with a fresh coat of GW's signature Buff and Blue colors, as well as a new Atlantic 10 conference logo. Another group pulled weeds from the bullpen and evened the surface, while others cleaned out the equipment shed and washed down the dugouts.
"This is easily one of the most successful team-bonding activities that we have done," said Schramm. "Not only did everyone truly contribute, but they worked together, laughed and joked, and most importantly this activity instilled pride in our players and their `home.'"
GW opens its 2012 season on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Coastal Carolina Invitational.
