Category: Domestic Softball

by Colum Lavery

Suspension of Softball Activities in Leinster

Softball Ireland have been advised this afternoon of a positive COVID-19 test from a player who played in the Hippies v Dodder Premier Division game on August 4, 2020.

The Softball Ireland Medical Committee were notified of the positive case and the Committee have considered the impact of the positive result noting in particular player movement within the Softball Leinster League during the 2020 season. 

The Softball Ireland Board recognise the efforts taken by all teams to ensure a safe playing environment for all participants to date and urge clubs to continue following the Protocols available on www.softball.ie. 

The Board, having noted the recommendation of the Medical Committee, this evening AGREED that:

  • Players from Dodder Softball Club and Hippetys Softball Club cannot participate in any Softball Activities for 14 days with immediate effect.
  • Softball activities in Softball Leinster inclusive of practice are postponed from 0700 Saturday August 15, 2020 through 0700 August 23, 2020. 
  • Softball activities in Galway inclusive of practice are postponed from 0700 Saturday August 15, 2020 through 0700 August 23, 2020.

All players are reminded to follow the HSE guidance with regards to COVID-19 and monitor for symptoms. If you concerned that you may require a test, please follow the HSE process detailed on the following link: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/how-to-get-tested.html

The Softball Ireland Board appreciate the ongoing support of the Softball Leinster Committee and the impacted teams at this time.

by Colum Lavery

Softball Ireland Slowpitch Umpiring Course – Session 3

The third part of the Softball Ireland umpiring course will be held via Zoom on August 20, 2020. The third sesseion will cover Basics of Game Management Part 2.

If you are interested in attending please contact Massimo on Finance@softball.ie to register your attendance.

If you have missed either of the first two sessions of the course, not to worry, they have been uploaded to the Softball Ireland Youtube TV Channel and can be located in the Coaching section using the below link. The videos can also be accessed via the Softball Ireland homepage.

Softball Ireland TV Link

by Colum Lavery

Champion Green, Champion Softballers

Softball Ireland have today announced an initiative to support the promotion of businesses owned by Softball Ireland members through our website and social media channels.

2020 has been a very difficult year for most small business in Ireland and in support of the national campaign to “Champion Green” we are asking the Softball Ireland community to “Shop Local, Shop Softball”.

Softball Ireland member owned small businesses are invited to send us in details of their businesses, their promotions etc and Softball Ireland will promote them to the Sofball Ireland community through our website and social media channels.

We will be creating a dedicated page on our site to allow members to check the directory of Softball Ireland member businesses.

The Softball Ireland board feel its important to encourage, Shop Local, Shop Softball, to support our community in these challenging times.

If you wish to submit your business name, logo, short explanation of what you do and contact details please send them to president@Softball.ie

by Colum Lavery

Have Your Say: CO-ED Slowpitch Development Plan Consultation

The Slowpitch Development Working Group has prepared a DRAFT development plan for co-ed slowpitch softball in Ireland.

This plan has been developed with the working party comprising of Ruth Brady, Declan Carty, Andrew Craven, Will Gilpin, Amanda Ní Ghabhann, Jay Slevin & Colum Lavery (President).  There have been two workshops to develop the DRAFT, and a third is planned for the end of August to considering member feedback.

Sofball Ireland members are invited to review the attached draft Co-ed Slowpitch Development plan and consider the below questions.

The DRAFT CO-ED Slowpitch Development Plan can be downloaded here

1. Do you agree with the vision statement yes/No
2. If No can you, please provide comment on what needs to be changed and or added
3. Do you agree with the six work streams required to achieve the Vision yes/No
4. If No can you, please provide comment on what is missing and or should be removed/changed
5. Is there anything missing from the tasks/programmes to be developed that you feel should be considered for inclusion in the next Draft

The final date for feedback on the plan is Monday 17th August. The Project Team will meet on the 27th August and consider what changes should be made to the Draft as a result of the feedback received. Following this meeting, a final Draft Development Plan will be provided to the Softball Ireland Board for its consideration and hopefully, approval.

Members are asked to send their feedback on the DRAFT CO-ED Slowpitch Development plan to DevSurvey@softball.ie




by Colum Lavery

Softball Ireland to host on-line Introductory Umpire Course

Softball Ireland are delighted to confirm that an on-line Introductory Slow-pitch Umpire Course will be hosted by Paul Peake and Massimo Lepri on Thursday 23rd July at 7pm.

The course is open to all Softball Ireland members and is part of Softball Ireland’s broader committment to increasing the number of umpires across the island of Ireland. Details on furter courses together with the outcomes and umpire pathways developed following the Softball Ireland Umpires Working Group will be circulated shortly.

In odred to register your attendance for the on-line course please contact Massimo Lepri at massimo@gmail.com .




Home plate with a bat, balls and helmet.
by Colum Lavery

COVID-19 Symptom Screening & Contact Tracing

Effective July 20, 2020

Softball Ireland have announced the launch of its COVID-19 Symptom Screening and Contact Tracking Web-App.

In accordance with government requirements Softball is required to maintain records of all attendees at Softball training and games. Additionally, it is the recommendation of Sport Ireland that all participants certify they are not experiencing symptoms prior to training/playing.

Softball Ireland have partnered with Redicare for the use of a a GDPR compliant and secure COVID-19 online survey which will both provide a Play/No Play advice to participants and the required contact tracing functionality.

All members of Softball Ireland wishing to play softball with effect from July 20, 2020 are required to register and complete the Web App questionnaire in advance of each training/game. The questionnaire should be completed as close to the event time possible but no earlier than 6 hours in advance.

Team/Club COVID-19 Officers will be provided with team admin access in-order to use the Web App to track attendance at training and games.

For further questions on the Web-App kindly email president@softball.ie

Home plate with a bat, balls and helmet.
by Andrew Craven

Return to Play Protocol

Softball Ireland are pleased to publish their Return to Play Protocol. The Protocol aims to help clubs and players return to the game of softball during the COVID-19 pandemic. Information will be updated as required on the ‘Latest COVID-19 Information‘ area of the website.

Please note that the Return to Play Protocol is a living document, and will updated as and when government advice changes. Please pay careful attention to the version number and date of publication.

Return to Play Protocol v1.0 (Published 26th June 2020)

by Andrew Craven

Return to Play Announcement

The Softball Ireland Board having noted the recommendation of the Medical Committee have confirmed that clubs based in the Republic of Ireland may return to training with effect from July 4, 2020 and return to games from July 20, 2020 subject to meeting criteria.

The Return to Play protocol and requirements together with registration details and an update on insurance will be published on the Softball Ireland Website by no later than June 26, 2020.

Softball Ireland are delighted to be in a position to announce and confirm the return to play dates and see people back on the field of play, however, please note that the Softball Ireland insurance policy (and in particular the Public Liability part of the policy) remains suspended until July 4, 2020. Should any player or small group of players participate in any Softball activities prior to July 4, 2020 they do so at their own risk and are fully liable for any injuries / damage to other participants, third party bystanders or property.

An infield softball.
by Andrew Craven

Return to Play Update

Softball Ireland note the announcement from the Irish government today that all sporting activity in the Republic of Ireland can resume from 29 June, the format of which is at the discretion of the National Governing Body. The Softball Ireland Medical Committee will meet in the coming days to assess today’s government decision and provide further recommendations to the Board about the possible acceleration of the Return to Play Date.

Softball Ireland wish to remind teams and players of the following:

– The suspension of all formal team/club organised Softball activites (incliuding training) on the island of Ireland remains in place until July 20, 2020.  This must be strictly adhered to.

– The Softball Ireland insurance policy (and in particular the Public Liability part of the policy) remains suspended until July 20, 2020. Should any player or small group of players participate in any Softball activities prior to July 20, 2020they do so at their own risk and are fully liable for any injuries / damage to other participants, third party bystanders or prorperty.   

Please do not hesitate to contact Colum Lavery should you have any questions on the matter.

by Andrew Craven

Return To Play Timelines and Update

It is a pleasure to write to the Softball Ireland membership in the knowledge that we will be returning to play in a few short weeks. Since the difficult announcement to suspend all Softball in Ireland on March 12, 2020, the Softball Ireland Medical Committee and Board have worked constantly to develop a pathway and ultimately a protocol to allow those who wish to play softball in 2020 to do so in a safe environment and in-line with health and governmental advice.

Softball Ireland are pleased to confirm that the Return to Play Protocol which has been developed by the Medical Committee is working its way through the consultation stage. Subject to no major issues or changes in public health advice, it is anticipated that the protocol together with the approved 2020 rule variations will be issued to all Regions, Clubs and Players on June 25, 2020 with a Return to Play date scheduled for July 20, 2020.

On behalf of the Board and the Medical Committee, I wish to re-emphasise the following very important points:

  • The suspension of all formal team/club organised Softball activites (incliuding training) on the island of Ireland remains in place until July 20, 2020.
  • The Softball Ireland insurance policy (and in particular the Public Liability part of the policy) remains suspended until July 20, 2020. Should any player or small group of players participate in any Softball activities prior to July 20, 2020 they do so at their own risk and are fully liable for any injuries / damage to other participants, third party bystanders or prorperty.   

So much has happended in Ireland and across the world in the last number of months and our thoughts are with any of our members impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Softball Ireland would like to thank our members who have worked on the front line in essential roles to keep us safe and our economy going.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on the above email or process.

Softball Ireland Return to Play Timeline
Home plate with a bat, balls and helmet.
by Andrew Craven

Softball Ireland Return to Play Framework

Softball Ireland are fortunate to have two doctors on the Board, representing North and South of the border respectively, as our medical committee. Following the most recent public health advice from the HSE and the NI Executive, they have presented initial return to play timelines to the Board. Following receipt of feedback from the regions, the Board have approved these as our national framework. The committee will now consider detailed return to play protocols (including playing rules), while the Board works with the regions on challenges such as insurance costs, field availability and competition structure. 

1. Seek to reactivate Softball Ireland insurance as of 20th July 2020.

2. Teams may train from 20th July 2020 provided insurance is in place, no more than two teams are present at the diamond and the Softball Ireland return to play protocols are adhered to.

3. Games may commence from 1st August 2020 provided insurance is in place, no more than two teams are present at a diamond and the Softball Ireland return to play protocols are adhered to.

4. No tournaments will be sanctioned in 2020, including BWC, IOST, SINCC, and club/national tournaments at home or abroad.

5. Team captains must submit electronically a list of attendees at training or games, within 24 hours, in line with HSE contact tracing requirements, for 6-week retention.

6. SI will make a final decision on Softball Ulster activity after the NI Executive publishes timelines for their recently published roadmap.

Expected return to play timeline
Expected Softball Ireland Return to Play Timeline

This position is subject to change as further information is made available to the public by the HSE and NI Executive. Final decisions on when games will be played, competition structures and fees will be set by Softball Ireland and the regions, subject to this framework and the SI Return to Play Protocols (TBA) being adhered to. The Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocols will be issued no later than the 30th of June 2020. Any questions to secretary@softball.ie.

by Andrew Craven

COVID-19 Update from Softball Ireland

The Softball Ireland Medical Committee is currently assessing the recently published HSE guidelines on the phased reopening of Ireland and the impact this will have on our sport. As Softball is an all-island sport, the proposed return-to-play roadmap will require finalisation following discussion of the UK Government’s planned announcement this weekend.

We are aware of our members’ eagerness to open the season as soon as possible, but we must balance that with the safety of everyone on the field. Consideration is being given to the most up-to-date medical evidence, the best practices of other national Softball Federations and the ever-evolving nature of the coronavirus pandemic.

Softball Ireland’s proposed return-to-play roadmap will be reviewed by the Softball Ireland Board at its May 14th Board Meeting and announced on May 15th.