By Tania Phillips
TWEED District Softball is set to go back to it’s roots and head indoors as the local committee works to revitilise and save the once booming sport here on the Tweed.
President Linda Threlfo said the sport – which once boasted more than 400 players of all ages at its height – had been struggling with just 60 junior players signing on last year and no senior competition at all.
However rather than see softball, which has produced a number of state and regional representative teams and players since the formation of the Tweed District Association back in the early ’90s, committee members are determined to keep the interest and revitalise the sport.
Threlfo said part of the plan was to run an indoor competition for juniors on Saturday mornings at the Chinderah Indoor Centre as well as a Tuesday night seniors competition.
“Due to a drop in numbers this season Tweed District Softball Association has decided to try something new and offer an indoor version of softball for juniors aged around 10-15 years of age,” she said.
“We want to keep the sport alive in the Tweed if we can. It would be a real shame to see it die so that is why we doing this to keep it alive and grow it again.
“By going indoors we are taking it right back to its grass roots, softball started as indoor sport.”
Threlfo said a “come and try” day was held on Tuesday to try and iron out any kinks and work out which rules would and wouldn’t work. The committee will meet on Tuesday night to further discuss the competition and it’s rules before the proposed start on 19 October.
She said a lot of research and time would be spent trying to make sure the competition was fun and competitive for the young players.
“I googled indoor softball and it seems that the only other competition currently running is in Sutherland in Sydney,” Threlfo said.
“I rang them to get some advice about the new competition.”
She said by going indoors she hoped that it would be less time in the sun for the young players a well a chance to play more games.
Rain kept the youngsters off the diamond earlier this year with just one game possible after Christmas, and by going indoors Tweed District Softball hopes to combat both sun and rain.
“The inaugural competition will run for eight weeks before Christmas,” Threlfo said.
“We are hoping that this faster version of the game will encourage new players to come and play.
“Teams don’t need as many players as outdoor softball, because of this we are hoping we can create more teams.
“The games will be played inside an indoor cricket field at Chinderah Sports Centre. Final rules, dates, game length, costs etc, are being finalised this week.”
She urged any interested senior and junior players to contact the association on tweedsoftball@iinet.net.au, 0409 279 934 or 07 5523 2571.
