Author: Colum Lavery

by Colum Lavery

Softball Ireland Umpires Working Group Report

In response to growing concerns at the quality and quantity of umpires in the regions, Softball Ireland setup a working group in September 2019 chaired by the Softball Ireland Secretary to assess the current state of play and recommend actions to move forward.

The Working Group members consisted of the respective Regional Umpiring Chiefs, current and formed ESF umpires and active umpires from the regions. The Working group consisted of the following members:

  • Conor Sayles (Chair)
  • Maarten Blanken (SU)
  • Niall Byrne (SL)
  • Sean Gottschalk (SU)
  • Derek Harnett (SL)
  • Paul Peake (SL)
  • Phil Wallace (SU)
  • Colum Lavery (SI President)

Speaking on the report, Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said “Umpiring is a major challenge facing Softball Ireland, especially in the Leinster Region at this time. Softball Ireland formed this group to hopefully assist the efforts of the Regional Boards in addressing the challenges they are facing. I wish to thank the Working Group members for their honest, constructive and expert input and recommendations. The Working Group meetings highlighted the depth of experience that still exists in our sport and the enthusiasm to make real progress.”

The attached report is the outcome and will be progressed in 2020. Please contact secretary@softball.ie with any queries.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REPORT & RECOMMENDATIONS

by Colum Lavery

Ireland Team Entries for 2020 Confirmed

Softball Ireland have confirmed the National Team Entries for 2020 Season

Men’s Slowpitch National Team

The second Men’s Slowpith European Championships is scheduled to be held in 2020. To date, no host or date for the tournament has been confirmed and Softball Ireland have requested a meeting with the ESF at the 2020 congress to discuss its concerns that there is a possibility there will be no European Club or International Softball tournaments in Europe in the 2020 season.

Ireland have entered the Men’s National Team in the tournament and the full list of entered teams for the tournament can be seen here.

by Colum Lavery

Super Cup Entries Confirmed

16 Teams Confirmed for Slowpitch Super Cup

Softball Europe have confirmed that 16 Clubs in total have entered the COED European Slowpitch Super Cup for 2020. The tournament is due to be held in August 2020, however at this juncture in time no Federation has put itself forward as a potential host.

It is hoped that more details on the tournament will be provided at the Softball Europe congress in February 2020 so that Dodder Dynamoes and Belfast Brawlers, the two clubs representing Ireland at the tournament, can plan well in advance for the tournament. 

More details on the tournament and previous winners may be found at europeansoftball.org/cspesc/ including details of Dodders famous win in 2009.

Confirmed Tournament Entries

A1Pioneers*GBR
A2Bandits & Witches LinzAUT
A3Chucks SoftballAUT
A4AfterburnersBEL
A5Mortsel SkywalkersBEL
A6Akademics SofiaBUL
A7DNAceCZE
A8Sparks Mladé BukyCZE
A9Mannheim TornadosGER
A10UCE TravelersGER
A11London ChromiesGBR
A12Windsor KnightsGBR
A13Belfast BrawlersIRL
A14Dodder DynamoesIRL
A15Tex Town TigersNED
A16LokomotivaSRB
by Colum Lavery

On the 7th Softball Day of Christmas …

On the seventh Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Slowpitch National Team and National Fastpitch League equipment

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of helmets and team bats to the Slowpitch National Team Programme for the 2020 season. Softball Ireland hope the grant will assist the Slowpitch National team in their preparations for the 2020 Mens European Championships and World Series Tournament in September. In addition tot the grant to the Slowpitch National Team, the National Fastpitch league will receive a grant of catchers gear, helmets and used bats for the newly formed league.

by Colum Lavery

On the 6th Softball Day of Christmas …

On the sixth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave the BSI youth programme equipment bags

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of youth gloves, indoor bases, and youth helmets to the BSI Youth Programme. The youth programme was agree as one of the key primary joint projects and the equipment bags will allow for both open days and to provide targeted schools with equipment. The first discussions between Baseball Ireland and Softball Ireland on the programme have taken place with the final project plan to be confirmed early in 2020.

There will be also a stock of “loaner” gloves available to assist any member wishing to organise youth days.

by Colum Lavery

On the 5th Softball Day of Christmas …

On the fifth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave our extended BSI family Baseball Ireland three sets of catchers kit and our newest softball team Ashbourne Antlers a starter bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the donation of three complete sets of catchers gear to our fellow BSI members Baseball Ireland. We hope that the two senior sets and one junior set of catchers gear will help out in reducing cost for our sister baseball clubs.

Feeling a little extra Christmas spirit today Softball Ireland and Softball Leinster are delighted to  grant a starter bag of softball equipment to the Ashbourne Antleres to assist them in year one of their new team in the Softball Leinster league

by Colum Lavery

On the 4th Softball Day of Christmas …

On the fourth Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Softball Leinster a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting of a bag of softball development equipment to Softball Leinster to allow them continue growing the game in the region. We hope the grant will assist Softball Leinster in running open days or providing starter equipment to new teams in Leinster. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Softball Leinster will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

by Colum Lavery

On the 3rd Softball Day of Christmas …

On the third Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Galway Tribes a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting a bag of softball development equipment to Galway to allow them continue growing the game in Galway. The Galway Tribes have nurtured and grown the game to two teams in the last number of years in the Galway area and we hope the grant will help the club in running open days or provide equipment to new players. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Galway will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

by Colum Lavery

On the 2nd Softball Day of Christmas …

On the second Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave Softball Ulster a Softball Development Bag.

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm the granting a bag of softball development equipment to Softball Ulster to allow them continue growing the game in the region. We hope the grant will assist Softball Ulster in running open days or providing starter equipment to new teams in Ulster. 

In addition to the Wilson team bag, Softball Ulster will receive indoor bases, bats, gloves and a surprise.

by Colum Lavery

Board Meeting Update

The Softball Ireland Board held its latest meeting on the evening of Wednesday December 11, 2019

Attendees:

Colum Lavery (President), Conor Sayles (Secretary), Massimo Lepri (Treasurer)

Reginald Clark (Softball Ulster), Melanie Cunningham (Fastpitch Ireland), Amanda Ní Ghabhann (Softball Leinster)

Declan Carty (Ordinary Member), Andrew Craven (Ordinary Member), Jordan Sylver (Ordinary Member)

The below is a list of key decisions/actions of the Board taken at its Wednesday December 11, 2019 meeting

Co-Option of Softball Ireland Board Members & Postponed AGM

The Board noted that the nominated candidates for Board positions had been co-opted in accordance with the constitution and that this had been communicated to the membership by email and placed on the website here. The Board further noted that the Regional representatives and Ordinary appointments will need to be ratified by the AGM, however Massimo Lepri appointment as Treasurer is confirmed for the remainer of the current term through the 2020 AGM.

The Board noted that Colum Lavery continues to act in the capacity of President pending the holding of the election at the postponed AGM on January 11, 2020 (or EGM on January 26, 2020 if required).

The Board noted that the postponed AGM will take place on January 11, 2020 in ALSAA and will be followed by an EGM to consider a number of constitutional amendments (and Presidential election if required) on January 26, 2020.

2020 Tournaments

The Board confirmed the dates of the 2020 tournaments as set out below. The Board noted that no decision can be taken on SINCC pending the postponed AGM on January 11, 2020.

  • BWC 2020 – Saturday April 25, 2020
  • IOST 2020 – Saturday & Sunday August 22/23, 2020 

(Post Board meeting: Registration links and full details on BWC & IOST are available by clicking here)

Finance

The Board considered the 2020 draft Budget and noted that a final draft would be circulated to the board for consideration once Massimo had an opportunity to review the numbers.

The Board further agreed that Massimo would propose updated financial processes in accordance with the Governance Code in advance of the next meeting of the Board.

Regional Updates

The Board noted updates from the three Regional representatives in attendance.

European Softball Tournaments 2020

The Board noted that the deadline for entering teams into the 2020 European Softball Tournaments is December 31, 2019 and confirmed the entry of the following:

  • Slowpitch European Championships – Mens National Team
  • Fastpitch European Championships – Women’s National Team
  • European Slowpitch Cup – Dodder & Belfast Brawlers

Slowpitch National Teams

The Board agreed to the creation of a new (non coaching) role to head up the Slowpitch High Performance programmes. The Board created a sub committee to draft a job description for the Director of Slowpitch HP which would be advertised prior to year end.

Medical Working Group

The Board noted concern raised at the SL AGM that medical treatment/advice was been provided by individuals who may not be suitably qualified. The Board formed a Medical Working Group and requested that Dr. Melanie Cunningham (Chair of WBSC-Europe Medical Commission) and Dr Andrew Craven consider Medical/First Aid guidelines for the sport which may be implemented at all tournaments and by the Regional Associations.

Umpiring Working Group

The Board noted a brief update on progress to date and further noted that an update will be circulated in due course.

Baseball Softball Ireland

The Board received an overview of progress to date with the development of Baseball Softball Ireland and the Sport Ireland membership application.

by Colum Lavery

On the 1st Softball Day of Christmas …

On the first Softball Day of Christmas, Softball Ireland gave four sets of indoor bases to the Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament.

Softball Ireland are delighted to announce the granting of four sets of indoor bases to the organizers of the Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament ahead of the January 25, 2020 tournament. We hope the grant will assist in keeping the costs down and assist in the running of this must not miss event by Julie Trundle.

The tournament was resurrected by Julie in November 2018 with great success and we look forward to full tournament on January 25th. Follow Dublin Indoor Softball Tournament for more details – click here

by Colum Lavery

Santa Arrives Early – WBSC Development Grant

Softball Ireland Community to benefit from WBSC Grant

Softball Ireland are delighted to have taken receipt of a development grant in the form of 12 boxes of equipment from the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

The boxes arrived into Ireland and consist of equipment which will be circulated throughout the Softball Ireland Community to help the continued growth of our sport.

Speaking on receipt of the equipment Softball Ireland President Colum Lavery said “Santa has come early for Softball Ireland and we look forward to providing equipment grants in the coming days once a full stock take of what has been received is completed.”

“I am delighted that following a number of discussions with the WBSC at recent conferences and through the personal relationships I have created with our world governing body that Softball Ireland is benefiting from an estimated US$13,500 (€12,000) of equipment.” added Lavery

Stay tuned to Softball Ireland’s social media over the next week  for the Softball Days of Christmas to see what has been delivered!