Softball Australia - Australian Sports Commission

2007 / 08 GAME DEVELOPMENT REPORT
OVERVIEW
This report will focus on club development projects,
coach education programs and membership growth
initiatives, which have taken place during the period July
2007 to June 2008.
Sports Accreditation Online (SAO)
In 2007 Softball Australia was asked by the ASC, as one
of the initial 5 sports, to trial the new Sports Accreditation
Online (SAOI) system for coaches. All existing softball
coaches within our national database were transferred
over into the new SAO system in November. Since
November, State and Territory affiliates have gained
access to the new online database, for the purpose of
updating all accredited coaches information.
The Australian Sports Commission's (ASC) Coaching
and Officiating Unit has developed the system over the
last two years with input from selected national sporting
organisations. Sports Accreditation Online provides
a strong IT foundation for the future of the National
Coach Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) and the National
Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS). Sports
Accreditation Online will provide valuable information for
more than 2,500 individual softball coaches and officials.
Use of the internet to upload accreditation data
streamlines the process and enables softball to
implement new business systems that avoid multiple
handling of data and reduce workloads for State
affiliates.
A key feature for coaches and Softball Australia is
access to Sports Coach and Sports Official online
publications. A category search will enable articles in the
two publications to be located by areas of interest.
Other features of Sports Accreditation Online
include the ability to:
• monitor accreditation programs, in terms of expiry
dates and review processes;
• access reports providing a range of information on
an NSO’s accredited coaches and officials;
• generate reports on trends and cross sport
comparisons;
• allow individuals to update their own personal
contact details or refer individuals back to their
NSO;
• allow coaches and officials to access their
accreditation status and print off their own
certificates;
SOFTBALL AUSTRALIA CONDUCTS ISF/ NFCA
INTERNATIONAL COACHING COLLEGE
Softball Australia played host in Canberra to 80 coaches
from all over the Oceania region who participated
in the International Coaching College. The course
was held at the Australian Institute of Sport from 30
August - 2 September. The college was established
in the USA in collaboration between the International
Softball Federation and the National Fastpitch Coaches
Association. This was the first time the course had been
conducted in Australia and provided many coaches with
the opportunity to come together and share experiences
and develop their knowledge of our great game.
The college is a four day intensive course lead by some
of the most experienced coaches in the world. Sharon
Drysdale, the Director of the National Fastpitch Coaches
College was the lead instructor of the course, adequately
supported by John Tschida, and Linda Wells.
Coaches from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the
Philippines, Federated States of Micronesia, American
Samoa and Palau benefited from the information
delivered on many facets of the game including:offensive
and defensive strategy in addition to hitting and practical
sessions. Coaches left the course with a comprehensive
resource manual to utilise in their own countries.
Participants attending the course were as follows:
Vikki Bingley, Frank Curcio, Vicki Bingley, Alan Bain,
John Neilsen, Laing Harrow, Bob Crudgington,
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