ASF National Championships

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Each year Softball Australia holds eight National Championships. These are hosted by the various state bodies around Australia on a rotational roster.

Softball Australia

Australia's softball history began in 1939 when Gordon Young, Director of Physical Education in NSW, began to promote the game in schools and colleges. In 1942, during World War II, 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.

Contents

In 2006 over 800 people participated in these championship, with every state and territory entering at least one team.

Championships

Elinor McKenzie Shield

The Elinor McKenzie Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 19 Women's Championship of Softball Australia.

Nox Bailey Shield

The 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.

The 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. It is named after Joyce Lester, an Australian softball player and coach.

See also


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Softball is played in the Australian state of Victoria.

Softball is played in Tasmania. The game was brought to the island during the late 1940s from Melbourne, Victoria. The sport would grow in popularity in Tasmania with 56 teams in 1976 to 216 in 1984. Men's softball is not popular in Tasmania. The first softball only facility was built in Tasmania in 1984.

Softball is played in South Australia.

Softball is played in Western Australia.

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