Softball has come to Hertfordshire!
Beginner slowpitch sessions are now running every Wednesday evening in St Albans as part of BaseballSoftballUK's development work. BSUK's South East regional team is partnering with Active St Albans to secure funding as part of the Get Into Sport initiative, and the result is new teams of adult and youth co-ed softball players enjoying a fun yet competitive series of training and gameplay.
An important cog in this community programme has been the strong link with local Herts Baseball Club. BSUK has worked closely with the club President, Aspi Dimitrov, to arrange for three Herts' coaches to undertake delivery of the softball sessions. This has also established a clear pathway for participants to join an established club with continued playing opportunities following the conclusion of the community beginners' sessions.
Get Into Softball in St Albans runs every Wednesday evening and there has already been an impressive turnout since the programme began on June 20th. The sessions are pay-as-you-play so there is no up-front commitment to join.
Herts Baseball Club is fashioning in-house softball teams, which will welcome the Get Into Softball graduates. Dimitrov also hopes that some of these players will ultimately try their hand at baseball and get into coaching baseball and softball, too.
"Our goal is to see a core group of new softball players come out of these beginner sessions," said Dimitrov. "Herts Baseball Club hopes that these onetime rookies will form the platform for the creation of an exciting softball league in Hertfordshire."
Patrick Knock, BSUK's Regional Devleopment Manager for the South East, said: “Working with Active St Albans has been terrific, allowing us to secure funding to cover coaching costs for the softball sessions and to join their excellent Get Into Sport scheme. Moreover, establishing the club link with Aspi and Herts Baseball Club has provided this innovative programme with high quality coaches and contacts. For the baseball club, this means a potential throughput of new players in 2012 and for years to come.”
"We are really pleased to have Get Into/Back Into…Softball in our summer Get Back Into project," said Jane Roskilly, St Albans Senior Sport Development Officer. "It has had a great start with over 14 participants attending each week. The link with the Herts Baseball Club has been really positive and we can definitely see the project continuing after the funded period. We are hoping with the amount of participants going along it will become sustainable and turn into a satellite club."
Interested participants are invited to attend the St Albans sessions and family and friends are also welcome to attend. Get Into Softball is open to players of ages and abilities.
What: Get Into Softball
When: Every Wednesday evening through August 8th
Where: Nicholas Breakspear School Field, Colney Heath Lane, St Albans, AL4 0TT
Cost: Only £2 per session payable on the day