The national youth women’s program will have a new look in 2021 with an invitational event set to replace the Australian Youth Women’s Championship.
Under the move, which follows an extensive review of the Youth Women’s program, the best age group players will come together in a camp and competition format for five days.
Adelaide will host the invitational alongside the Australian Women’s Championship from April 3-7 next year.
Baseball Australia performance pathways and player development general manager Michael Crooks said the new format, which will no longer see state face state, had key benefits.
“The new format will provide significantly more time on field for the players while providing an increased level of even competition,” Crooks said.
“This will be surrounded by a coaching staff targeting development outcomes for a new generation of Emeralds players.”
Five games will be played across the invitational, which will also include training camp sessions and workshops.
An eight-week program established by the Emeralds coaching staff will help players prepare for the event.
Members of the Emeralds’ staff will also be on board in Adelaide supporting the players.
Expressions of interest to attend the event are now open and will close at midnight on December 31.
A Women’s Showcase featuring the country’s top female players will be held in early 2021.
Baseball Australia chief executive Cam Vale earlier today informed donors to A League of Her Own of the four-game Showcase, which will be broadcast and played as doubleheaders at two venues.
Vale said broadcast and location details for the Showcase would be announced across the next week or two.
“It will be a critically important starting point to the formal path to a professional women’s baseball league in Australia in 2021/22,” he said.
Exhibition games were last October flagged for the past 12 months but never took place due to the impact of COVID-19.
Vale said the uncertain timing of the 2020 WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup had also impacted planning.
“A key part in delaying this opportunity, outside from the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, is we have been waiting on confirmation of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup that was due to occur in 2020 but is now delayed indefinitely,” he said.
“The timing and rescheduling of this event was causing a stop-start for us to launch this Showcase and a future women’s league.”
Vale told baseball.com.au this morning the league was still working with key partners on the dates of the games but they would be within the first three months of the year.
He also signalled some rule changes to enhance the broadcast and publicity of the Showcase while “staying true to baseball and its strengths”.
ALeagueOfHerOwn.com.au launched in May 2019 aiming to help bring professional women’s baseball to Australia, creating a pathway for the country’s elite female baseballers and attracting international players.
It has raised more than $30,000 so far and remains open with donations of $2 or more fully tax deductible.
The Adelaide Giants, Melbourne Aces/Baseball Victoria, Brisbane Bandits and Canberra Cavalry were last October granted provisional licences for the league.
Baseball QLD has a very rich and successful history competing at the National Championship level. Following a successful 2020 AYC (U16 – Gold and U18 – Silver) this is your opportunity to lead our teams to another successful National Championships in 2021. We are taking Expressions of Interests for the 2021 AYC and AWYC Coaching Staff. The available voluntary position is listed below. Following our QLD Coach Selection Policy, adopted in 2019, Head Coach appointments are 2-year Terms. Given recent COVID situation and the cancellation of Australian Youth and Women’s Championships, Head Coach position for both teams is extended to 2021.
2021 will be the last Term for all our Head Coaches (Youth Women, U16, U18 and Open Women).
Available positions for each team include:
Assistant Coach
Pitching Coach
Executive Officer
For more information including how to register, roles and responsibilities for all positions click on the document provided. To register your EOI please click on the link provided: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021QLDCoachApp
Baseball Queensland is pleased to promote our U15 Female Development Program. Our aim is to help upskill, encourage and engage our youth aged female players. This program is open for all players who fit the category.
The program will run from the 8th of August until the 12th of September. Sessions will be held on Saturday’s from 2 pm – 4 pm at Bannister Park (Gerler Rd, Hendra.)
