Author: Colum Lavery

by Colum Lavery

Softball Ireland Gender Inclusion Policy Launched

Softball Ireland has launched its Gender Inclusion Policy to coincide with the Sport Ireland and Sporting Pride #LetsGetVisible campaign as part of Pride week.

The #LetsGetVisible campaign aims to recognise and acknowledge the importance of visibility and representation amongst the LGBTQI+ community.

The Softball Ireland Gender Inclusion Policy is a continuation of softball’s support for the LGBTQI+ community and to ensure that softball in Ireland is a welcoming and inclusive space for the community.

Softball Ireland is proud to launch our Gender Inclusion Policy and support the #LetsGetVisible campaign and we encourage the softball community to do the same.

Speaking about the launch of the Gender Inclusion Policy, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said “Softball Ireland has always had a commitment to softball being an open, welcoming and inclusive sport to members of the LGBTQI+ community. The purpose of this policy is to ensure there is absolute clarity for everyone involved in softball in Ireland when it comes to the openness and inclusiveness of our sport.

Softball Ireland fully respects the gender identity of players and our policy reiterates our position that softball should continue to be played in the spirit of sport, allowing for a safe and fun environment for all players.”

Click here to download Softball Ireland’s Gender Inclusion Policy

We are also asking teams and players to post their messages of support for the campaign using #LetsGetVisible – you can get creative and post a picture with a pride flag, wearing your most colourful clothing, or you can use any of the graphics available to download on the Sporting Pride website.

To get involved in the campaign all you need to do is go to Sporting Pride’s website https://www.sportingpride.ie/campaign/lets-get-visible  and download a profile picture overlay, which you can add to your profile picture.

by Colum Lavery

Galway to launch inaugral Co-ed Slowpitch Softball League

Softball Ireland wish to congratulate the Committee of Galway Softball Club on the creation of the Galway League which will commence on Monday June 21, 2021. The efforts of the Committee has seen huge growth in the Galway area with membership doubling as Galway exited lockdown.

The four team league will be played at St Marys College between 6 pm and 8 pm on Mondays through to September 6, 2021. Galway Softball Club have also secured local sponsorship for the inaugral league with An Púcán, Kennys Bookshop, Irishscores.com & Megadale Automation agreeing to naming sponsorship of each of the league teams.

Speaking on Galway Softball Clubs announcement, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said “We are delighted to welcome the Galway Softball League to the Softball Ireland family. The growth of Softball in Galway has been a joy to watch over the last number of years and the efforts of the club members during the lockdown has been phenomenal.”

Lavery added “Galway have shown that there is a need for and demand for social, co-ed sporting activites post COVID, and we believe Softball offers the perfect mix of social interaction together with both recreational and competitive sport depending on the level you wish to play at. Today is about celebrating the succes of Galway Softball Club and celebrating the inaugral league which launches this Monday.“

Speaking about the inaugral Galway League, Vinny McGrane Galway Softball Chairman said “It’s a great day for Galway Softball to be able to announce the inaugural Galway League.

Without our sponsors we would have really struggled to get this off the floor so a big thank you to An Púcán, Kennys Bookshop, Irishscores.com & Megadale Automation. The fact that Galway Softball can attract the support of such impressive companies is a great measure of our current success.

There has been huge efforts to make this happen and I would like thank Softball Ireland for their support over the years, the Galway Softball Committee and all the people that kept the club going since 1998. But most of all the players who have made this possible.”

Details on teams and fixtures for the inaugral Galway League are available on the club website and if you are interested in playing details are available here.

by Colum Lavery

Brian Walshe Cup – June 12, 2021 – Registration Open

The Brian Walshe Cup is scheduled to be held June 12th in ALSAA. Unfortunately due to the current government advice on cross border travel, teams from Northern Ireland may not register for this tournament. Softball Ireland are continuing to work with Softball Ulster on the format for an Ulster team to qualify for the BWC Finals Day.

The cost of entering the tournament on the day is €150 per team.

Register for the Brian Walshe Cup 2021

To comply with the advice of the SI Medical Committee the following will be adhered to:

1. There will be no “borrowing” of players from other teams on the day, i.e. players may play with one team only to limit their number of contacts and exposures.
2. The competition will be divided into groups containing a maximum of 4 teams again to limit the amount of exposures. As a result we cannot guarantee entry for all teams that register so please register as early as possible.
3. All players must be registered with SI before playing and team rosters must be submitted for contact tracing purposes.

Please see the Covid hub of the SI website for the latest Medical Committee advice:
http://www.softball.ie/covid-19-hub/

If you have any questions please email tournaments@softball.ie

Registration closes Monday 7th June @ 5pm.

Register for Brian Walshe Cup
by Colum Lavery

Game ON! Return to Play Dates Confirmed

Further to the confirmation of the Government that sports clubs in the Republic of Ireland may return to training in groups of up to 15 from May 10, 2021. We are delighted to confirm that having considered the recommendation of the Medical Committee, the Softball Ireland Board have confirmed that softball training may return in Republic of Ireland from May 10, 2021 subject to the following conditions:


(I) The Government continue to permit sports teams to partake in training sessions; and
(II) All teams in the Republic of Ireland to continue to train in accordance with Government advice and restrictions; and
(III) All training sessions are held in accordance with the updated Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocol set out on the Softball Ireland website; and
(IV) Players are only permitted to attend and train with teams (clubs) they are registered with.


To further assist Teams return to play, a COVID-19 Risk Assessment Guidance and a downloadable COVID-19 Risk Assessment Template have been prepared by the Softball Ireland Medical Committee and are available on the Softball Ireland website.


To assist the Medical Committee with its constant review of Protocols and Guidelines, we would be appreciative of feedback on these from all Teams to allow us to improve and support the return to softball further.


We can confirm, that subject to Government restrictions remaining unchanged, the Softball Ireland insurance policy will be re-activated with effect from May 10, 2021 for Republic of Ireland Team for training only.

Based on the Government announcement, competition/leagues may be permitted to commence from June 7, 2021 and Softball Ireland will continue to liaise with Sport Ireland on the matter.

by Colum Lavery

2021 Registration & Team Fees Announced

As the outlook for the 2021 season continues to look on the up, Softball Ireland are inviting teams wishing to play in leagues or tournaments in 2021 to register with Softball Ireland.

Membership of Softball Ireland provides players with insurance to play in leagues and tournaments as well as opening up access to training and educational courses provided to Softball Ireland throughout the season. The Softball Ireland membership fee (paid through your team) allows Softball Ireland cover its ongoing operational and development costs.

Teams participating in the Softball Ulster league or the Softball Leinster mid-week league should register through their region, all other teams wishing to register with Softball Ireland should email the Softball Ireland Secretary.

FEES

The Softball Ireland Board had confirmed the 2021 teams fees as follows:

Team Fee (which includes insurance) – €350

Development Levy* – €30 per team

The development levy will be ringfenced for investment in coaching and umpiring courses and the implementation of the Sofbtall Ireland Slowpitch Development Plan.

An overview of the Softball Ireland 2021 budget and the allocation of members funds may be accessed here

Softball Ulster Players
by Colum Lavery

Softball is back in Ulster

Monday April 12, 2021 saw a return to training for teams based in Northern Ireland. Softball teams are allowed to resume training in groups up to and including 15 players and coaches.

From April 23, 2021 competitive fixtures are allowed to return and teams in Ulster are now preparing for the upcoming season.

All teams in Ulster are actively recruiting for new players and if you are interested in playing Softball in the Belfast area, click through to www.softballulster.com to find a team.

by Colum Lavery

Return to Play Update

As part of the roadmap to return to play, with effect from today certain sporting activities may return. Unfortunately, Softball is not one of these sports just yet. Softball Ireland continues to liaise with with Sport Ireland on the pathway to return to training and return to games timelines.

Softball Ireland wish to remind teams that no organised formal team training is permitted in the Republic of Ireland and the Softball Ireland insurane policy remians suspended in the Republic of Ireland.

In anticipation of the government green lisht for return to play, the Softball Ireland COVID-19 Hub has been updated with the 2021 Protocol together with risk assesment guidelines have been updated by the Medical Committee, to assess the hub, please click here.

From Monday the 26th of April

Outdoor sports facilities can reopen (for example: pitches, golf courses and tennis courts, other facilities as appropriate).

Activities should take place between a maximum of two households. Facilities including club houses and any indoor facilities (for example: changing rooms, showers, kitchens, meeting rooms), apart from essential toilet facilities must remain closed. There should not be any return to team sports or training activities.

Underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 can resume.

by Colum Lavery

Irish Teams withdrawn from European Competition due to COVID

Further to the recommendation of the Softball Ireland Medical Committee, the Softball Ireland Board on March 15, 2021 agreed to withdraw all Softball Ireland National Teams and Club Teams from International Competition up to and including August 2021. The decision of the Board is athlete welfare driven to ensure those representing Ireland may do so in the safest way possible

The rationale for the recommendation of the Softball Ireland Medical Committee and the decision of our Board is as follows:

1. Ireland continues to be in a Level 5 (highest level) lock down which restricts movement and does not permit sport to be played bar for a very l imited number of sports. Softball (and Baseball) does not meet the criteria of elite sport in Ireland. At this point, we do not foresee Softball recommencing in Ireland before May 2021 earliest and therefore do not believe our athletes can be adequately conditioned or prepared to participate in an international tournament.

2. The continued spiking of COVID -19 across Europe together with the inconsistent vaccination roll out (including Ireland) has concerned our Medical Committee who formed the opinion that the risk of inf ection and the subsequent 14 day quarantining of infected player/staff continued to be too high a risk for amateur athletes. The concerns of the Medical Committee have been reconfirmed by the recent snap lockdowns in Italy and other European Countries coupled with the positive tests of an Irish athlete returning from the recent European Indoor Championships in Poland.

3. The on-going uncertainty around travel restrictions for athletes entering and exiting Italy, irrespective of nationality and the financial risk s associated with this.

4. In addition to the medical and logistical risks identified by the Medical Committee, the Irish government has also introduced a €2,000 travel fine ( per person) for non-essential International travel. We have been advised that travelling to compete in Softball European Championships does not meet the requirements to be deemed essential travel.

The decision to withdraw from international competition in 2021 was not a decision taken lightly by the Softball Ireland Board. However after discussions with the Medical Committee, HSE, coaches and athletes, the Softball Ireland Board has taken the position that our decisions would be taken with an abundance of caution and medically led by our Medical Committee.

Softball Ireland can confirm that the following teams have been withdrawn from 2021 events:
• Ireland National Team withdrawn from the Co- ed Slowpitch European Championships 2021

• Ireland National Team withdrawn from the Women’s European Championships 2021

• Dodder Softball Club withdrawn from the Co- Ed Slowpitch Super Cup 2021