Softball in Otago has experienced some tough times in recent years, but there are hopes things could be looking up.
Numbers have been dwindling and reached a crisis point last year, when the premier men’s competition consisted of just two teams.
Since then, Otago Softball has put in plenty of work to try to turn things around.
"We’ve been quite active over the off-season in talking to schools, trying to build the clubs up again and really getting back to the basics and the grassroots," Otago Softball development manager Doug Hill said.
The sport would hold a "Have a Go" day tomorrow at Bathgate Park between 11am and 1.30pm.
There would be junior and senior games on offer, along with tee ball, a free barbecue and club registration tables.
"We’ve always been reasonably strong with the tee ball, but the message we got back at the end of last season was that people just weren’t too aware of what happened next," Hill said.
"They didn’t really know about junior softball at Ellis Park and that pathway that the kids can keep going on.
"So it was very much an educational process that we went through. Already there’s been some good things coming back from that. Schools that had stopped at tee ball have been pushing kids forward to carry on with softball."
He said that interaction with the schools was key.
Numbers already looked to be on the rise and more teams are expected to enter this year’s competition.
However he said it would be a long process.
"We’re very honest that it’s not going to be a one-season quick fix."
"We’re probably looking at a long-term plan over the next five years. Mainly start at the schools and we’ll build it up from there."
The senior competition was set to start on the first weekend of October, while schools would begin after the holidays.
- Jeff Cheshire
