BTVF: Who is Geoffrey Moschetti and how did he get into baseball?
G.M.: A 38-year-old man, father of two (Aaron and Lenny), and a baseball fan for 30 years. I work in the local government for Toulon Provence Méditerranée and joined baseball in 1992 with the Comanches de Toulon because I wanted to play an American sport.
In baseball, I went through the high-level program of the federation at INSEP and had the chance to play for the French national team. After a career mostly in D1 with the Barracudas de Montpellier, I am now licensed with the Renards de la Vallée du Gapeau.
BTVF: Since 2016, you have joined the coaching staff of the French national team, what do you take away from this experience?
G.M.: Indeed, the federation, through Lahcène Benhamida, opened the doors of the 12U team for me in 2016 as a hitting coach, and since then I have taken immense pleasure in trying to help our best 12U players in the country perform at their best. Each campaign has been different, I have had three different managers who have all added to my skills, I have met several amazing coaches across the country, and I have also learned from nearly a hundred children on the national team and certainly over a thousand during the national detection camps. What do I keep from these experiences? The passion and enthusiasm of all the people I meet, whether they are children, parents, or coaches, but also incredible memories like our victory against the Dutch team in 2017 that allowed us to qualify for the final.
BTVF: You have just been appointed by the National Technical Director to lead the French 12U team, it’s an opportunity but also a challenge, what do you think you can bring to this collective?
G.M.: The opportunity was offered to me by Stephen Lesfargues, and I thank him along with his assistant Boris Rothermundt. I hope to bring my personal touch, a bit of madness, but also my experience with the program that I have gained during my six campaigns as a coach. Trying to continue to instill the love of the ‘France’ jersey with the respect and sportsmanship expected of our ‘bluelets’. The 12U collective is the youngest national collective of our federation, so we must prepare our children as best as possible so they can also perform with the following collectives (15U, etc.).
I just came out of a seminar by the national technical director, and I must continue the work started by Stephen and Boris, and strengthen the sharing with all the managers of the EDF on the high-level baseball track. Together, we must build our baseball of excellence, notably around the work done with the clubs and regional leagues. I am working on the foundations of high-level baseball with this 12U collective.
BTVF: The first major event in 2023 is the European Championship, what are your ambitions for this competition?
G.M.: I don’t know if we can talk about ambitions for a 12U collective where development and performance are mixed. The main goal is to stay in Group A, then we will see during the creation of the group and the level of the competition if we will have the weapons to go for the medal or fight for survival.
BTVF: What is, for you, the ultimate reasonable ambition for the 12U collective?
G.M.: For me, it would be to be able to regularly beat the teams of the ‘Big Four’ (Italy, Holland, Germany, and the Czech Republic). To do this, we would just need to increase the number of friendly matches between these countries with which we have good contacts. But it’s also a financial issue, and that is our biggest difficulty today.
BTVF: You are also part of the coaching staff of the women’s national team, with the 12U, do you see the challenges for the development of baseball in France passing through these categories?
G.M.: Yes! I am the European champion! : Our sport needs to be developed and made known to everyone. Women’s baseball has its second title in two European championships, and each time there are articles in the local and national press. Our 12U and I would say even more, our youth collectives are essentially there to prepare our players to perform in the senior collectives, and thanks to their results (vice champions 15U 2021; 2016 & 2006 and 12U 2014 & 2017) they also make headlines.
So yes, I think these collectives contribute to the development of our bat-and-ball sports practice.
BTVF: Coaching and managing for a club and a league, does baseball leave you time for other hobbies?
G.M.: Yes, like many of us, we have to multiply tasks and help our clubs, our leagues, etc. Today, I have the pleasure of sharing the knowledge I acquired during my time in the high-level program of the FFBS within the Renards de la Vallée du Gapeau, a very dynamic club in the area, notably thanks to actors like Vincent Bidaut or Yoann Montagne, who are also found in the collectives of the PACA league or even within the Federation. That’s the reality of our disciplines today. But yes, I still have time for my main activity: my family!
BTVF: What can we wish for you?
G.M.: I wouldn’t mind a European championship title, but already making our 12U’s eyes shine through our programs would be a good start.
