APR 09, 2021

Softball Australia is pleased to announce the dates and venues for the 2022 National Championships that will be held in the December 2021 / January 2022 period.

The tournament format for each championship will be decided once the number of team entries is confirmed. All age-grade championships will be six days’ duration and states are permitted to enter more than one team into all age-grade championships.

Open Men’s National Softball Championship

Tuesday 30 November – Sunday 5 December; Hawker, ACT

The Open Men will kick off the reboot of the post-Covid national softball calendar, where ACT will be looking to defend their John Reid Shield title on home turf.

The championship will follow the prestigious ACT Skins tournament, which will be played from 26-28 November.

An Aussie Steelers squad will be selected following the championship, in preparation for next year’s WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand.

U23 Women’s National Softball Championship

Tuesday 14 – Sunday 19 December 2021; West Beach, SA

South Australia will host the U23 Women for the first time, where Queensland will be looking to defend their Joyce Lester Shield title.

This championship will be used as a selection event for the Open Women’s Squad, providing a fantastic opportunity to see Australia’s next group of emerging athletes, who will be part of the pathway potentially towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Although the event is being played in December 2021, it is classified as a 2022 championship and therefore those born in 1999 or later will be eligible to play.

Open Women’s National Softball Championship

Sunday 2 – Saturday 8 January 2022; West Beach, SA

After not hosting an elite women’s national event for many years, South Australia will host two in the space of a few weeks.

NSW will be aiming to claim a record fifth consecutive Gilley’s Shield – no state has ever won five consecutive titles – whilst South Australia will be looking to avenge their one-run grand final loss in 2020 with a title win on home soil.

There may be some retirements and changes to team lists following the Tokyo Olympic Games, so this event provides a great opportunity for some new faces to shine.

U18 Girls’ and Boys’ National Softball Championships

Sunday 2 – Friday 7 January 2022; Mirrabooka, WA

The U18 Girls’ and Boys’ Championships will be played as a combined event.

In the females, NSW will be looking to claim a third consecutive Elinor McKenzie Shield, whilst in the males, Queensland will be aiming to make it a record fifth consecutive Nox Bailey Shield.

National selectors will be keeping a close eye on both events, particularly those boys born in 2005, who will be eligible for the Junior Steelers team at the 2023 WBSC Junior Men’s World Cup.

U16 Girls’, U16 Boys’ and U23 Men’s National Softball Championships

Sunday 9 – Friday 14 January 2022; Waverley, Vic

Waverley will play host to three championships combined into one super event.

In the U23 Men’s, Queensland will be aiming to win a record fourth consecutive Laing Harrow Shield.

The U23 Men’s event will essentially be an U24 event, with players born in 1998 eligible to play at the championship. This follows the decision by the WBSC to postpone the inaugural WBSC U23 Men’s Softball World Cup from 2021 to 2022 and allow those who would have been eligible in 2021 to remain eligible in 2022.

Following the U23 Men’s National Championship, an Australian U23 Men’s Squad will be selected, who will be vying for selection into the final team for the World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in Argentina.

In the U16 Boys, Queensland will be looking to win a third consecutive Arthur Allsopp Shield.

The championship will be a key selection event for the Australian U17 Boys’ Squad, who will be eligible to play in the Junior Steelers team at the 2023 WBSC Junior Men’s World Cup.

In the U16 Girls, Queensland will aim to defend their Esther Deason Shield title. National selectors will keep a close eye on the event, particularly those girls born in 2007 or later who will be eligible for the Junior Spirit team for the 2025 WBSC Junior Women’s World Cup.

U14 Girls’ and Boys’ National Softball Championships

Saturday 15 – Thursday 20 January 2022; Hawker, ACT

The National Championships summer schedule concludes with the combined U14 Championships in the ACT.

This event will be the first opportunity for many young female players to be identified as potential future Junior Spirit players for the 2025 WBSC Junior Women’s World Cup.

These championships will be followed by the always popular ACT Australia Day Tournament, which will be held from 22-24 January.

National Championship Calendar

The dates and venues for the inaugural Over 35 National Championships and other national events will be confirmed at a later date.