Program Summary

Program Season: October - July
Age Group: 13-16 Years of Age
Gender: Male and Female

Current Program Status: 

2025-2026 Nominations Now Open
Nominations Close Tuesday 30 September, 2025

Trials will take place: 
6:00 - 9:00pm
Tuesday 14 October 2025, and
Tuesday 21 October 2025

Milton Park Softball Complex, Ingleburn
* Athletes must attend BOTH trials to be eligible for selection.
 

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport implements high performance programs for talented young athletes from South West Sydney across a number of sports. The Academy implements a Softball program in association with the local associations and Softball NSW, and is provided by high performance coaching staff.

This program is targeted for athletes who are participating within their respective association representative teams at state championships, and aiming to develop their skills for performance within higher level junior and senior club representative teams.

Athletes currently, or with the potential to be, selected in Softball NSW State Squads are eligible to apply and participate within parts of the SWSAS Academy program. Athletes selected within Softball NSW State U16 Teams may be able to participate in educational and wellbeing and athlete support components of the program, subject to the approval of Softball NSW. 

The Academy will also work closely with Softball NSW and local Associations to formulate an Umpire Development Program, that will train and attend education, strength and conditioning, and competition elements of the program alongside the Softball squad. Softball NSW will provide umpire development support and mentoring with this element of the program. 
EOI for Softball Umpires will be sent via Local Associations throughout September 2025. 

Program Objectives

Create an environment where athletes can develop the necessary tactical, technical, physiological and psychological skill competencies to aid progression through their sports Athlete High Performance Pathway.

Develop athletes to be competitive, with a fundamentally sound base.

Provide fundamental individual and squad skill development sessions for athletes during representative off-season, and in-season maintenance programs, as a part of the Softball NSW High Performance Pathway program. 

Compliment athletes local club and representative team training, encourage and develop athletes to be leaders within those teams.

Prepare athletes for NSW High Performance trials and pathways, such as the NSW U16's State Squads and Teams, and future NSW and/or National selection. 

Athlete Benefits

The program provides access to pathway performance coaching, analysis of individual skill and development within a squad structure, sports science testing, and access to high performance strength and conditioning programs.

A large range of athlete appropriate education workshops such as sport psychology, nutrition, drugs in sport awareness, public speaking, resilience, media training, sports medicine and injury prevention are also undertaken as a part of the regular training program.

The South West Sydney Academy of Sport Softball program is closely aligned to the Softball NSW high performance curriculum, and operates in conjunction with fellow Regional Academy of Sport Softball programs. As such, is designed to introduce athletes to the State and National high performance pathway. And include training in the NSW Style of Play along with technical and tactical skill development. 

Key performance opportunities will be selected to best suit the current development level of athletes, and may include events scheduled in conjunction with other NSW Regional Academies of Sport, Softball NSW and Interstate High Performance programs, and/or visiting International programs, through camp-like training environments, or performance tournament opportunities.

Training and Performance Opportunities

• The Academy will conduct regular on-field training sessions that will include individual and squad based fundamental skill development training between October and July. A focus on team dynamics and tactical skill development will take place towards the latter part of the program.

• Additional Academy education sessions and off-field development may take place following the conclusion of the "program year", with the program formally concluding at the Annual Athlete Graduation and Sport Awards Dinner, generally held in late July.

• Regular training sessions will be aligned to avoid clashes with the representative training and competition schedules of those clubs within the South West Sydney Academy of Sport catchment area, as much as possible. 

• Athletes will be required to undertake a strength and conditioning program, including access to a supervised gym program throughout the period.

• Subject to the athletes commitment to the Academy, training performance and depth of squad, the Academy intends to compete in a  "Academy Challenge Series" alongside neighbouring Regional Academies of Sport (RASi) and Softball NSW Metro-Academy teams, to be held in February 2026. 

• The Academy may send age and gender appropriate team's to other tournaments, or conduct Development Camps/Challenges with other Regional Academy or high performance programs and invited teams through the program period.

• Training sessions will take place at Softball Association grounds throughout the South West Sydney region. Additional sessions, including optional battery sessions, may take place at the indoor training facility, RBI Australia, in Narellan. A full training and performance schedule will be provided to successful athletes through the XPS Network online communication tool. 

Squad and Support Staff

2025-2026 Softball Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Marsheal Walker
Assistant Coaches: Evan Walker, Jasmine Taylor and Ray Gavin

Squad Managers: Rod Taylor and Joanne McClure

Athlete Eligibility

• Athletes must be between 13 and 15 years of age as of 31 December 2025.
  • Ie born 2010 - 2012
• Athletes must be a registered member of Softball NSW
• Athletes must reside in, or attend school, or compete for a SNSW affiliated association within the Academy area of Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool or Wollondilly local Government areas.

In addition;

• Athletes who have been, or are selected into Softball NSW U16 State Squads are eligible to participate within parts of the  Academy Program, subject to the approval of Softball NSW. 

Selection Process

What to Expect:

The Softball squad is selected based on the athletes performance at an open trial.

The Academy Softball program trial will feature a number of skill and drill components, followed by a series of short-sided or modified match-play scenario to assess the athletes skill and potential. 

Elements of sport science testing and/or fitness assessment may be conducted as a part of the trial. 

One or more trials may be conducted.

Selection Process:

• Athletes must complete a South West Sydney Academy of Sport Athlete Nomination Form prior to the advertised closing date. 
• Athletes must attend at all trial dates. If an athlete is unable to attend a trial they must provide a reason in writing, prior to that trial to gain an exemption. 
• Prospective athletes Parents must attend an Academy Information session, which will take place at the same time as one of the trials. This will be identified on the Nomination Page and communicated to parents by the email provided in the nomination form when confirming the trials information. 

• The Academy may select up to 14 x  Male and 14 x Female Athletes within the Softball program. 
• The Academy will select a squad, the forming of teams will not be the primary intent of the Softball program. 
• Final selections, number of athletes and squad composition will be made dependant on the talent available during the trial process. 
• Successful athletes will be advised within seven (7) days of the the final trial.  

Athlete Scholarship Levy

• An Athlete Scholarship levy of $300 inclusive of GST, will apply to all successful athletes. 
• This levy assists in offsetting the program costs of;
  • Annual Athlete Membership including ID Card, Athlete Journal, Annual Awards Dinner admission; 
  • Training and Development including training venue hire, sports equipment, skill development programming, and guest / coaching costs.
  • Education and Support Services including online access to programs / Lumin network, targeted sports education lectures and workshops with guest presenters, sport specific strength and conditioning program with an Academy S&C partner facility, sport science testing, and access to athlete wellbeing and support service network providers.

Additional Fees / Levies

Uniform Costs

• All uniform purchases are to be made via the Academy's uniform supplier ACEIT, utilising their online store. 
• New athletes will be required to purchase uniform consisting of at minimum, Athlete Polo Shirt, Walkout Shorts and Gym T-shirt. The cost of this is approx. $90. 
• New athletes will be provided a discount code to purchase an Academy tracksuit following receipt of payment of the Athlete Scholarship Levy. 
• Additional competition uniform costs exist, specific to sport requirements, which athletes will need to purchase. The required items, if not listed below, will be identified at the sport program induction. 
• Athletes may purchase additional Academy items, that includes Hoodie, Socks, Towel, Sports Bag, Backpacks, and Active Wear. 
  • Softball has requested all athletes to purchase a Hoodie as a part of the Softball uniform. 

Camps, Tours and Tournaments

• Camps, Tours and Tournaments form an important part of each sport program structure. The costs of these events, as with the overall sport program, are heavily subsidised by the Academy and its partners.
• Camp / Tour costs may be applied for certain activities throughout the program year and will be communicated well ahead of the event. These are generally costed at $100-$150 per day and include transport, accommodation and the majority of meal costs, as well as any entry fees associated with tournaments or performance elements of the camp / tour. 
• Eligible athletes who are selected to represent the Academy at the Regional Academy Games in Tamworth in April 2026 will be required to pay a Games levy of $450, which will be invoiced separately to the above Athlete Scholarship Levy.
• Tournaments held locally (where the Academy does not provide Accommodation) may attract a nominal fee of between $10 and $50 depending on the sport requirements, and are used to assist in covering the tournament entry, venue hire and any transport costs.

All Athlete levies must be paid in full within 30 days of the invoiced date, or the scholarship offer will be automatically withdrawn; unless financial hardship or payment plan arrangements have been made with the CEO.

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