Category Archives: Satellite Club

Club Review of the Year Part 12. The End of one Year, Start of Another.

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So we’ve come to the final part of our journey through 2015. Over the last 22 days and 11 parts we’ve tried to convey the highs and lows of the year. So as 2015 draws to an end and we look forward to 2016, we can take one last look at the fond memories of this year. My personal favourites moments both came against London Flames at the Diamond Series, sorry London Flames. Our two encounters in 2015 Diamond series were both epic. The only regret about them was that so few people actually got to see them, especially the Diamond 2 final.

Winners-2015-2The Winners

But enough from me, let’s celebrate the winners ones last time before we look ahead to 2016. Congratulations to the players, Giannah, Julia, Natalie, Alex, Evan, Grant and John “Eddy”, the 2015 Club MVPs and MIPs. To the teams, the Royals team that came top of the tree in the Diamond Series, the Rebels team who won at BA, the development team that came so close at the Raiders tournament. The Marlovians for their best league finish. To be honest, everyone was a winner in 2015, it was that kind of year, everyone played a part in all the successes.

Let’s not forget the other events.

The past 11 posts focused on the main events of 2015, but the club did enter other events and did well in those too. The first outing outdoor was a trip down to the south coast to the Chichester Charity event and out outdoor year started as Plate Winners. That was soon followed up with a Runners-up slot in the Plate at GB Open. We played at MLB and Leicester Labour day, without success this year. The last honour of the year can in the last main tournament where we reached the Cup final of the Windsor Last Ball event. Sadly that ended in defeat, but was the gauge for what will come next year.

History on Display

All those events have helped fill the trophy cabinet we finally got installed Cabinetthis year. 38 different honours spanning 15 years. The club history on permanent display in the club house at our own ground. To get this point we needed to collect the spoils from all those years. Without a home before, the trophies have spend many years hidden away awaiting the cabinet. So we reached out to past members who helped build the foundation of this club, they helped us fill in a number of gaps we had in our history and the gaps on the shelves too. It was not just trophies they provided, but cuttings and photos. So it was interesting to see that the earliest photos we have show the club playing in white, we spent a long time playing in blue before switching to white a couple of years back, a decision that now harks back to those early days.

What is next?

The indoor season is nearly upon us and a time when we try and blood as many new players as we can in preparation for the outdoor season. The club plans to make the step up in grade this year. The tournament Royals team will play in B-grade and the Rebels team will be the primary C-Grade team. It will be tough, especially for the Royals, but a step that is needed to keep developing the club forward. The ladies team will be invested in, both in training time and tournament entry. The club plans to hold an all-female event in May 2016, something we’ve been planning for a couple of years in conjunction with Hit and Run, which will be back for a 4th year. The Newlands satellite will continue and be the corner stone of the development program for all ages. We also hope to start of improvements to our home ground, that will be a long process but worth the journey.

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016.

It will be sad to say goodbye to 2015, we had a such a great year and will be fondly remembered. Now we look ahead to making 2016 even better.

The review of the year in full.

What is Softball?

Co-ed slowpitch softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports.

Softball is a lot like baseball in terms of the rules, but because the ball is pitched slowly to each batter (as the name implies!), it’s easy to hit the ball and succeed at the sport’s central skill. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz, and most softball games are followed by sessions at the local pub!

Come and Get Involved

Maidenhead Softball Club runs weekly sessions every Friday at Newlands Girls School in Maidenhead. Sessions from 6pm until 7:30pm and are open to anyone 11 and up.

All sessions are free, no experience needed and all equipment to get you going is supplied.

For all under-18’s attending, a parent must be in attendance at the beginning of the first session to sign permission paperwork.

For more information, email maidenheadsoftballclub@outlook.com or visit www.maidenheadsoftballclub.co.uk

Club Review of the Year Part 2. Introducing Softball via the MSC Newlands Satellite Club

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Poster_thumbIn the middle of 2014 at a Get Berkshire Active (GBA) meeting MSC first heard about Sport England’s Satellite Club program. It was decided that for 2015 MSC would try this program out. With the help of GBA and Patrick Knock from BSUK, a plan to deliver a Satellite Club was developed. The biggest challenge was finding a venue that meet the GBA criteria and somewhere MSC could deliver sessions at. We were really fortunate that Newlands Girls School stepped in to support the program. With the funding in place and the venue lined up, it was now a question of picking a launch date and advertising the program. February 4th was picked as the first session and using MSC’s close relationship with the Schools Sports Lead for the Maidenhead area we sent out posters and information to all the local school.

The first day of the club was a nervous time, did the word get out? Would anyone come? Who would come? The first night saw 3 girls from Newlands turn up and try Softball out. Of those first three, two would eventually go on to play for the Rebels in the league, but it was a start.

One month and the group had grown from 3 to 7. March was a very good month with attendance rising from 7 to 12 boosted by a large number of pupils from Altwood schooling coming to try the sport.

The whole aim for MSC in 2015 was to give as many people a chance to try Softball as possible, if any of those moved on to become members it would be a bonus. Easter Holidays meant attendance in April dropped a little, but as we went outside, May saw the average attendance reach 9 for a month for the first time.

The numbers would fluctuate through the summer and into the autumn, but weekly consistent attendances was not one of the key metrics MSC was measuring, what makes this the most successful recruitment program MSC has run is that fact that to date 57 different people, 19 adults and the rest under 18 have tried Softball, 11 have gone on to play for the Club in either League, Tournaments or both and in recent weeks, the beginnings of an under-14 team have started to emerge.

The year has taught us a number of lessons about club promotion. Using the local authorities, social media, our website and putting up posters on community notice boards around Maidenhead we have had a steady stream of enquires about Softball all year. Not all pan out, but we are very happy with the 57 who have come along.

As the Club closes in on its first birthday, the aim for 2016 is to reach the 100 mark of people trying the club and converting at least 15 attendees into full MSC members.

Come and Get Involved

What is Softball?

Co-Ed Slow-pitch softball is a social and enjoyable game that’s easy to learn and play, even for people who are not “athletes” or don’t have much experience of team sports.

Softball is a lot like baseball in terms of the rules, but because the ball is pitched slowly to each batter (as the name implies!), it’s easy to hit the ball and succeed at the sport’s central skill. The fact that men and women play together in the same team and on an equal level gives the sport a social buzz, and most softball games are followed by sessions at the local pub!

Come and Try it for Free.

Maidenhead Softball Club runs weekly sessions every Friday at Newlands Girls School in Maidenhead. Sessions from 6pm until 7:30pm and are open to anyone 11 and up.

All sessions are free, no experience needed and all equipment to get you going is supplied.

For all under-18’s attending, a parent must be in attendance at the beginning of the first session to sign permission paperwork.

For more information, email maidenheadsoftballclub@outlook.com