Softball Australia
Encyclopedia
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, US army sergeant William Duvernet organised softball as a recreation for US nurses stationed in Victoria. Another American, Mack Gilley, introduced the game to Queensland in 1946. Australia's first inter-state championship was played in Brisbane in 1947 and was won by Victoria. The second national championship was held in Melbourne two years later. It was at this championship that the Australian Softball Federation was formed with Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales being the founding members. The other States of Australia have since joined. Eight Australian Championships are now conducted each year - Women's, Men's, Under 23 Women and Men, Under 19 Women and Men, and Under 16 Girls and Boys. Softball has been a major sport in the schools program for some time now and it is estimated that more than 250,000 children play the game each year.
State bodies
- ACT - Australian Capital Territory Softball AssociationAustralian Capital Territory Softball Association- History :*As quoted from Softball ACT's websiteThe ACT Softball Association was established in 1959 under the guidance of a small group of dedicated people who began by organising local club fixtures in Canberra, but who also had the foresight to plan for the sport’s steady growth.The...
inc. (formed 1961) - NSW - New South Wales Softball AssociationNew South Wales Softball Association- State teams :The New South Wales Softball Association attends all ASF National ChampionshipsFor the 2006 Championships the following was entered:*Under 16 Girls*Under 16 Boys*Under 19 Women's*Under 19 Men's*Under 23 Women's*Under 23 Men's*Open Women's...
inc. (formed 1940) - NT - Northern Territory Softball AssociationNorthern Territory Softball AssociationThe Northern Territory Softball Association is the smallest state body in the Australian Softball Federation with only two affiliated Associations.In the Northern Territorys history they have never once won any of the ASF National Championships.- Yearly events :...
(formed 19??) - QLD - Queensland Softball AssociationQueensland Softball Association-Brief history:Softball was played in Brisbane in 1945 at Victoria Park by a group of enthusiastic "youngsters" who had either learnt to play softball at the Bedford Playground in Spring Hill or from the American troops who were camped in the grounds of the Hendra School...
inc. (formed 1946) - SA - South Australia Softball AssociationSouth Australia Softball Association- State teams :The South Australian Softball Association attends all ASF National ChampionshipsFor the 2006 Championships the following was entered*Under 16 Girls*Under 16 Boys*Under 19 Women's - 1st*Under 23 Women's*Open Women's- External links :***...
inc. (formed 1944) - TAS - Tasmanian Softball CouncilTasmanian Softball Council- Brief history :The Tasmanian Softball Council inc. was formed in 1954, attending their first National Championship that same year.Some 50 years onwards the Tasmanian Softball Council inc. has 4 Affiliated members.- Yearly events :...
inc. (formed 1954) - VIC - Victorian Softball AssociationVictorian Softball Association- Brief history :Softball was first introduced in Victoria during world war 2 by American Servicemen stationed in Melbourne as a way to keep Female nurses fit....
inc. (formed 1942) - WA - Western Australia Softball AssociationWestern Australia Softball Association-Brief history:WASA was established in 1949. Our first games were played at Wellington Square East Perth, moving to Langley park in the early 1950s. On the 22nd of September 1991 WASA's very own purpose built facility was opened, and is currently the headquarters for softball in WA located at Lot...
inc. (formed 1949)
National Championships
Each year the Australian Softball Federation holds 8 National Championships. These are hosted by the various state bodies around Australia on a rotational roster.CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Under 16 Girls - Esther Deason Shield
- Under 16 Boys - Arthur Allsopp ShieldArthur Allsopp ShieldThe Arthur Allsopp Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 16 Boys championship of the Australian Softball Federation. The trophy and its associated competition were established in 1991, giving Australia for the first time a full set of national softball championships: Open, Under 19 and Under 16...
- Under 19 Women's - Elinor McKenzie ShieldElinor McKenzie ShieldThe Elinor McKenzie Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 19 Women's Championship of the Australian Softball Federation.In 1971 Victoria put forward the suggestion to the Australia Federation to stage an invitational tournament for the 18 and under age group to fill the gap between the under 16...
- Under 19 Men's - Nox Bailey ShieldNox Bailey ShieldThe Nox Bailey Shield is a trophy awarded yearly to the Under 19 Men's Champion team of the Australian Softball Federation. It is named after a famous Australian softball organiser.- About Nox Bailey :...
- Under 23 Women's - Joyce Lester ShieldJoyce Lester ShieldThe Joyce Lester Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 23 Women's championship of the Australian Softball Federation. The Joyce Lester competition was first held in 1997 to bridge the gap between the Under 19 National Championships and Open National Championships.- Previous Individual Award...
- Under 23 Men's - Laing Harrow ShieldLaing Harrow ShieldThe Laing Harrow Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 23 Men's Championship of the Australian Softball Federation. The Laing Harrow competition was first held in 1997 by the New South Wales Softball Association as an invitational tournament attended by all the east coast states, in 2004 ASF...
- Open Women's - Gilleys ShieldGilleys ShieldThe Gilleys Shield is a trophy symbolising the Open Women's Championship of the Softball Australia organisation...
- Open Men's - John Reid ShieldJohn Reid ShieldThe John Reid Shield is a trophy symbolising the Men's Open Championship of the Softball Australia organisation...
See also
- International Softball FederationInternational Softball Federationthumb|Map of member states.|400px|rightThe International Softball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of softball. The ISF is a non-profit corporation recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the General Association of International Sports Federations .The...
- ASF National ChampionshipsASF National Championships- National Championships :Each year the Australian Softball Federation holds 8 National Championships. These are hosted by the various state bodies around Australia on a rotational roster....
- Sport in AustraliaSport in AustraliaAustralia has a long sporting history dating back to the mid 1800s. By the 1920s, a number of sports were being played by both men and women, including cricket, badminton, judo, swimming, tennis, netball, lacrosse, golf, hockey and various codes of football....