After bushfires and COVID-19 disrupted the last two seasons, Softball ACT have planned a calendar full of events to get everyone back on the diamond in 2022.

From the youngest to the oldest, and from the social to the more competitive, State Operations Manager Kyira Cox said Hawker Softball Centre has something to offer in the coming months:

“The disruption over the last two years has given us time to review our calendar and identify where we can fill gaps or offer new programs, so we can get more people involved in softball. We now have something on offer from January through until April, and can’t wait to kick things off in the new year.”

2022 Summer Holiday Camp

This summer holiday camp can take your softball skills to the next level. Athletes have the option of attending for 1, 2, or 3 days, and each day will follow a schedule that includes sport activities (fielding, hitting, throwing, and catching) and water activities (learning how to slide on slip-n-slide). We will also break into primary and high school age groups to ensure each athlete can fine tune their softball skills and learn a few new ones. It’s all about having plenty of fun with your friends!

• Dates & Times: Monday 10 – Wednesday 12 January, 9am-3pm each day
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: 5-17 years old.
• Registration: https://www.act.softball.org.au/events/116193/

2022 Australian Sports Camp

The Australian Sports Camp is aimed at introducing new players to softball. We help develop the fundamentals of the game via skill-based learning through play, in a fun and relaxed environment. Like the Summer Holiday Camp, athletes will be allocated into breakout groups based on age, and have the option of attending one or both days.

• Dates & Times: Tuesday 18 – Wednesday 19 January, 9am-3pm each day
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: 5-17 years old.
• Cost & Registration: https://shop.australiansportscamps.com.au/book/act-kids-softball-program-hawker-softball-australia/

Softball Batter Up Camps

SBU Camps are where many players start their softball journey. They are for children aged 5-10 who are new to the game. Camp participants will attend 6x 1-hour sessions, where they learn the most basic of softball skills. This camp aims to be very personal and engaging, so numbers will be kept small.

• Dates & Times: Monday 10 – Wednesday 12 January, and Monday 17 – Wednesday 19 January. 5:30-6:30pm each day.
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: 5-10 years old. Parents with children outside of this age range, but who would like to attend, need to please contact Brianna Alter at brianna.alter@softball.org.au.
• Cost: The program is $53.32, but each athlete has the option to purchase a participant pack that includes a backpack, foam ball, and foam bat for an additional $45.00. Available here: https://www.act.softball.org.au/shop/5935/
• Registration: https://www.act.softball.org.au/events/118485/ Please only register your child if they have never played softball before and are not playing in this season’s competition.

2022 Australia Day Carnival

With more than 25 years of history, the Australia Day Carnival is a highlight of the Softball ACT calendar. The emphasis is on participation, and ACT players will be mixed in with other players from regular club teams to form Canberra Pride teams as part of the ACT Pathway. Canberra Pride will take on teams from NSW, with invitations also extended to Victorian and South Australian teams, with all teams playing at least 8 games over three days.

• Dates: Saturday 22 – Monday 24 January 2022
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: U10s-U18s Boys & Girls. Age is determined by the age bracket the athlete will play in next year.
• Format: Fully Loaded Softball for U8s-U12s. Normal format for all other age groups.
• Cost: Interstate teams $475 (U10s) or $575 (U1218s). Teams must also supply their own umpires. Canberra Pride $55 per player.
• Registration: https://www.act.softball.org.au/events/114395/

Social 7s

Competitive softball not for you? Perhaps you aren’t available to play on weekends? Or do you just want to catch up with mates mid-week? Then Social 7s is for you. Run on Wednesday nights during the school term, Social 7s is a mixed gender, social competition for people who want to stay active and play softball with their mates. Our licensed canteen will be open, and there are lucky draws for $50 gift vouchers after each game.

• Dates & Times: Wednesday nights beginning 2 February, running for 8 weeks plus finals.
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: Open ages.
• Format: Modified Social 7 rules. Mixed gender, but no minimum number of women required on the field. Individuals and/or teams can register.
• Cost & Registration: TBA

ACT Masters

Masters events are all about participation in sport for veteran players. ACT Masters is no different, and the event is open to anybody and everybody who wants to play and enjoy the whole Masters experience. Typically, the event involves players and teams from ACT, but interstate players and teams are also welcome to attend.

• Dates: Friday 4 – Sunday 6 February 2022. Games begin Friday afternoon.
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: 35-plus. Age brackets (i.e., 35-45, 45-55, 55+) will depend on number of entries.
• Cost: Teams pay a fee to enter, but individuals who express an interest can also pay a 1week registration fee with RevSPORT and be included in the event.
• Registration: TBA

Men’s and Women's Skins Competition

Serious money is up for grabs in the Skins competition. The men’s competition has more than 30 years of history, with teams and players from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and the ADF competing against ACT’s best across three grades of competition. The women’s competition is only a few years old, but expect the competition to be just as fierce, with cash on offer for winning each inning and each game.

• Dates: Women @ Friday 11 – Sunday 13 March. Men @ Friday 1 – Sunday 3 April
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: Open age. Teams can have 9-15 players and must supply an umpire.
• Grades: A Grade & B Grade (Men's), A to D Grade (Women's, depending on team entry numbers), with first three games as grading games before divisions are allocated (Women's only).
• Format: A cash prize can be won each inning. Teams can declare an inning if they have scored enough runs to win the inning. If the inning is drawn, the money jackpots. Games are played over 90 minutes of 7 innings, whatever comes first. Teams that win the most money over the tournament play in the final for a bonus cash prize.
• Cost & Registration: TBA

Diggers Cup

The Diggers Cup is a brand-new competition from Softball ACT that aligns with ANZAC Day and the U14 National Championships being held in Canberra in 2022. All games will finish in time so players can watch the final of the U14 Finals, and players get free entry to the U14 Nationals. In conjunction with the National Championships, there will also be an ANZAC ceremony. ACT athletes will play in Pride Teams, where players are mixed in with other players from their regular club as part of the ACT Pathway. Invites will also be extended to NSW and Victorian teams.

• Dates: Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 April 2022.
• Venue: Hawker Softball Centre
• Ages: U10s-U12s, Boys & Girls.
• Format: Fully Loaded
• Cost & Registration: TBA

More details on the featured programs and events will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, please contact Softball ACT on 02 6278 3000 or visit act.softball.org.au