The National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) takes place from when players report for practice in mid-May and goes through the Championship Series at the end of August. When looking at the season as a whole, it’s roughly three months of actual games, and it sure goes by fast. So what do the players of the NPF do the other eight and a half to nine months out of the year? The “Where are They Now?” Column covered by Fastpitch News will focus on several NPF Players a month, providing fans with updates and insights on what their favorite Pro Athletes are up to in the lengthy and quiet off-season months.
Richardson played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2011-2015 (Image by: Michael Kyllo-Kittleson)
Kaitlyn Richardson, recently completed her second season in the NPF with the Dallas Charge (now called the Texas Charge). Richardson, an All-NPF Team recipient, graduated from The University of Minnesota in 2015 where she was a two time All-American and one time Academic All-American. Her impressive offensive career and leadership on and off the field played a huge role in the Minnesota Softball program turn around.
Richardson spent the 2016 off-season months as a graduate assistant coach at The University of Minnesota. This 2017 off-season, she will continue coaching in maroon and gold, this time as the volunteer assistant at Arizona State University.
FPN: Where are you spending your off-season months?
KR: I am spending my off-season back home in Arizona.
FPN: What is your employment during the off-season?
KR: I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to be the Volunteer Assistant at Arizona State University this year. I also work clinics and give lessons when I have some spare time.
FPN: What is your role as the Volunteer Assistant at ASU?
KR: Coach Ford has been great about giving me responsibilities for the team. I work with our hitters and help run infield. Coach Roman (Foore) who coaches with the Chicago Bandits, leads the hitting and we collaborate together in finding what is going to work best for our hitters.
Richardson spent her first two seasons in the NPF playing for the Dallas Charge, now called the Texas Charge (Image by: Allie Martinez)
FPN: You grew up playing in Arizona, then went on to have an impressive career at Minnesota, what does it mean to you to be back coaching in your home state?
KR: I am so fortunate to be back in Arizona coaching at ASU. Never in a million years did I think I would be a Sun Devil, but I am so grateful to be here. Being back home, I know the area and I am able to reach out to a lot of my old softball connections that I had growing up. My family is also here to support me and of course they will be coming to the games. The softball culture in Arizona is unbelievable. People are so supportive of our program and are ready for the next era of ASU softball!
FPN: What are you most excited about for this upcoming 2017 college season?
KR: I am ready for the competition! Every year is a clean slate and I can’t wait to see the work we have put in to show on the field in February.
FPN: When will you start swinging a bat again?
KR: I am actually starting to swing the bat again this week! I think it’s good to take a little time off both physically and mentally, but I have been itching to get back to work!
FPN: Is it difficult to find time to practice in the off-season months?
KR: It can be very difficult to find time to practice in the off-season. We have very busy days here but I am lucky enough to work somewhere that I can come early or stay late to hit. Not everyone has access to equipment like I do. I think it would be much harder if it wasn’t as convenient as it is for me.
Richardson has worn #7 for the past two summers on the Dallas Charge (Image by: Allie Martinez)
FPN: What do you do as far as a weight training plan in the off-season months? Conditioning?
KR: My training fluctuates throughout the off-season. I like to mix it up a little bit. Sometimes I use old college workouts and sometimes I think of stuff on my own. I also like to ask other people what they do for new ideas to implement in my own routine. Different things work for different people so I don’t think one way of working out is better than another as long as it gets you ready!
FPN: You are coming off your second season in the NPF. Can you talk about some differences preparation wise and outcome wise from your rookie year to your sophomore year? Talk about coming straight from college, to having to prepare yourself for your second season.
KR: It was definitely an adjustment coming off a college season versus having to report back from preparing yourself. Your rookie year you’re coming off 200 fresh at-bats and training hard six days a week. You’re put in a great position to succeed. My second year was definitely a little more tough but it wasn’t because I wasn’t putting in the work, I just didn’t put in all of the right work. On the bright side, it helped me realize what I need to do this off-season in order to be ready for the Summer of 2017.
FPN: Do you feel as though rookies have an advantage coming straight out of college?
KR: To say rookies have an advantage is hard. Although they are more prepared than they will ever be from a live standpoint, they still have never consistently seen the pitching they will face in this league. Every time you step on the field you are playing the number one pitcher from a top University. I think as you get more experience you get smarter as a hitter and really understand your own at-bats (and the game) at a higher level.
Richardson has played 1B on the field for the past two summers in the NPF (Image by: Allie Martinez)
FPN: How many palm-trees line the ASU softball field?
KR: There are 18 palm trees from foul pole to foul pole but many more that continue on and around the stadium. Too many to count!
FPN: Anything else you would like to add?
KR: I am ecstatic about the position I am in at ASU and looking forward to my third season in the NPF. Not many people can say they’re doing what they are passionate about, and I am proud to say that I am!
(Feature image provided by: Allie Martinez, Dallas Charge Photographer NPF)
