Category: Tournaments

by Jonathan Spielberg

BWC Update

As of last week, the initial 16 team spots for the Brian Walshe Cup have been filled. We may have more spots open up the week before the tournament but we want teams to secure their attendance by paying a 50% non-refundable deposit of €75 to hold your team’s spot. Payments must be received no later than the 5th of April or teams will lose their spot. If your team no longer wants to enter they can relinquish their spot for the BWC by emailing tournaments@softball.ie.

Here’s a little history about the Brian Walshe Cup. Named after the Odd Sox Green player Brian Walshe – there is a great writeup about who Brian Walshe was which can be found here. The tournament used to be scheduled on multiple days throughout the season, usually on a bank Holiday Monday with Prem and 1st division teams potentially playing 2nd and 3rd division teams. After the first game, losing teams would be grouped into a lower division and winning teams would continue to play until an all-day final at the end of the year would determine the Brian Walshe Cup winner. There were a lot of walkovers and forfeits during the year, along with a lot of one-sided victories and with so many blitzes scheduled throughout the year, it was decided that it would be better to honour Brian Walshe by renaming one of SI’s most popular tournaments of the year – the Start of Season Blitz (SOSB) after Brian Walshe. So, the BWC SOSB continues and now just one month from today – Saturday the 20th of April 2024 the softball season will officially begin! Hope to see you there!

Don’t Forget! Send in your deposit – either by bank transfer or Revolut (bank details can be requested) to SI to hold your BWC spot or email tournaments@softball.ie if you want to let your spot go. Thanks!

Inclusivity is an important part of the Softball Ireland ethos.
by Colum Lavery

Registration for IOST – Open

The previously postponed IOST has been reorganised as a one day event to be held in ALSAA on Saturday September 18, 2021.

Team entry cost is €150 and teams are advised to register as early as possible with registration closing Monday 13th September at 5pm.

Click Here to Register for IOST


Please note any registration for the original date of 21st of August does not carry over to this tournament, you will need to re-register.

Umpires & Game Balls for the tournament will be provided by Softball Ireland.

COVID guidelines are still in place and the latest Return to Play Protocol (RTPP) can be found here:
http://www.softball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/si-rtpp-v3.2.pdf

Teams from Northern Ireland may now travel to the Republic of Ireland for games provided they follow the additional medical advice on page 2 of the RTPP.

All games at the IOST will be streamed live.

If you have any questions please email tournaments@softball.ie

Calendar
by Andrew Craven

Softball Ireland Provisional 2021 Calendar

Softball Ireland are pleased to announce the provisional calendar for the 2021 season. You can use the interactive calendar below to view the dates for Softball Ireland, Softball Leinster, Softball Ulster and European Championships. Please note that although tournaments are being scheduled for 2021, these are subject to COVID-19 restrictions and may not go ahead given the restrictions in place at the time.

An infield softball.
by Andrew Craven

Return to Play Update

Softball Ireland note the announcement from the Irish government today that all sporting activity in the Republic of Ireland can resume from 29 June, the format of which is at the discretion of the National Governing Body. The Softball Ireland Medical Committee will meet in the coming days to assess today’s government decision and provide further recommendations to the Board about the possible acceleration of the Return to Play Date.

Softball Ireland wish to remind teams and players of the following:

– The suspension of all formal team/club organised Softball activites (incliuding training) on the island of Ireland remains in place until July 20, 2020.  This must be strictly adhered to.

– The Softball Ireland insurance policy (and in particular the Public Liability part of the policy) remains suspended until July 20, 2020. Should any player or small group of players participate in any Softball activities prior to July 20, 2020they do so at their own risk and are fully liable for any injuries / damage to other participants, third party bystanders or prorperty.   

Please do not hesitate to contact Colum Lavery should you have any questions on the matter.

Home plate with a bat, balls and helmet.
by Andrew Craven

Softball Ireland Return to Play Framework

Softball Ireland are fortunate to have two doctors on the Board, representing North and South of the border respectively, as our medical committee. Following the most recent public health advice from the HSE and the NI Executive, they have presented initial return to play timelines to the Board. Following receipt of feedback from the regions, the Board have approved these as our national framework. The committee will now consider detailed return to play protocols (including playing rules), while the Board works with the regions on challenges such as insurance costs, field availability and competition structure. 

1. Seek to reactivate Softball Ireland insurance as of 20th July 2020.

2. Teams may train from 20th July 2020 provided insurance is in place, no more than two teams are present at the diamond and the Softball Ireland return to play protocols are adhered to.

3. Games may commence from 1st August 2020 provided insurance is in place, no more than two teams are present at a diamond and the Softball Ireland return to play protocols are adhered to.

4. No tournaments will be sanctioned in 2020, including BWC, IOST, SINCC, and club/national tournaments at home or abroad.

5. Team captains must submit electronically a list of attendees at training or games, within 24 hours, in line with HSE contact tracing requirements, for 6-week retention.

6. SI will make a final decision on Softball Ulster activity after the NI Executive publishes timelines for their recently published roadmap.

Expected return to play timeline
Expected Softball Ireland Return to Play Timeline

This position is subject to change as further information is made available to the public by the HSE and NI Executive. Final decisions on when games will be played, competition structures and fees will be set by Softball Ireland and the regions, subject to this framework and the SI Return to Play Protocols (TBA) being adhered to. The Softball Ireland Return to Play Protocols will be issued no later than the 30th of June 2020. Any questions to secretary@softball.ie.

Under-22 Women's Team
by Colum Lavery

European Competitions Update

APRIL 2, 2020 – IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Softball Ireland have received confirmation this morning that due to the ongoing global crisis caused by the COVID-19 vires the WBSC Europe Softball Division has decided amend it’s 2020 tournament schedule.

WBSC Europe Softball Division has confirmend the following:

  • European softball international events for 2020 under Softball Europe have been cancelled except for;
  • European Championships which act as qualifiers for World Cups 2021- the events have now been postponed to September.

What does this mean for softball Ireland?? Softball Ireland National teams and clubs were entered in three competitions in 2020 and update on the status of these tournaments is below:

  • Women’s European Championship postponed to September 20 – 26, 2020
  • Men’s Slowpitch European Championship *CANCELLED*
  • European CO-ED Super Cup (Dodder) *CANCELLED*

The Fastpitch Ireland Board, Softball Ireland Board and Medical Committee will review Ireland’s participation in the Women’s European Championship once venue’s have been confirmed. Any decision on Ireland’s participation in the event will be athelete driven with consideration been given to the health & safety of the players and whether it is felt the athletes will have adequate time and opportunity to prepare and condition for the tournament.

The full statement from the WBSC Europe Softball Division is available HERE

by Colum Lavery

2020 Tournament Calendar

Softball Ireland have published the provisional 2020 tournament calendar on its website.

The calender currently outlines the 2020 Softball Ireland, Softball Leinster and Softball Ulster calendar of events. Any clubs wishing to host a tournament during 2020 will shortly receive a link with an application form for tournament approval.

The calender will be updated throughout the season as additional club tournaments are announced and the Softball Leinster dates are confirmed.

Softball Ireland 2020 Tournament Schedule

by Colum Lavery

Ireland Team Entries for 2020 Confirmed

Softball Ireland have confirmed the National Team Entries for 2020 Season

Men’s Slowpitch National Team

The second Men’s Slowpith European Championships is scheduled to be held in 2020. To date, no host or date for the tournament has been confirmed and Softball Ireland have requested a meeting with the ESF at the 2020 congress to discuss its concerns that there is a possibility there will be no European Club or International Softball tournaments in Europe in the 2020 season.

Ireland have entered the Men’s National Team in the tournament and the full list of entered teams for the tournament can be seen here.

by Colum Lavery

Super Cup Entries Confirmed

16 Teams Confirmed for Slowpitch Super Cup

Softball Europe have confirmed that 16 Clubs in total have entered the COED European Slowpitch Super Cup for 2020. The tournament is due to be held in August 2020, however at this juncture in time no Federation has put itself forward as a potential host.

It is hoped that more details on the tournament will be provided at the Softball Europe congress in February 2020 so that Dodder Dynamoes and Belfast Brawlers, the two clubs representing Ireland at the tournament, can plan well in advance for the tournament. 

More details on the tournament and previous winners may be found at europeansoftball.org/cspesc/ including details of Dodders famous win in 2009.

Confirmed Tournament Entries

A1Pioneers*GBR
A2Bandits & Witches LinzAUT
A3Chucks SoftballAUT
A4AfterburnersBEL
A5Mortsel SkywalkersBEL
A6Akademics SofiaBUL
A7DNAceCZE
A8Sparks Mladé BukyCZE
A9Mannheim TornadosGER
A10UCE TravelersGER
A11London ChromiesGBR
A12Windsor KnightsGBR
A13Belfast BrawlersIRL
A14Dodder DynamoesIRL
A15Tex Town TigersNED
A16LokomotivaSRB
by Colum Lavery

2020 Dates Confirmed

BWC 2020 & IOST 2020 Dates Confirmed

The Softball Ireland Board at its meeting on December 11, 2019 confirmed the dates for the 2020 IOST and BWC as follows:

BWC 2020

The annual start of season tournament and first major trophy of the year will return to ALSAA in 2020. As ever it will be an opportunity to blow off those cobwebs and get ready for the season ahead.

Date: Saturday April 25, 2020

Venue: ALSAA Sports Grounds

Registration Link: Click Here to Register Your Team

Cost: €100 per team

IOST 2020

Following on from the successful 2019 IOST tournament, Elaine Barr and Julie Trundle will again lead the planning and organisation of IOST 2020, promising that the first IOST of the new decade will be the best one ever. The tournament will be again played in the University of Limerick and accommodation links will be available shortly.

Date: Saturday & Sunday August 22/23, 2020

Venue: University of Limerick

Registration Link: Click Here to Register Your Team

Cost: €280 per team