2014 Annual Report

2014 ANNUAL REPORT DIVERSITY COMMUNITY FUN EXCELLENCE ENGAGEMENT TEAMWORK Contents Chairman’s Report ............................................................................................................................. 1 CEO’s Report ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Message from the Australian Sports Commission ......................................................................... 6 Organisational Structure ................................................................................................................... 7 Our Committees ................................................................................................................................. 8 Membership ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Community Participation ................................................................................................................ 12 Marketing ........................................................................................................................................... 14 High Performance ............................................................................................................................ 16 Product Development ..................................................................................................................... 21 Technical ............................................................................................................................................ 23 Coaching ........................................................................................................................................... 30 Softball Community Coaching Program ..................................................................................... 32 Softball Batter Up .............................................................................................................................. 33 International Results ......................................................................................................................... 35 Australian Championship Results ................................................................................................... 40 Other Results ...................................................................................................................................... 47 Squads ................................................................................................................................................ 50 Vale ..................................................................................................................................................... 51 Member Recognition ....................................................................................................................... 53 Softball Australia Life Members ...................................................................................................... 54 Softball Australia Hall of Fame Inductees .................................................................................... 55 ISF Hall of Fame Inductees .............................................................................................................. 59 Partners and Sponsors ...................................................................................................................... 61 PURPOSE Be the dynamic and innovative leader of softball in Australia. Engage, support and inform all softball stakeholders. Raise the profile and standing of, and participation in softball. Support and deliver quality competitive and recreational softball opportunities locally, nationally and internationally. VISION We will be the world’s number one softball nation, providing exciting competitive and recreational opportunities to a rapidly expanding and diverse membership and to communities across Australia. Level 1, Suite 2, 273 Wellington Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 T 03 9417 0022 www.softball.org.au Softball Australia Ltd ACN 092 181 318 Cover image Tom Ryan Photography Chairman’s Report It is with enormous pride, mixed with some and are vital to the ongoing viability of the trepidation, that I submit my last report as Chair sport. of Softball Australia. As a sporting organisation Achievements already in place to support this there has not been a more significantly direction are: challenging period over its entire history of the sport than the past year. the Ambassador program, State President forums, State Executive forums, and monthly A reduction of funding, the Australian Sports teleconferences. Commission (ASC) restructure, organisational the appointment of a Marketing Manager capability and capacity, and financial hardship to develop plans to support initiatives and across the many organisations that make up products that attract opportunities for non- the sport were all addressed. government funding. The fact we have embraced these challenges A newly created role focused on national and have plans and actions in place that will, membership and participation to support with commitment to a whole of sport efforts in participation growth. approach, drive our sport to future success, strategic plans based on key specific strikes me with pride. outcomes. As a sport we had to face reality and Future challenges to be faced, excluding re- subsequently act. We could not continue to do admission into the Olympics are: player what we were doing and expect to rectify retention and recruitment; national these alarming trends. We needed to reform, membership database; national insurance change and restructure to align our scheme; new product variants that appeal to a organisation with new directions. new generation of participants; marketing plans that support initiatives; induction and Although experiencing a slow and laborious accessibility into the sport. start when we embarked on reform, we now have a clear direction of where the sport is I thank all State Presidents and State Executives heading. Derived from marketing research and who have made this possible. I am encouraged consultation with Member States, participation with initial results, common purpose and growth, club development and organisational direction. The next challenge is to finalise the sustainability are the three key areas of focus supporting plans for these directions and adoption by all stakeholders. 2014 Annual Report 1 | P a g e The federated model presents unique challenges, however in encouraging all stakeholders to share one direction, though not an easy journey, having everyone on board is an important step. To manage these changes, a unitary model of organisation structure is certainly far simpler and effective, however the sport must pursue a hybrid model that adopts the strengths that uniquely fit the organisation, its geographic and delivery challenges. To quote a recent article written by Chairman of the ASC, John Wylie, reporting on outcomes from the Commonwealth Games, Mr Wylie stated, “Many of our national sporting organisations need to continue to evolve to become truly what their name suggests - genuine national organisations, not federations of state bodies focused first and foremost on doing their own thing at state level.” As a team sport, softball gets fewer medal opportunities at international level, which can impact on funding. Across all four national teams, Australia continues to rank highly on the world stage, the game has a high proportion of female participants, is represented across many cultures, age groups, skill levels and abilities, yet still struggles to gain media attention and recognition. Thank you to the very talented Board of Softball Australia who have engineered and tirelessly supported these reforms; also the Presidents and State Executives for their courage to include, collaborate, accept, adopt and hopefully bring to fruition. Lastly, thank you to the Softball Australia CEO, staff and volunteers across the country who manage the day-to-day operations of this wonderful sport. Dennis Cullen Chairman Courtesy Paul Conroy Photography 2014 Annual Report 2 | P a g e 2014 Annual Report 3 | P a g e CEO’s Report Softball in Australia has made significant Product variance appealing to a new market, progress towards the unification of our sport as well as supporting retention of existing through a collaborative Whole of Sport members is a priority. The development of a approach. This process involved working with variant of the traditional slowpitch version of the stakeholders and Member States to build game has been tested ahead of rollout in 2015. capacity that is critical to the successful Softball Batter Up and the Softball Community implementation of participation reform Coaching Program continue to provide entry necessary to ensure future viability of softball in level to participation and coaching. A new Australia. Level 1 Coaching Course, incorporating the key The organisational focus has shifted, components of these programs, now aligns the fundamentally towards participation reform, to pathway from the beginner to the elite coach. address a declining membership base. This Financial sustainability was a key item included redefining the membership model to a addressed and, for the second consecutive new flat fee structure including casual and off- year, our targets have been met by achieving diamond categories. Rollout of the

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