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Softball New Zealand

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Softball New Zealand
SportSoftball
JurisdictionNew Zealand
Founded1938
AffiliationWorld Baseball Softball Confederation
Regional affiliationWBSC Oceania
PresidentLynda O'Cain
Official website
www.softball.org.nz
New Zealand

Softball New Zealand, formerly known as the New Zealand Softball Association,[1] is the governing body for the sport of softball in New Zealand. Softball New Zealand consists of a number of regional associations and local clubs.

History

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On 11 January 1938, it was founded as New Zealand Softball Association.[1] New Zealand's first national men’s inter-provincial tournament took place on 25 March 1939 at the Winter Show Grounds in Wellington.

New Zealand first competed on the international stage when Australia women's teams toured New Zealand in 1949. The International Softball Federation (ISF) (now World Baseball Softball Confederation) hosted the first women's world championships in Melbourne, Australia in 1965. New Zealand finished fourth in a field of 5. The women's team won their first world title in 1982.[2][3]

The first men's world championships took place in 1966 in Mexico City, Mexico where New Zealand finished third. The men have gone on to become the most successful team winning the world championships 7 times.[2][3]

New Zealand softball have had 27 players, 7 coaches, 3 umpires 5 administrators, inducted into the WBSC Softball Hall of Fame along with 5 others for their meritorious service.[4]

Member associations

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There are 23 member associations as listed on Softball New Zealand's website:[5]

  • Auckland Softball Association
  • Bay of Islands Softball
  • Central Otago Softball Association
  • Canterbury Softball Association
  • Counties Softball
  • Eastern Southland Softball Association
  • Franklin Softball Association
  • Hawkes Bay Softball
  • Hutt Valley Softball Association
  • Manawatu Softball
  • Marlborough Softball Association
  • Mid Canterbury Softball
  • Nelson Softball Association
  • North Harbour Softball
  • Army
  • Otago Softball Association
  • South Canterbury Softball Association
  • Southland Softball Association
  • Tairawhiti Softball Association
  • Waikato Softball Association
  • Whanganui Softball Association
  • Wellington Softball Association
  • Western Bay of Plenty Softball Association

Competitions

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  • National Fastpitch Championships (men & women)
  • Open Club Championships (men & women)
  • U-23 National Tournament (youth men & women)

Defunct competitions

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  • NZCT National League (men & women) (2002–2008)

Current title holders

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Competition Year Champions Runners-up Next edition
Senior (Men's)
New Zealand Men's National Fastpitch Championship 2024 Auckland Canterbury 2025
Senior (Women's)
New Zealand Women's National Fastpitch Championship 2024 Auckland North Harbour 2025

See also

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Men's

Women's

References

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  1. ^ a b "Softball". Te Ara. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Page 2. New Zealand softball on the world stage". Te Ara. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Federation Focus: New Zealand where softball is tradition and innovation". WBSC. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Softball Hall of Fame". WBSC. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Softball New Zealand". Softball New Zealand. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
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