University of North Carolina Athletics
Grow the Game: Jensen and The Packaged Deal
January 23, 2019 | Softball
Special to GoHeels.com
By: Molly Green
"Grow the game" is a common theme among the softball community. Junior Hailey Jensen took this into her own hands over the summer by working softball clinics for younger players to #GrowTheGame.
Jensen spent her summer working with The Packaged Deal by hosting softball clinics. The Packaged Deal is a traveling softball organization that strives to reach young softball players in as many cities as possible. Over the summer, the group traveled around the eastern and Midwestern United States.
Jensen joined The Packaged Deal for the first time in Oklahoma City, home of the Women's College World Series, which allowed Jensen to both coach at the clinics and attend the games. She continued to travel with The Packaged Deal from Atlanta to Johnson City to Nashville to Raleigh to Charlotte.
The clinics included every variety of softball skills training, with elements of hitting, pitching, catching and defense. This allows the girls to have the opportunity to try out different positions or focus on their specialty.
Jensen said some players took advantage of all four aspects of the camp, an uncommon twist in which players tried positions typically unfamiliar to them. Exposing these athletes to new softball experiences is one way the group strives to grow the game.
"It's mainly just giving girls drills they can do with a minimal amount of equipment to work on their own," Jensen said. "It's a lot of giving girls drills and tools to help themselves progress in the sport."
A catcher herself, Jensen was especially capable of guiding the girls through catching drills in addition to hitting. Last season, Jensen worked hard to earn her way into the lineup. The junior hit three home runs and two doubles, making her expertise valued by the young players.
To the athletes at the clinics, Jensen could be seen as a role model – similar to the way Jensen looks up to Jen Schroeder, a three-time World Series competitor and All-Pac 10 honoree. Schroeder is one of the four women who created The Packaged Deal, and continues to lead the organization. She puts her emphasis on the catcher position, which aligns with Jensen's strengths as well.
Jensen began working with Schroeder in eighth grade. She waited more than a year to have a lesson with Schroeder because of how popular and competitive her coaching was. Working with Schroeder's organization exposed Jensen to opportunities to work with and learn from other athletes she admired, such as Alleah Laxamana, a 2017 Cal graduate.
"I was able to connect with girls who I looked up to growing up," said Jensen. "That experience is why I enjoyed working with the packaged deal so much. There are all these great players who come together to help the younger generation. It's really cool getting to know these people who are doing great things in softball or personally. Then we all come together as one team, one family, to help other people enjoy softball."
Not only was Jensen able to make an impact on the younger generation of softball players, but she was also able to connect with athletes her own age.
"I had been playing against Alyssa Palomino who's now at Arizona, since I was 13 years old because we are both from southern California, but I didn't really know her," Jensen said. "After this tour, we're like best friends. It's the coolest experience to go on these trips and meet people who you play against in college or only kind of know. I knew these experiences were going to be really great. It was great to meet new people in the sport."
Jensen's love for softball and desire to grow the game was her primary motivation to work with The Packaged Deal, but coaching also appeals to her from the psychological perspective. She is a psychology and exercise and sports science double major, so coaching these young athletes offered a way to combine her skill sets into something she's passionate about.
"I'm really interested in psychology because I like understanding why people do what they do and why they're motivated to do those things," Jensen said. "So when it comes to coaching people, it's really interesting to interact with different personalities. It's maybe a bit of a challenge to work with someone who's not as coachable, so it's about figuring out how to get in their head to find a new response."
Prior to her experience this summer, Jensen had never considered pursuing a career in coaching. She is completing a degree in psychology with a desire to focus on child development. Despite Jensen's prior thoughts on coaching, her summer experience may have an impact on her future.
"I like the idea of continuing to work with The Packaged Deal when I can," Jensen said. "I never thought I was interested in coaching, but I'm increasingly open to it after this summer. It's something that I want to continue at least through the end of college."
Regardless of Jensen's plans for the future, she has already made a lasting impact on many young softball players and is determined to continue to #GrowTheGame.
For more information on The Packaged Deal, visit thepackageddeal.com.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
By: Molly Green
"Grow the game" is a common theme among the softball community. Junior Hailey Jensen took this into her own hands over the summer by working softball clinics for younger players to #GrowTheGame.
Jensen spent her summer working with The Packaged Deal by hosting softball clinics. The Packaged Deal is a traveling softball organization that strives to reach young softball players in as many cities as possible. Over the summer, the group traveled around the eastern and Midwestern United States.
Jensen joined The Packaged Deal for the first time in Oklahoma City, home of the Women's College World Series, which allowed Jensen to both coach at the clinics and attend the games. She continued to travel with The Packaged Deal from Atlanta to Johnson City to Nashville to Raleigh to Charlotte.
The clinics included every variety of softball skills training, with elements of hitting, pitching, catching and defense. This allows the girls to have the opportunity to try out different positions or focus on their specialty.
Jensen said some players took advantage of all four aspects of the camp, an uncommon twist in which players tried positions typically unfamiliar to them. Exposing these athletes to new softball experiences is one way the group strives to grow the game.
"It's mainly just giving girls drills they can do with a minimal amount of equipment to work on their own," Jensen said. "It's a lot of giving girls drills and tools to help themselves progress in the sport."
A catcher herself, Jensen was especially capable of guiding the girls through catching drills in addition to hitting. Last season, Jensen worked hard to earn her way into the lineup. The junior hit three home runs and two doubles, making her expertise valued by the young players.
To the athletes at the clinics, Jensen could be seen as a role model – similar to the way Jensen looks up to Jen Schroeder, a three-time World Series competitor and All-Pac 10 honoree. Schroeder is one of the four women who created The Packaged Deal, and continues to lead the organization. She puts her emphasis on the catcher position, which aligns with Jensen's strengths as well.
Jensen began working with Schroeder in eighth grade. She waited more than a year to have a lesson with Schroeder because of how popular and competitive her coaching was. Working with Schroeder's organization exposed Jensen to opportunities to work with and learn from other athletes she admired, such as Alleah Laxamana, a 2017 Cal graduate.
"I was able to connect with girls who I looked up to growing up," said Jensen. "That experience is why I enjoyed working with the packaged deal so much. There are all these great players who come together to help the younger generation. It's really cool getting to know these people who are doing great things in softball or personally. Then we all come together as one team, one family, to help other people enjoy softball."
Not only was Jensen able to make an impact on the younger generation of softball players, but she was also able to connect with athletes her own age.
"I had been playing against Alyssa Palomino who's now at Arizona, since I was 13 years old because we are both from southern California, but I didn't really know her," Jensen said. "After this tour, we're like best friends. It's the coolest experience to go on these trips and meet people who you play against in college or only kind of know. I knew these experiences were going to be really great. It was great to meet new people in the sport."
Jensen's love for softball and desire to grow the game was her primary motivation to work with The Packaged Deal, but coaching also appeals to her from the psychological perspective. She is a psychology and exercise and sports science double major, so coaching these young athletes offered a way to combine her skill sets into something she's passionate about.
"I'm really interested in psychology because I like understanding why people do what they do and why they're motivated to do those things," Jensen said. "So when it comes to coaching people, it's really interesting to interact with different personalities. It's maybe a bit of a challenge to work with someone who's not as coachable, so it's about figuring out how to get in their head to find a new response."
Prior to her experience this summer, Jensen had never considered pursuing a career in coaching. She is completing a degree in psychology with a desire to focus on child development. Despite Jensen's prior thoughts on coaching, her summer experience may have an impact on her future.
"I like the idea of continuing to work with The Packaged Deal when I can," Jensen said. "I never thought I was interested in coaching, but I'm increasingly open to it after this summer. It's something that I want to continue at least through the end of college."
Regardless of Jensen's plans for the future, she has already made a lasting impact on many young softball players and is determined to continue to #GrowTheGame.
For more information on The Packaged Deal, visit thepackageddeal.com.
Stay up to date with Carolina Softball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
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