Subs, tournaments, website and another GB softball player

Subs

Sadly, only 15 people have paid their subs for the 2011 season. Please bring along your money/cheque to your game this week, or transfer online (email Emma Allen for bank details) as I'm afraid the Captains can not let you play as of next week if you have not paid up.

Availability

There will be selection meeting next Wednesday 25th May between Captains and Coaches to decide your team for the rest of the season so if you haven't done so already, please send your availabiliy through to Liz Williamson.

Fastpitch

After the success of our debut on 8th May, CSC will be entering a team on the other tournament days which are 11th June, 18th June and 9th July. If you are interested in playing on one or all of these dates then please contact Chris Snelling. We need 8 people minimum on the day. Also, if you are male and interested in playing Div 1 in the afternoon, then please also make yourself known to Chris.

Tournaments

Well done to both Phoenix and Flames for the past weekend's success at Diamond 1! If you have not done so already, please return your completed form (available here) to Phil Masters as we are a few players short for future tournaments. As you know already, spots are filled on a first come first serve basis but we also wanted to let you know that if with two weeks to go Phil has not got enough CSC members to fill all spots in the team, he will invite outside players to come and help us out.

Social

The committee will be organising a social for all club members very soon. If you have any marvellous ideas and/or would like to help out, please let me know by replying to this email.

Website

Now the 2011 season is in full swing, please visit our softball club's website to familiarise yourself with our codes of conduct, child protection policies and emergency procedures, especially if you are a new CSC member. This is a Clubmark requirement. You will also be able to see pictures and find contact details of this year's committee members, such as Karen Jones who is our child welfare officer, so you can recognise anyone should you wish to contact them.

Lastly, congratulations

Huge congratualtions to James Rowe who is now the newest member of the U19's GB squad. We're so proud, sniff!

Unbeaten on debut in London Fastpitch Softball League.

Chalfont Softball Club is trying something new this season and has entered a team in the London Fastpitch Softball League.

We normally play slowpitch softball but an opportunity arose to take part in the fastpitch league at Richings Park not too far from Chalfont.

Fastpitch differs from slowpitch in a number of ways including, pitching being done at speeds from 50mph to 70mph, there is leading off and base stealing, batters being able to bunt the ball and the ball being live more of the time.

Our team played and won all three of its games. You can read more about our matches at the London Fastpitch Softball League. The BSF have an article on their website as well - click here to read it.

Chalfont St Peter Youth Centre taster sessions commence

Last night our head coach, Neil Turner, and secretary (Emma-Louise Allen) visted Chalfont St Peter Youth Centre to run the first of two softball taster sessions for their young people. It was a great opportunity to introduce softball to a group of local 14-16 year olds.

The session ran for an hour and took place on the centre's fenced basketball court. Neil and Emma ran some drills to introduce the basics of catching, throwing and fielding before progressing to a modified game based on indoor softball to give the attendees and idea of how a game works and to add a competitive edge between them.

Next week a further session will give the young people to have a go at batting - something that is sure to go down well with them to be followed by a more organised modified game.

It is hoped that after the two sessions a number of the young people will come and attend our next club training session on Gold Hill to fully experience the softball we play at Chalfont Softball Club. Neil and Emma also discussed the possibilty of CSC running a full game on Gold Hill for the people of the Youth Centre at some time in the future.

This series of sessions follows on from a very successful taster session we ran for Marlow Ladies Rugby Club in March. We also have a tasters booked at Beaconsfield School for 50 year 10s at the end of the month at which it is hoped there is enough interest to start an after school club.

If you have a school or organisation that you think would like to have Chalfont Softball Club run an event for you then please let us know.