Softball Coach Lindsay Maroney ’07 was a starter for the softball team during the entire four years she attended Andover. While she still holds seven Andover Softball season records, as a coach, she now leads the team with an emphasis on inclusion and building player experience. She strives to maximize each athlete’s opportunities to play in and learn from real games. By actively joining the players during practice, Maroney shares her softball prowess with the team.
Maroney noted that while she has had many different softball coaches each with their own unique coaching styles, one trait they all shared was their genuine concern for the players. As a coach, Maroney hopes to mirror the guidance she received from influential coaches in her own softball career.
“I first started playing softball when I was in the 7th grade (I played baseball before then). I was grateful for the coaches I had, and while they were all different in terms of style and personality, the care they had for their players was consistent across the board. I identified with their competitiveness, but I appreciated their help beyond just the game. I am hoping to do the same with the players I coach,” wrote Maroney in an email to The Phillipian.
Co-Captain Maris Moody ’24 highlighted Maroney’s extensive knowledge of the sport. She shared that through team huddles and practicing alongside the team, Maroney takes a “hands-on” approach to coaching.
Moody said, “Coach Maroney is pretty straightforward with her coaching. When we do our huddles, she is very quick to tell us what we need to work on and what we can improve on, so I would say that she’s pretty hands-on. She’s always telling us what we can and what we should be doing. As for practice, she’s pretty hands-on as well. She basically practices with us. That’s a really cool role for her to play as a coach.”
Maroney shared that she aims to teach players that their mistakes can be used to improve and that the definition of success can vary. She emphasized the importance of having a strong support network in softball.
“I did find it challenging to move on from my own mistakes, but I also found it rewarding when my teammates picked me up, either through their words or play on the field. I try to let the players know that their errors don’t define them as a player (or person). Mistakes are going to happen, especially in this sport where being successful might look like getting a hit only 3 times in 10 at bats,” Maroney wrote.
Moody highlighted Maroney’s ability to apply her expertise to the team while also allowing the Co-Captains to step up and assist in creating a positive team atmosphere.
Moody said, “Coach Maroney was a college softball player in her prime. She played at UMass [The University of Massachusetts]. She just knows she knows a lot about the sport. We’ve had coaches in the past who are a lot more focused on the team atmosphere and what they can do to make sure that everyone is having a good time and being a good sport. I think that Coach Maroney takes on the softball lead, and Emerson and I, as captains, build the team atmosphere around her softball knowledge. Bringing her expertise to the table is what she does best.”
Maroney strives for balance and inclusivity while also curating a lineup that will ultimately help the team do well. She emphasized repetition as a useful tactic to help the team stay disciplined and committed to improving.
“I’m certainly not perfect, but I try to be fair and open to conversations and feedback from anyone on the team. My goal is to give everyone opportunities to learn and play, but it is also to put together a lineup that will lead to the team’s success. Practices are our learning opportunities. If we struggle with a drill, we’ll keep at it until things start falling in place. The repetition isn’t to frustrate but to show that everyone is capable of doing [what] we have set forth,” wrote Maroney.
Madison Hugo ’25 shared that despite Softball’s large team of 15 players, Maroney ensures that everyone gets their chance to enjoy playing.
Hugo states, “Softball has been a really large team the entire time I’ve been here. I think it’s hard to manage the amount of people that you have on the team and try to be equitable to that amount of people. I admire how she strives to give everyone an opportunity to play in the game when it is possible and when it makes sense. Throughout the seasons, what I’ve seen is that Coach is willing to put people in different places and try things out.”
Maroney noted that off-field successes matter just as much as on-field ones. She urges players to look beyond just the results and focus on creating meaningful bonds with their teammates.
“I hope everyone on the team enjoys the time they spend together on the field, as well as off. The relationships they build with their teammates will last longer than a result of a single game. While winning is nice and can make everything seem easier, it is a definition of the season’s success,” wrote Maroney.
