Softball NL
1296A Kenmount Road A1L 1N3 Paradise, NL, Canada

Softball Canada Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team Softball Canada is looking for passionate members of the softball community who are interested in sharing their experiences and contributing their ideas by joining our newly formed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team. The sport of softball has a strong appeal due to ease of play, adaptability, low cost and varying levels of competition and involvement with strong traditional roots, particularly among indigenous peoples, the ...LGBTQI2S+ community, people with a disability and women in sport. PURPOSE The purpose of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team is to provide a strong voice to underrepresented groups and their allies to help strengthen Softball Canada’s values of providing fair and inclusive access, supporting safe and fun environments, and operating with respect and dignity. The Team will serve in an advisory capacity, with the main objectives of: -Building stronger relationships with underrepresented groups and members. -Gathering valuable information that will help guide decision-making. -Reviewing and updating current Safe Sport policies and systems with the goal of reducing or eliminating barriers to participation. -Developing resources and content that highlight the sport’s initiatives. -Execute short, mid and long-term goals as established by the team. The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team will be able to suggest any additional objectives as they feel are required under the scope of this committee. MEMBERSHIP The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team will be comprised of diverse representatives who will work towards the delivery of specific outcomes and recommendations. In making recommendations, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team will be asked to consider: 1. Their personal experiences in the sport of softball in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 2. Barriers to participation they have experienced themselves or have heard from others. 3. Actions that can be taken by Softball Canada to directly address identified barriers. 4. Ideas on how Softball Canada can better promote diversity, equity and inclusion. AREAS OF FOCUS Softball Canada has identified the following areas of focus for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team: -Black / People of Colour -Indigenous -LGBTQ2IS+ -People with a Disability -Socio-Economic Status -Women in Sport APPLICATIONS Candidates interested in being part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team are asked to fill out the Application Form on the Softball Canada Website at https://softball.ca/deiteam by January 8th, 2021. Applications will be reviewed by the Committee Chair and assigned Softball Canada staff. Recommended candidates will be presented to Softball Canada’s President, CEO and Board of Directors for approval. Softball Canada is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive Team all applicants will be considered.

Softball NL Announces 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Head Coaches Softball NL President Gary Corbett, Softball NL Executive Director Dave Feener, The Softball NL Board of Directors And The Softball NL Coaching Committee Would Like To Take This Opportunity To Congratulate The Following Individuals On Being Named Head Coaches For The Softball NL U14 Female & Male, U16 Female & Male, U19 Male and U23 Male 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Fastpitch Teams. Softball NL 2021 Provincial (All-S...Continue reading

Notice: U16 Male High Performance Provincial Camp (Postponed) Softball NL, on behalf of Sean Cadigan (Minor Director & High Performance Committee Chair) and Chris LeDrew (Head Coach U16 Male Provincial All-Star Team), would like to take this opportunity to advise membership that unfortunately due to lack of gym/facility availability, the U16 Male High Performance Provincial Camp is postponed until gym/facility space is secured. 2020 has certainly been a year of challenges, an...d this is just another challenge that as a group we will work hard to overcome. With the 2020 calendar quickly coming to a close, here is looking forward to 2021. In the meantime, interested athletes are encouraged to submit their name and email to Dave Feener (Softball NL Executive Director) at [email protected] by Friday, December 18, 2020. Yours In Softball, Sean Cadigan (Minor Director, High Performance Committee Chair) Chris LeDrew (Head Coach U16 Male Provincial All-Star Team) Dave Feener (Executive Director)

Softball NL Unsuccessful In Canadian Bid For 2024 WBSC Men’s World Cup Softball NL President Gary Corbett, Softball NL Executive Director Dave Feener and the Softball NL Board of Directors have been working diligently behind the scenes trying to bring major softball events to the Province of Newfoundland Labrador....Continue reading

Athlete Eligibility Update - Niagara 2022 Age Categories for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games In light of the decision to postpone the Canada Summer Games in Niagara by a year, the Canada Games Council (CGC) has been working collaboratively with all affected National Sport Organizations (NSOs) to review each sport’s technical package and its athlete eligibility rules for 2022.... Where practical, sports have adjusted their age categories so that the same cohort of athletes that was eligible for the Games in 2021 will remain eligible for the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games. With the exception of baseball, cycling, golf and rugby sevens, all approved age categories for sports on the 2022 Canada Games program can be found below. For those sports highlighted above whose age categories have yet to be identified, the CGC Sport Committee continues to work closely with those NSOs in order to make a determination, and we expect a decision to be announced for each of these sports by early 2021. Age categories are uniquely selected for each sport with the goal of developing Canada’s next generation of national team athletes in the Train to Compete phase of the Long Term Development Model (LTD), or another suitable phase of the LTD as justified by a NSO, and approved by the CGC Sport Committee. The LTD is a general framework of athlete development that also forms the basis for sport-specific models created by each NSO in Canada. Full Article: https://niagara2022games.ca//age-categories-for-the-niaga/ SOFTBALL MALE: Under 22 as of December 31, 2021 --Year of birth: 2000 or later AB, MB, NB: Eligible to select up to two [2] under 23 players --Year of birth: 1999 NT, NU, PE, YT: Eligible to select up to three [3] under 23 players --Year of birth: 1999 FEMALE: Under 19 as of December 31, 2021 --Year of birth: 2003 or later NB, NL, NS: Eligible to select up to two [2] under 20 players --Year of birth: 2002 NT, NU, PE, YT: Eligible to select up to three [3] under 20 players --Year of birth: 2002

Jerry Kirk Appointed Softball NL Umpire-in-Chief Softball NL President Gary Corbett, on behalf of Softball NL Executive Director Dave Feener and the Softball NL Board of Directors, would like to take this opportunity to announce the appointment of Jerry Kirk (St. John’s) as Softball NL Umpire-in-Chief. Jerry was an active umpire for 9-Years (1993-1999, 2001 & 2004), attended 7 Canadian Fastpitch Championships (1995-1998, 2002 & 2004), obtained his Level V Designation in 1998 ...and represented Softball Canada at the ISF Senior Men’s World Tournament held in South Africa in 2000. Jerry has umpired at the Local, Provincial, National and International levels and his ability to communicate with players and coaches allowed him to control games in all situations. Jerry served as Secretary on the Metro Umpires Association Executive in 1994 and served as Marketing Director on the Softball NL Board of Directors in 1999. In 2020, Jerry served as DUIC Elite Umpire Preparation on the Newfoundland Labrador Umpire Association Officials Development Committee and currently holds a Level Va (Administration) Status Level V official no longer active on the field or is no longer a candidate for International assignments, but is still active in Program Development and Administration. Softball NL is looking forward to working with Jerry Kirk and fully anticipate the Softball NL Umpires Program to continue to grow under his Leadership and Guidance. Congratulations Jerry! Yours in Softball, Gary Corbett Softball NL President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10th, 2020 Softball Canada Launches Female Coach and Umpire Bursary Program... Ottawa, Ont. Softball Canada is proud to be launching its first ever female coach and umpire bursary program. The program is intended to aid in the recruitment, retention, and promotion of female coaches and umpires across Canada. As part of its growing commitment to gender equity, and with thanks to targeted funding from Sport Canada, Softball Canada will be supporting initiatives that will advance the development, knowledge, and expertise of existing and aspiring female coaches and umpires. This grant program is offered not only to individual female coaches and umpires but also to clubs, and/or Provincial/Territorial associations looking to implement new, or bolster existing female coaching and umpiring programs. The grant program will open November 10th, 2020 and Softball Canada will be accepting rolling applications until the program end date of March 1st, 2021. Click https://softball.ca/resources/femalebursary to learn more. -SC- For more information, please contact: Angela Ballantyne Manager LTPD Programs Softball Canada p: (613) 523-3386 ext. 3107 w: www.softball.ca | e: [email protected]

Keith Pender Retirement From Officiating On Friday, October 02, 2020 Keith Pender (St. John’s) formally announced his retirement from the position of Umpire-in-Chief (UIC) for Softball Newfoundland Labrador, effective Friday, October 16. He also advised a change of status from criteria Level V Working Official to Vr (Retired Level V). Keith has been a registered Umpire with Softball NL and Softball Canada for 30-Years (1991-2020), was assigned to the Canadian Fastpitch Champi...onships on 11 occasions (1999, 2002-2009, 2011-2012), served in various Administrative Roles President Metro Umpires Association, Scheduler, Treasurer over an 18-Year period (2002-2003, 2005-2013, 2015-2020) and served as Softball NL Umpire-in-Chief for 9-Years (2005-2010, 2017-2020). Keith thanked the Softball NL Board of Directors for the appointment as Umpire-in-Chief, the ‘Blue Team’ (Past & Present) that he had the pleasure of working with over the years, the Newfoundland Labrador Umpires Association Official Development Committee Members, Softball NL Executive Director Dave Feener and the Official Development Committee Members (Past & Present) of Softball Canada. Keith received his Level V Designation in 2005, was named Softball NL Umpire of the Year on two occasions (1999 & 2002) and was named Softball Canada Umpire of the Year in 2011. There is no denying that Keith has a passion for the game of softball and his contributions on and off the field will have a lasting effect on the game for years to come. At this time, Softball NL President Gary Corbett, on behalf of Softball NL Executive Director Dave Feener, Softball NL Board of Directors and the entire Softball NL Membership, would like to take this opportunity to extend Best Wishes to Keith Pender as he retires from the Newfoundland Labrador Umpires Association, and in particular the role as Softball NL Umpire-in-Chief. Softball NL would also like to take this opportunity to say THANK-You Keith for your 30-Years of service to our great game and let you know that your COMMITMENT, DEDICATION and PASSION for our great game was definitely APPRECIATED and will certainly be MISSED. Now that your umpiring career has come to a close, hopefully you can look back at your contributions to the game and involvement with the game with great fondness. Enjoy your additional free time with your family (wife Mary Lynn, sons Keegan and Kurt) and Softball NL wishes you All-the-Best in your Future Endeavors! Congratulations Keith! Yours in Softball, Gary Corbett Softball NL President

Softball Newfoundland Labrador Call For U19 Coaches (2021) Head Coaching Positions... Softball Newfoundland Labrador (Softball NL) is accepting applications (2nd Call) for the position of Head Coach for the following 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Teams who will be participating in the 2021 National Championships and/or Eastern Canadian Softball Championship. 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Teams U19 Female Applicants for the 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Teams should complete the Softball NL Coaching Application Form available on the Softball NL website and also submit a one-page overview of his/her coaching philosophy, a sample practice plan and a seasonal plan that summarizes the program he/she would put in place to prepare players to compete at an elite level. Please Note: For applicants to be considered for the Head Coaching position for the 2021 Provincial (All-Star) Teams they must currently possess a minimum NCCP Competition-Introduction (Certified Status) for Softball or be willing to obtain Competition-Introduction Certification at the first available opportunity. To apply, please email Softball NL Coaching Application Form along with a 1-Page Coaching Philosophy Overview, a Sample Practice Plan and a Seasonal Plan to Dave Feener (Softball NL Executive Director) at [email protected]. The Application Deadline is: Friday, November 13, 2020. Softball NL reserves the right to re-advertise any of the Head Coaching Positions. Softball Newfoundland Labrador 1296A Kenmount Road Paradise, NL A1L 1N3 www.softballnl.ca