STATE TEAMS HUB

Softball Victoria run a comprehensive State Team program for both men and women that encompasses teams in the following age brackets – Under 15, Under 17, Under 19, Under 23, and Open.

The Nationals for all but the U23’s are held in January each year with the teams being selected 4-6 months prior to that. The U23 Nationals are held in July with the team selection traditionally taking place 4-5 months prior to that tournament.

Selection into the State team is governed by the State Team Selection Policy and athletes who are interested in being considered for selection must complete and submit a nomination form prior to their participation in the relevant State Championship. The Nomination form is available from the relevant Association.

The dates and locations for the National Championships through to 2020 are as follows:

Open Women National Championships & U15 Girls Regional Championships

• 6 – 12 January 2018 – Mirabooka, Perth

• 13 – 19 January 2019 – Mirabooka, Perth

• 5 – 11 January 2020 – Mirabooka, Perth

Open Men National Championships & U15 Boys Regional Championships

• 14 – 20 January 2018 – Hawker, ACT

• 13 – 19 January 2019 – Hawker, ACT

• 12 – 18 January 2020 – Hawker, ACT

U17 Men & Women National Championships

• 6 – 12 January 2018 – Blacktown, NSW

• 6 – 12 January 2019 – West Beach, SA

• 5 – 11 January 2020 – Waverley, Vic

U19 Men and Women National Championships

• 22 – 28 January 2018 – Blacktown, NSW

• 20 – 26 January 2019 – Blacktown, NSW

• 19 – 25 January 2020 – Blacktown, NSW

U23 Men and Women National Championships/Invitational

• 25 – 28 July 2018 – Redlands, QLD

• 17 – 20 July 2019 – Venue TBA

• 15 – 18 July 2020 – Venue TBA

Coaching

	Open Men – Nigel Aiken I have spent a lifetime involved in sport & having played representative Softball for Wellington NZ throughout my teen years. I was selected for a New Zealand Under 19 Squad, represented the UK in their first ever Men’s Softball Team, played water polo, baseball, and have been involved in the International Professional Wakeboarding scene at an Official Level. I also still play rugby union on a weekly basis during the winter months.I have gotten so much from my sport over the years in both individual & team environments and I believe it’s an important element in our personal development.I coach because I want to give back and see other athletes receive the same opportunities that I have. My role as the coach is to nurture and guide the players on and off the field, and to get the best out of themselves and ultimately the team. I also enjoy the vibrant atmosphere that players at this level bring to the team.As a proud member of the Softball Victorian community and the High Performance Committee, I am keen to see the game flourish and to see Victorian teams bringing home medals from the National Championships.
	Open Women – Mark Rigg I have been involved in softball for 27 years, representing Victoria since 2002 as a player. My coaching career started many years ago at a club and association level and moved into state coaching in 2015 with the U17 girl’s Victorian team as an Assistant. In 2017 I was appointed Head Coach of the Titans and in 2018 was appointed to the SAL Open Women’s Coaching Panel.Last year the Titans played their first final in 14 years. This year we aim to go the next step and win that final to progress to play on the last day of the Gilley’s Shield, where anything can happen. Our team is working hard and continues to strive to be the best players that they can be in order to bring the Gilley’s shield back to Victoria for the first time since the 1980’s. We all have one goal, and continue to take steps forward towards that goal, playing our role for the team, whatever that needs to be. This is an exciting time for softball in Victoria, and I believe that we are building foundations for continued success right through our program.
	Under 19 Women – Heather Webb I have been involved in softball for many years and as a State coach for the last five. As a Coach, I believe in ensuring players are well equipped on the diamond with not only skills, but the mental strength to play the game to the highest of their ability.Helping players develop strong game awareness and the ability to adapt to situations combined with a high skill set are my goal areas when coaching. Creating a team atmosphere of mutual respect and two-way communication between myself and players provides an avenue for this learning and development to occur effectively.Being an official or player for Victoria is an honour and we work very hard as the Women’s Under 19 Team to ensure we represent Victoria with pride.
	Under 17 Women – Alisha Bell I have been a player at club and association since the age of seven. I started coaching Softball Victoria Development Teams in 2003 and have worked with them for a number of years, travelling to the Adelaide Labour Day Tournament with these teams. In this time I also coached a variety of junior age groups, both boys and girls, at club and association level. In 2010 I took a short break from coaching and moved overseas for a couple of years. In 2015 I resumed coaching duties with Softball Victoria and have held the position of Assistant Coach with the Under 19 team and Head Coach of the Under 17 team since then. I have also travelled as a Development Coach to the Softball Australia International Friendship Series to work with the junior Aussie squads over the past three years.This year with the Under 17 Girls State Team we have been working hard to create a supportive and challenging learning environment for all athletes, where they can not only develop their skills as softballers but as people too. We have a fantastic group that is dedicated to the sport and are showing us their openness to learn and adapt.This year we hope to achieve a strong result and bounce back from our 2018 finish. With a number of returning players, we are seeing great leadership and a sense of collective responsibility both on and off the field.
	Under 17 Men – Chris Holliday I have a long history of coaching club, state, school, and representative teams. I would like to pass on the experiences I have had over my playing career with the Victorian Men’s Team and Australian Steelers Squad, to the up and coming athletes.  There is a great bunch of juniors and I feel it is our responsibility to pass on our knowledge so these juniors can learn the game, make new friends, travel, and most all have fun playing the sport they enjoy.This year the coaching staff will be working on core strength and fitness, with a focus on developing our hitters to the next level, and their modified hitting, which is a prerequisite for consideration for Australian selections. The Team Management are confident and believe that with four months of skill development, team work and commitment, the team will do themselves and Victoria proud.Our goal is to get another five players selected for the 2019 Friendship Series.
	U15 Girls – Sharon Jansen I’m looking forward to being a part of a young and enthusiastic team, as Coach of the Under 15 Girls. Coming along with me will be an experienced coaching panel, who will be working with the team to develop their skills. Go Junior VICs!

Selectors/Talent Identification (TID) Scouts

The process for selecting State Teams involve both selectors and TID scouts:

To be eligible to be a selector individuals need to meet the criteria set out in the State Team Selection Policy

In order to be eligible to be a TID scout individuals need to meet the criteria set out in the TID Scout position description.

In both instances advertisements will be placed on the Softball Victoria website calling for nominations to fill these roles. If you have an interest in being involved then you can also contact your Association or the Athletes and Coach Performance Manager (coaches@softballvic.org.au)