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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, 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.

State bodies

*ACT –

Australian Capital Territory Softball Association The Australian Capital Territory Softball Association is a regional sports body in Australia. It was founded in 1959 as the Federal Districts Women's Softball Association, a group under the New South Wales Softball Association until it became ...

inc. (formed 1961) *NSW – New South Wales Softball Association inc. (formed 1940) *NT –

Northern Territory Softball Association The Northern Territory Softball Association is the smallest state body in the Australian Softball Federation with only two affiliated Associations. In the Northern Territorys history they have never once won any of the ASF National Champion ...

(formed 19??) *QLD – Queensland Softball Association inc. (formed 1946) *SA –

South Australia Softball Association Yearly events *state championships *state league State teams The South Australian Softball Association attends all ASF National Championships For the 2006 Championships the following was entered *Under 16 Girls *Under 16 Boys *Under 19 Wom ...

inc. (formed 1944) *TAS – Tasmanian Softball Council inc. (formed 1954) *VIC – Victorian Softball Association inc. (formed 1942) *WA –

Western Australia Softball Association History Softball in Western Australia first gathered interest in 1947 after an exhibition match with ex-US servicemen led to a competition being created, which expanded in 1948. WASA was formally established the following year in 1949 as WAWSA ...

inc. (formed 1949)

National Championships

Each year the Australian Softball Federation holds 8 National Championships. These are hosted by the various state bodies around Australia on a rotational roster. CHAMPIONSHIPS *Under 16 Girls – Esther Deason Shield *Under 16 Boys – Arthur Allsopp Shield *Under 18 Women's –

Elinor McKenzie Shield The Elinor McKenzie Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 18 Women's Championship of Softball Australia. History In 1971 Victoria put forward the suggestion to the Australia Federation to stage an invitational tournament for the 18 and unde ...

*Under 18 Men's –

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. About Nox Bailey Nox Bailey's interest in softball grew fro ...

*Under 23 Women's –

Joyce Lester Shield 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 N ...

*Under 23 Men's –

Laing Harrow Shield The Laing Harrow Shield is a trophy symbolizing the Under 23 Men's Championship of the Australian Softball Federation. The Laing Harrow competition was first held in 1997 by the New South Wales Softball Association as an invitational tournament ...

*Open Women's –

Gilleys Shield The Gilleys Shield is a trophy symbolising the Open Women's Championship of the Softball Australia organisation (formerly known as the Australian Softball Federation). The competition's full name is the Mack Gilley Shield. History In 1947, Que ...

*Open Men's –

John Reid Shield The John Reid Shield is a trophy symbolising the Men's Open Championship of the Softball Australia organisation (formerly known as the Australian Softball Federation). It is named after New Zealand born state umpire John Reid who was also an i ...

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control 1938 establishments in Australia Sports organizations established in 1938

State bodies

National Championships

See also

References

External links