The top players from the Jersey Softball Association head to Guernsey this Saturday, 30th
September, to take on island rivals in the annual inter-insular Slowpitch Softball fixtures.

Two island sides and two JSA division title winners will head to Guernsey aiming to
wrestle back honours on the diamonds at Beau Sejour.

Jersey Softball head coach Phil Bouchard has been preparing strong squads to represent
the island as A and B teams in the Muratti fixtures, while the captains of Jackson’s
Phoenix (Div 1 winners) and Marwyn Jersey Royals (Div 2 winners) will be playing to bring
back the Upton titles.

​In the final week of team preparations coach Bouchard said, “We have had some very
strong competition in our two leagues this summer. This has produced a new look to the
Jersey Squads which have greater strength and depth going into this years’ fixtures. A
number of the local title winning players form part of our island squads and there is an
abundance of talent on display in all positions.”

Preparations culminated on Sunday with a closely contested head to head for the island
representative teams.

Over 50 JSA players, coaches, committee members and supporters will travel on
Saturday supported by sponsorship from DMS Jersey Ltd and CrazyKangaroo.com.

We're pleased to announce Jersey Softball is back for the 2022/23 season after what has been a very 'up and down' couple of years.

This season the Corefocus Summer League gets underway on the 15th of May at Les Quennevais Sports Centre. The softball diamond (Pitch 1) and our Pitch 2 behind the Hockey Club will host games every Sunday until late August. Throughout the season some teams will be off island playing at tournaments in the UK and US.

The official _Systemslabs Jersey Softball team are heading away to London at the end of April to take part in BSUK’s Recreational Slowpitch Cup. This will be the first off island tournament since 2019. Covid restrictions meant there were no tournaments in 2020 and last year travel was still problematic for teams and there  were no opportunities to play outside of the island. 

Phil Bouchard, JSA Island Coach said "It's great to be able to get away again after two long years. It's exciting to be coaching and organising a team to be able to do so. We've not played competitively as a squad since 2019 so we're going away with a new look group of players and using the Slowpitch Cup as an opportunity to get ourselves back in the game. When we travel to tournaments we will be competing in up to 10 games during a weekend.  It's very different to playing one game a week during the local summer league.”

2022 also sees the return of the Manage Engine Corporate League in Jersey. It's a fun introduction to Softball for all comers with rules that are simpler to learn during team training before the league starts in June. The corporate league will see 10 teams from the islands’ corporate and business workplaces compete mid-week for a trophy and bragging rights! For more information about the corporate league or to enter a team, email corporate@jerseysoftball.com 

Last year, the Jersey Softball Association were successful in receiving funding from the Jersey Community Foundations fund. This has allowed for updated equipment as well as brand new youth team kit to be purchased which will be used during youth team development games. Our development coach has been working alongside secondary schools providing training to PE teachers on how to play the game within their curriculum and encourage young players to come and take part in a youth league down the line. Anyone interested in playing is encouraged to email Development@jerseysoftball.com

​JSA president, Chris Halford said "This is just the start. There's a real buzz around the sport this year and although our indoor season was disrupted due to some restrictions, we're ready for the summer season to start. It's great that we're looking at introducing youth to the sport through schools and setting up some youth games too. The youth are the future of our sport. We're always looking at more ways to be accessible to Islanders and that includes looking at playing games in the evening and not just weekends. With softball being one of a few mixed-gender team sports in the Island, it's important to keep our name out there and make sure we afford as many people the opportunity to play as possible"

Are you interested in becoming a BASU certified umpire? The Jersey Softball Association are hosting a BASU Umpire Training course this year before the 2022 outdoor season starts.

BASU Trainer Pete Saunders will be coming to Jersey the weekend 30th April/1st May to lead the course which will be taking place at Communicare St Brelades.  This session is ideal for people interested in learning more about umpiring softball, becoming a BASU certified umpire, and even for those who would like a refresher on the intricacies of umpiring a softball game.

If you want to find out more, please get in touch with JSA Chief Umpire Steve Le Monnier: chiefumpire@jerseysoftball.com

To register for the course please fill in the form here.

Thanks
The JSA Team

We currently have 3 vacancies within the JSA and are looking to fill these spots with dedicated and passionate people, like you. The current vacant positions are; JSA Secretary, Development Officer and Media Officer. To find out more about these roles, either send us an email (president@jerseysoftball.com) and we'll tell you more about the roles or click this link and view the constitution. https://www.jerseysoftball.com/jsa-constitution.html
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You'll never be alone in the role as the current committee have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. We want you to succeed, so we'll be with you every step of the way. The roles for Development and Media officers can also be run as a team. So, you might be a Softball couple wanting to help out or you and some close Softball buddies may want to get together to progress a role. We're open to all ideas and options.

Please be advised that the 2020 AGM will be held on Thursday 19th November 2020 at 7pm, online using Zoom.  The Agenda and draft Minutes from last year's AGM have been circulated with joining instructions for the Zoom call.  Should you wish to attend please contact your captains for details.
Should you have any items to be added to the Agenda, please email them to president@jerseysoftball.com.  Additionally, should any members be interested in standing for a position on the committee, please let us know as soon as you possible.

Agenda:
1. IN ATTENDANCE
2. APOLOGIES
3. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE AGM HELD ON 26 NOVEMBER 2019
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THESE MINUTES
5. PRESIDENT'S REPORT
6. TREASURER'S REPORT
7. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND/OR STANDING ORDERS
8. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
   a. PRESIDENT
   b. VICE-PRESIDENT
   c. TREASURER
   d. SECRETARY
   e. FIXTURES OFFICER
   f. UMPIRE-IN-CHIEF
   g. DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
   h. PRESS OFFICER
   i. CORPORATE LEAGUE ORGANISER
   j. WEBMASTER
   k. ISLAND COACH
9. DATE OF NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
10. AOB:
    a. Indoor 2020

​As we approach what would be the 2nd month mark of the summer softball
season, we have only very recently been given government guidelines in
relation to sport that we are working on. This is to make sure that
when we can give you the go ahead for training sessions, you have
everything you need to make sure you keep yourselves, teammates and
family safe!

I have been working alongside Jersey Sport to make sure our thoughts
and ideas are heard. That said, we are fully aware we have areas
within the sport where social distancing can't be adhered to so for
now, games are still off the cards.

That said, with the latest government advice, it will see us very soon
be able allow team training sessions.

We envisage this being run by your captains using the advice from us
and Jersey Sport. A proposal has been sent for them to review and I
should hear back very soon. I would like to think that by Monday, we
would be able to roll out the guidance for you to organise sessions
for your players.

Now to the bad news! We have decided that there will be no 2020 summer
season. Primarily because there is no sign of when we will be able to
play full games and the window to play all the games required for the
league has closed. Playing every week with no breaks, double headers
and impossible umpiring duties made it easier for us to make this
decision.

Based on that, I have advised the GSA that we will not be hosting the
Upton's and Muratti this year. It would not be fair for both islands
when we are at different stages of each island's own lockdown process.

Some good news though, we have a small (but affective) team working
behind the scenes planning a local tournament or two for when we are
able to play. This should give us the opportunity to get a decent
amount of game time before the weather turns. This is of course all
dependent on restrictions being lifted enough for us to play properly.

Please bear with us while we iron out the finer points to get us
training again. I would appreciate you feeding this information to
your team by way of forwarding this or posting the information on any
social media accounts you may have!

Best wishes and stay safe.

ChrisPresident 

Please be advised that the 2019 AGM will be held on Tuesday 26th November 2019 at 6pm, at a venue to be confirmed (we anticipate it will be at Fort Regent, as usual).  The Agenda and draft Minutes from last year's AGM will also be circulated in early course.
Should you have any items to be added to the Agenda, please email them to president@jerseysoftball.com.  Additionally, should any members be interested in standing for a position on the committee, please let us know as soon as you can – all positions are up for grabs.   Exec – if you are happy to remain in post for another year, please also let us know.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Approve minutes of the 2018 AGM 
3. Matters arising from the minutes
4. Presidents Report
5. Treasurers Report
6. Amendments to Constitution and/or Standing Orders
7. Election of Executive Committee
  President
  Vice-President
  Treasurer
  Secretary
  Fixtures Officer
  Umpire in Chief
  Development Officer
  Press Officer
  Corporate League Organiser
  Webmaster
  Island Coach
8. Date of next meeting
9. AOB