LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Throughout the 2016 softball season, the NFCA will feature some of the sport’s highest-profile contests in our “Featured Five” Games of the Week.

Each weekly installment will be released on Thursday, providing live stat links, game notes, team info, social media accounts and any available broadcast links in hopes of becoming another reason for fans to visit us during the season for information on some of collegiate softball’s best games.

As the year continues, we will attempt to expand our focus to include matchups throughout as many divisions as possible. This week’s featured games come from NCAA Division I, DII and DIII. The majority of the latter two are in conference tournament play this weekend.

We may not be able to highlight every division or big game each week, but our hope is to provide a spotlight for as many different teams and games as possible throughout 2016.

Make sure you follow the NFCA on our social media (NFCAorg) through Twitter (Periscope), Instagram and on Facebook and let us know what you think of our “Featured Five” segment.

HBO has released the first official photos from Game of Thrones Season 8, and naturally, they don’t reveal much about the hotly-anticipated final episodes.

Still, they’re proof that winter is finally upon us, and that for now, all of our favorites are still alive.

Check out the first images below:

The alliance between Jon and Daenerys is in full effect, as the duo can be seen looking out upon their icy domain, perhaps facing down the Night King’s encroaching army of White Walkers, judging by the look of worry on Dany’s face. Cersei, meanwhile, is standing alone, following Jaime’s defection at the end of last season. Hit the comments with your theories on what the photos may or may not be telling us.

Game of Thrones Season 8 premieres Sunday, April 14 on HBO. For more, read about Lena Headey’s “weirdly tedious” final day on Season 8, find out when the Game of Thrones prequel is expected to begin filming, and check out our breakdown of the Season 8 teaser trailer:

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Jealousy can throw us off balance completely if we let it. It’s one of those irritating emotions that feels terrible, but is a normal reaction to being alive. We just have to make sure we understand where our jealousy is coming from, and we have to learn how to manage it.

But, what do you do if the jealous feelings in your relationship aren’t coming from you, but from your partner?

An important note: when we talk about a jealous partner, we’re talking about someone who feels insecure, maybe territorial. We’re talking about someone who’s trying hard to understand their feelings and curb any behaviour that’s hurtful or unfair. We’re not talking about someone who’s cruel or controlling, and we’re definitely not talking about someone who is in any way abusive. If your partner’s jealousy is making your relationship feel unhealthy, listen to your instincts and keep yourself safe.

If your partner is kind to you, but they’re overwhelmed or perplexed by their own emotions, here’s what you can try.

Talk about it

“You definitely should share your thoughts and feelings of jealousy with your partner,” clinical psychologist Dr. Mariyam Ahmed told HuffPost Canada. “Use that conversation as a way to share your needs and also to further build on the relationship.”

WATCH: Dr. Ahmed is featured in the first episode of our new series Navigating, where host Kait Howell shows you how to deal with jealous feelings.

Hearing your partner’s fears might help you understand what they’re going through. Maybe they were cheated on in the past, and they’re sure you’re talking to another guy when you’re on your phone all the time. Maybe they’re nervous that you two don’t have enough in common, and that’s why they got quiet at the party when they saw you talking old-school hip-hop with another girl.

Once you’ve heard their concerns, don’t try to minimize, negate or “fix” those fears, according to Dr. Danielle Grossman at PsychCentral. “By trying to run the fear out of town, this technique to try to avoid a difficult conversation will backfire and leave you with a bigger mess,” she wrote. Hear them out, and try to understand and empathize.

Be generous

“When an insecure person is forced to fill in the blanks, his or her assumptions are likely to be dominated by worry and doubt,” eHarmony advised their readers in a blog post about dealing with an insecure partner. “Do your best to preempt that reflex.”

If your partner is afraid their affections aren’t reciprocated, they’ll appreciate you being vocal and demonstrative. Tell them you love them, or touch them more, or plan a date night. Sometimes a simple show of love is all someone needs.

Set boundaries

Psychology Today recommends dealing with jealousy by figuring out a set of rules that you can both live with. Maybe you let your partner know what you’re doing when you’re on your phone, or they introduce you to the person they’re talking with at the party — and if you’re willing to do those things, they’re not allowed to look at your texts or assume the work when you talk to a new person. If your partner feels they have some level of control, but you still have some freedom, you’ve hit the sweet spot.

Trust your instincts

Getting over insecurity isn’t easy, especially for someone with betrayal in their past. Remember that you’re not going to solve this right away, and importantly, that your partner’s jealousy ultimately isn’t up to you to solve. Of course you want to help them, but they have to be working hard at the relationship, too. If you don’t feel like they’re trying to change, or if their jealousy verges into unsafe territory, trust your instincts. You know better than anyone else if you’re in a relationship you want to stay in.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Florida teammates Kelly Barnhill and Amanda Lorenz, along with Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten were selected the three finalists for the 2016 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, announced the Association on Wednesday morning.

On Tuesday, May 31, the award will be presented to the winner at the 2016 NCAA Women’s College World Series banquet at the Petroleum Club in downtown Oklahoma City.

With the selections of Barnhill and Lorenz, the Southeastern Conference has been represented in the top-three by five players in the first three years of the award. It marks the first two from the two-time defending WCWS champions. Barnhill or Lorenz would join inaugural co-winners Tennessee’s Annie Aldrete and Auburn’s Kasey Cooper as recipients from the SEC. Knighten is the second straight finalist from Norman and will be looking to join teammate Paige Parker as the second consecutive Sooner to win the award.

Hailing from Marietta, Ga., Barnhill was named to the NFCA’s Southeast Region third team and to the SEC’s all-freshman squad. She holds a 15-1 record with a 1.36 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 108.1 innings pitch. The right-handed hurler has held her opposition to an SEC-best .135 batting average, while her ERA and strikeouts rank her sixth and ninth overall in the league. Barnhill is already in the UF record books, recording a single-game program-record 18 strikeouts against Winthrop on March 16. She also twirled her first collegiate no-hitter in the regular season finale versus Arkansas.

A first-team NFCA All-Southeast region selection, Lorenz ranks among the SEC leaders in hitting (.406-9th), hits (71-7th), runs scored (56-t11th), doubles (14-t9th), walks (47-4th) and on-base percentage (.531-6th). The left-handed power hitting outfielder has started all 61 games for the No. 1 Gators during her rookie campaign. Lorenz, a Moorpark, Calif. native, was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors. She is climbing up the UF rookie record books, ranking first in walks, tied for second in doubles, fourth in runs and fifth in hits.

The Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Knighten has been Oklahoma’s biggest power threat this year, leading the team with 11 long balls and 52 RBI, ranking fourth and tied for fourth in the Big 12, respectively. The Buena Park, Calif. native has posted a .395 batting average with a .678 slugging percentage and .450 on-base percentage. A versatile player, Knighten, who was selected to the NFCA’s All-Central Region first team, started the last 27 games at first base, but also made starts at second base, designated player, right and left field.

With the Association always searching for innovative ways to promote the sport of softball, the award was created in 2014 from an idea to honor outstanding athletic achievement among freshmen softball student-athletes throughout Division I. 

OTTAWA — Maxime Bernier claimed Wednesday that he has raised more than $90,000 for his new political venture and says the party he intends to lead will be in place by the time his political rivals return to Ottawa.

In a fundraising email to supporters, the former Conservative MP writes that he is working to complete the requisite Elections Canada forms and develop the party’s constitution and platform.

Bernier organizer Martin Masse said about 2,500 people donated to Bernier’s cause.

Bernier writes in his message that the donations are “all the more generous” because his team can’t issue tax receipts for the donations. Until his party is registered with Elections Canada, donations to Bernier’s camp aren’t subject to donation limits.

The maverick MP announced Aug. 23 that he was leaving the Conservative party and starting his own political movement, calling his former leader and colleagues “intellectually and morally corrupt” as he slammed the door on his way out.

Bernier said in his email blast that he has spent the past week on the phone with supporters and organizers across the country, calling them “the backbone of the new party’s organization.”

He also claimed to have received hundreds of letters from supporters and others interested in becoming a candidate under the Bernier banner.

Ex-Tory minister: ‘I’ve seen this movie before’

Bernier told supporters his goal is to have the new party up and running by Sept. 17 when the House of Commons returns from its summer break.

Former Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day said if Bernier’s comments are accurate and his party is registered in two weeks, Bernier could hand two election victories to the governing Liberals by splitting votes on the right — if his party lasts beyond the 2019 election.

Conservatives discuss the Bernier situation “hourly” and most agree that when conservative voters are presented with two options, the vote will be split between Bernier and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, Day said.

“I know both men, consider them both to be friends, but I’ve seen this movie before,” he said.

Day said he wasn’t surprised by the amount that Bernier purportedly pulled in through donations — Bernier was considered an effective fundraiser for the Tories — and called this a “historical moment.”

Celebrity businessman Kevin O’Leary, who dropped out to back Bernier in the final days of last year’s Conservative leadership race, said he is not worried about a conservative divide because he believes Bernier will draw support from the NDP and the Liberals as well.

O’Leary said he has not donated to Bernier, whom he considers a friend, and instead has tried, on two occasions, to “pull Max back” to the Conservative party.

O’Leary said he will be putting his energy into working with and helping someone beat Trudeau and, “it’s got to be Scheer. He’s the default guy.”

“In order to get better policy, I have to choose a party who is going to get at least a majority, or maybe a minority, mandate,” O’Leary said.

“What’s the probability that Max is going to get in a situation where he will have a minority mandate? In my view, and I say this with all the respect to him, it’s zero.”

Series fans can rest easy; BioWare isn’t done with Mass Effect or Dragon Age.

According to Polygon, who sat down with the team at BioWare, Mass Effect is “very much alive.” BioWare General Manager Casey Hudson said, “In my mind, it’s very much alive. I’m thinking all the time about things that I think will be great. It’s just a matter of getting back to it as soon as we can.”

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Mark Darrah, Executive Producer on Anthem and Dragon Age, went into further detail on what a new Mass Effect might look like. “We’re definitely not done with Mass Effect. There’s a lot of stories to be told. We could pull on the threads we put down with [Mass Effect:] Andromeda; we could pull on threads from Mass Effect 3. There’s a lot of interesting space to be explored.”

While Anthem represents a significant departure from BioWare’s tradition of crafting games with a strong single-player focus, it doesn’t necessarily mean the studio will change Mass Effect or Dragon Age to fit Anthem’s model.

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“It’s not like we’ve decided, ‘Hey, all of our games are now gonna be Anthem,'” said Anthem Game Director Jon Warner. “Our other games, as we go forward, are gonna take things out of the toolbox that they need to be true to themselves. Whether that’s another bout of multiplayer – we’ll see.”

Fans will have to wait to learn more because, according to Polygon, BioWare is keeping details on upcoming Mass Effect and Dragon Age games under wraps for the time being.

For more on Dragon Age, be sure to check out what we want from Dragon Age 4, and for the latest on Anthem, be sure to check out our complete guide to Anthem’s preorder bonuses, and 6 changes we want to come to Anthem after it launches.

Brian Barnett writes news, features, and wiki guides for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian’s ridiculous antics on Twitter and Instagram @Ribnax.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The NFCA is pleased to announce six additions to the Association’s Board of Directors, including incoming President, Karen Weekly, co-head coach at Tennessee. Elected by their peers, each coach that is named to the 17-member board is slated to serve one three-year term.

The term for incoming board members and those reelected to their position begin on January 1, 2017. Additionly, the NFCA is also announcing all its new committee members for 2017. You can view all the committees HERE.

Joining Weekly as new members on the NFCA’s executive committee, made up of the President, Past President and five vice presidents, are Fourth and Fifth Vice Presidents- Hofstra’s Larissa Anderson and James Madison’s Mickey Dean. Nebraska’s Rhonda Revelle will move from her current role as President to Past President. Purdue’s Boo De Oliveira was reelected to the Second Vice President position.

St. Pius X (Festus, Mo.) High School head coach Kevin Halley and Shelli Nolte of Premier Fastpitch (Ill.) were elected to the Board as the new High School and Travel Ball representatives, respectively. Additionally, Hal Wynn (Faulkner University/NAIA), LeeAnn Taylor (San Diego City College/Cal JC) and Diane Miller (Nebraska/Assistant Coach) were reelected to their positions as division representatives.

Continuing their terms on the NFCA Board of Directors are South Carolina assistant coach Lisa Navas (First Vice President), Notre Dame assistant coach Kris Ganeff (Third Vice President), Memphis head coach Natalie Poole (DI rep), Wayne State University’s Gary Bryce (DII rep), Eastern Connecticut State head coach Diana Pepin (DIII rep), Kirkwood Community College’s Joe Yegge (NJCAA rep) and former LSU and Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Yvette Girouard (Coach Emeriti rep).

Karen Weekly (Tennessee) – President

A 20-year collegiate softball head coaching veteran boasting 977 career wins, Karen Weekly along side her husband Ralph enter their 16th season at the helm of the Tennessee softball program. Under Weekly’s watch, Tennessee advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive season and 14th time overall in program history in 2016, earning the No. 13 national seed. During her time in Knoxville, Weekly has amassed a staggering 754 victories and five top three national finishes (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2013) and seven appearances (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015) in the Women’s College World Series.

Rhonda Revelle (Nebraska) – Past President

Revelle has emerged as an outstanding leader for the sport of softball as a whole. She will conclude her third stint as the NFCA President (1999-2002, 2005-06, 2012-present) and has also served as the NFCA 2nd Vice President (1995-98) and as both a member (1989-92) and chair of the NFCA All-American Committee (1993-94). Entering her 25th season in 2017, Revelle, a member of the NFCA Hall of Fame, owns nearly every Nebraska coaching record- 913 wins; 20 NCAA Tournament berths; 15 top-20 national finishes; eight top-10 finishes; eight coach-of-the-year awards; seven conference titles; and three trips to the Women’s College World Series.

Larissa Anderson (Hofstra) – Fourth Vice President

Anderson, who is entering her third season as head coach, led Hofstra to the Colonial Athletic Association championship and a NCAA Tournament berth in her first season as the program’s head coach in 2015, guiding the Pride to a 38-14-1 record and a spot in the NCAA Gainesville Regional. For their efforts, Anderson and her assistants were named the NFCA Northeast Region’s Coaching Staff of the Year. Since Anderson, the sixth head coach in program history, arrived on campus, Hofstra is 542-230-2 (.700). Before taking over as the head coach, Anderson spent the previous 13 seasons on the Hofstra staff as an assistant, including the last 10 as the associate head coach. 

Mickey Dean (James Madison) – Fifth Vice President

Dean has brought JMU to new heights and in the national spotlight of collegiate softball since his arrival four years ago. He has guided the Dukes to NCAA postseason each of the past four seasons and set a single-season wins record in each year. Under his guidance, the Dukes have won more than 79 percent (185-48) of their games, including an impressive 70-7 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association. Dean’s program rewrote the record books in the 2016 season, winning JMU’s third CAA Championship and first NCAA Regional title, along with hosting a NCAA Super Regional. With a 50-6 mark, the Dukes finished the season with the best record in history (most wins and fewest losses), while producing the program’s first ever NFCA First Team All-American selections, Jailyn Ford and Megan Good.

Kevin Halley (St. Pius X High School) – High School Representative

Halley has been the head coach at St. Pius since 2004 and led the Lancers to a pair of district titles in 2011 and 2014, while also serving as St. Pius’ athletics director for four years (2011-15). Under his watch, the Lancers claimed state titles in volleyball and girl’s soccer, while the boy’s soccer and baseball programs also reached the state tournament. In 2014, St. Pius earned the recognition as the STLhighschoolsports.com small schools athletic program of the year.

Shelli Nolte (Premier Fastpitch [Ill.]) – Travel Ball Representative

Nolte has over 18 years of fastpitch coaching experience. She has coached or assisted travel teams to multiple top-five finishes at ASA and NSA USSSA Illinois “A” State Tournaments, two top-five finishes and four top-10 finishes at NSA and USFA National Tournament. Currently the head coach at Neoga High School, Nolte has served as the Executive Director of the Mattoon Girls Softball Association for 10 years, as well as a commissioner for the Illinois ASA and Illinois USSSA and a tournament director for ASA, NSA and USSSA tournament.