BRITAIN TO LAUNCH JR. SOFTBALL ACADEMY
2007-04-20

Britain's first-ever Junior Softball Academy will launch with a session in just over a week at Upper Heyford. The venue was chosen because it has been the main location for GB training sessions.

The Junior Softball Academy is being launched to assist youth softball development and its mission is to develop more young softball players at all ages and skill levels.

The Softball Academy has been set up to:

• Teach young players to play.
• Challenge more experienced players to play better.
• Hold regular sessions where players can improve their knowledge of the game.
• Allow players to be considered for selection by GB Youth Team coaches (though being a part of the Youth Softball Academy does not guarantee selection to a GB Team).

The skills taught will be fastpitch-related – though they are easily adaptable to slowpitch.

Sessions will take place in four venues to begin with – South London, East London, Nottingham, and Upper Heyford – on a rota basis, and all interested players are encouraged to attend all sessions, as they will only be held monthly.

The cost will be £50 per annum for 12 sessions.

Coaches will be experienced volunteers, and specialist coaches will be invited to Academy sessions to run specific clinics on pitching, catching, hitting etc.

Anyone interested in becoming a coach within the Academy Structure – or who wants more information about the Academy – should contact Hayley Scott at: hayleyscott.gbsoftball@gmail.com.

Academy dates for 2007 (with most venues still to be confirmed) are:

April 29 (Upper Heyford)
May 13
June 30-July 1
August 12
September 8-9
October 6
November 10-11
December 1-2

For additional information, please go here.

(report contributed by British Softball Federation)