2013 ANNUAL Report Diversity community fun excellence engagement teamwork 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 CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 CEO’S REPORT ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 MESSAGE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION ............................................................................................................................ 11 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 OUR COMMITTEES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 HIGH PERFORMANCE......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 TRANSITIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21 MEMBERSHIP ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 MEMBER RECOGNITION ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 COACHING ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40 SCORING ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 47 UMPIRING ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 56 SOFTBALL COMMUNITY COACHING PROGRAM............................................................................................................................................... 63 SOFTBALL BATTER UP ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 64 INTERNATIONAL RESULTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 66 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................................... 71 OTHER NATIONAL RESULTS.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 75 SQUADS................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 77 SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA LIFE MEMBERS ...................................................................................................................................................................... 78 SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ........................................................................................................................................... 78 ISF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES.................................................................................................................................................................................... 80 PARTNERS AND SPONSORS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 81 HIGHLIGHTS International Competition Australian U19 Men’s Team, Aussie Colts In November 2012, Aussie Colts conclude their international campaign with a bronze medal at the ISF IX Junior Men’s World Championship held in Parana, Argentina. Australian Open Men’s Team, Aussie Steelers In March 2013, Aussie Steelers finish with a bronze medal at the ISF XIII Men's World Championship held in Auckland, New Zealand. Australian Open Women’s Team, Aussie Spirit In July 2013, Aussie Spirit were outstanding, winning a silver medal at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship held in Vancouver, Canada and a bronze medal at the World Cup of Softball VIII held in Oklahoma City, USA. 2013 Australian U17 Girls’ Development Team – Aussie Sparks Tour of the US An international tour provided experience for the athletes, who will be age eligible for the Australian U19 Women’s Team for the 2015 ISF XI Junior Women’s World Championship, to be held in Oklahoma City, USA from 7-16 August 2015. Membership Model Priority work continued on key initiatives from the Membership Management Plan, including introduction of a new membership model, individual member types, and finance model. These will be presented to the Softball Australia Annual General Meeting for ratification by Member States in November. In addition Softball Australia entered memoranda of understanding with key national partners, released and aligned the new national database with existing and proposed softball programs and participant categories, and developed initiatives from the Market Insights project, ‘National Softball Survey and Segmentation Report 2012’. National Insurance Program Softball Australia undertook a tender for an insurance and risk management program. The successful brokers, JLT Sport, have also secured the right to table a national proposal for the consideration of all States. Member Satisfaction Survey In June, Softball Australia released a Member Satisfaction Survey seeking information in three key areas: demographics, satisfaction levels, and indicators for future initiatives. Transitions On 20 March 2013, at the conclusion of the ISF XIII Men's World Championship, Australian Open Men's Team Captain, Nathan Jones, announced his retirement from international competition. SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 P AGE | 1 Australian softball lost one of its greats – Shirley Fogarty. CRM System In June, the National Membership Database was released to Member States. Softball Community Coaching Program The Softball Community Coaching Program website was launched in May 2013, www.softballcoach.com.au. Recognition In 2012, Softball Australia announced seven inductees into the Softball Australia Hall of Fame: All recipients were members of the Australian Open Women’s Team, Aussie Spirit. In October 2012, Peter John Hartshorne was appointment to the Softball Australia Board and at the AGM in November 2012, Christine Heron and Annie Fidge were elected. Softball Australia thanks Selwyn Williams for his time and commitment to the Softball Australia Board serving from April 2009 – November 2012. SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA ANNUAL REPORT 2013 P AGE| 2 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT As we close off another year, I am delighted to report that Australia maintained its position as a front-runner in world softball competition with bronze medal placings in all four divisions of international competition (Open Women, Open Men, U19 Women, and U19 Men). International Competition While our men’s teams relinquished their respective premier positions in world standings, they did not do so without some excellent performances in defence of their titles. After dominating the world stage