School children in Denmark with some of the equipment obtained from the ISF. (Photo courtesy of Danish Softball Federation)

DENMARK SCHOOL SOFTBALL CONTINUES
2007-12-19

Thanks in large part to “starter kits” obtained from the International Softball Federation, the sport is continuing its growth pattern in Denmark, particularly with young participants. The national governing body for softball there reports that in 2007 a total of 1,245 children from 13 schools participated in school tournaments – an increase of 11% over last year.

Danish Softball Federation (DSF) Consultant Helge Mogensen noted that, “Concurrent with the school tournaments, the teachers were offered a free course on softball. Two such courses of six-hour duration were held – one in Copenhagen and one in Aarhus. The response from the courses has been good.”

The DSF has a federation instructor that visits schools, and demand for the instructor was said to have been greater than ever this year. Apart from the schools participating in the school tournaments, the instructor visited 16 schools – some of them several times.

The result of the above efforts has been an increase in new players registering for their clubs.

The starter kits obtained from the ISF is given to schools and institutions, and the Danes say that the demand exists for still more equipment.

Meanwhile, to strengthen the junior work of the DSF and meet the demands of new members, the DSF has set up a junior committee to coordinate junior activities (i.e. regional tournaments, trip to Czech Republic) and implement new ones. Denmark is one of the teams that qualified for next year’s ISF Jr. Men’s World Championship (19-and-under, fast pitch).